Every war has its song: this one already has several

ITTAY FLESCHER shares the music Israelis are making as they deal with the tragedy of October 7 and the subsequent war with Hamas.

Over the past two months, I have been more grateful for the escape of music than at almost any period of my life.

I woke early on October 7 with a sweet and simple song in my head, Pshutim (Simple) by Akiva Turgeman.

All I ask… Protect our innocence,
With a home, a warm pot on the fire,
A warm hug, and the laughter of children

I posted a link with an image of my sukkah on my Instagram, thinking it a fitting tribute to the end of the festival of Sukkot.

A few minutes later, I received the first news alert about a break in the Gaza fence. An hour later I was in the shelter with my kids as rockets were fired on Jerusalem. A day later, I was glued to the news in horror. A month later, I was struggling to hold together a peace organisation in crisis, writing a book, creating a podcast, and trying to make sense of the incomprehensible.

Two months later, my life, and that of many Jewish people in Israel and around the world, is filled with deep nostalgia for the simplicity described in Akiva’s song.

Radio stations in Israel have stopped playing the plastic pop music that used to flood our airwaves. Not a single Taylor Swift song features in the top 50 Spotify list of Israel now. In fact, most English songs have disappeared, replaced with wistful Hebrew ballads or songs written specifically for this war.