Australian music video goes viral in support of Israel

Jewish band Chutney’s debut single and accompanying music video, made to express solidarity with Israel, has been viewed more than 350,000 times. RUBY KRANER-TUCCI speaks with band leader BEN ADLER.

A montage of Israel images produced in the wake of October 7 has turned the video of Sydney-based Jewish band Chutney’s debut song into an internet sensation. The video received more than 350,000 views on Instagram in its first week.

The release of Chutney's cover of the Hebrew pop anthem Kama At Yafa was originally slotted for early next year, the band decided to bring it forward to send a message of support to Israelis.

Chutney’s band leader and violinist Ben Adler, 31, says the song is intended as a “gift from Diaspora Jews to Israelis” and aims to contribute to the war effort by boosting morale and expressing solidarity.

“When the war broke out, we were reading over the translation again, and we realised the lyrics were highly pertinent,” Adler explained.

“They essentially can be read from the perspective as a psalm or prayer in a contemporary secular sense for the Jewish people, and particularly Israelis and those families with hostages or who’ve lost loved ones, to be strong and to have hope.

“The chorus means “do not fall, do not break, come back” and we've specifically tied those moments to images of the hostages [in the video], but also the reference to the soul of the Jewish people and their resilience.”