Shlomo Artzi and Eretz Nehederet - We Don't Need

Thursday was tough. I tried to avoid the news most of the day, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to work. In the evening I saw footage of the four coffins being brought to Israel, footage which was interrupted by the breaking news of three buses exploding, thankfully all empty, and two more were found with explosive devices, in what clearly was a botched terrorist attack. I woke up the next morning to the shocking news that while the forensic experts had identified the bodies of Oded Lifshitz and the two young boys Ariel and Kfir Bibas, they found that the fourth body sent by Hamas didn't belong to their mother, Shiri Bibas. Poor Yarden, I thought to myself, as I'm sure many others thought as well, now he has to go through this ordeal? It only got worse when we learned in the afternoon that Ariel and Kfir, who were just 4 years old and 9 months old when they were kidnapped, were brutally murdered by terrorists with their bare hands. Shiri's body was returned by Hamas later in the evening and today the forensic experts confirmed that there is no sign that she was killed in an air strike. The image of a terrified Shiri holding her two boys closely while surrounded by terrorists on October 7th will forever be etched in our minds. We will never forget them and we will never forget that she and her boys were taken hostage three hours after the attack began, while Yarden had gone out to try to protect them and the kibbutz. And yet, I will try to remember images of the Bibas family from happier times.

Today we saw the joyous release of six hostages: Eliya Cohen, Omer Shem-Tov, Tal Shoham, Omer Wenkert, Hisham al-Sayed, and Avera Mengistu. Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed had been held captive in Gaza for over a decade, after entering on their own. Omer Cohen, Omer Shem-Tov, and Eliya Cohen were abducted from the Nova festival while Tal Shoham was taken hostage from Kibbutz Be'eri. Today they finally reunited with their families after 505 days and Tal reunited with his wife and two children, who were also taken hostage and were released last November. There are 63 hostages still in Gaza, and at least 20 are confirmed to be alive. While there is understandable outrage at Hamas over the fate of the Bibas family, we can't neglect the remaining hostages, and they all need to be urgently rescued in a hostage deal.

It was a strange week because while my social media feed was filled with images of broken orange hearts mourning the Bibas family, it was also filled with clips from SNL's 50th anniversary special and Glambots from the red carpet. I thought of our SNL, Eretz Nehederet, and how they delicately navigated satire during the war. This clip is taken from the first episode of their 21st season, which aired just a few weeks after October 7th. I don't remember much from the episode, just that every laugh felt like a release and how emotional it was to see the cast singing this classic with Shlomo Artzi, a song originally written in 1970 and still so relevant today.

Our eyes are dry from tears

And our mouths are left speechless

What else can we ask for, tell me what else

We've asked for almost everything

Give us the rain only when it's time

And in the spring, spread flowers for us

And let him return home again

We don't need more than that

We've already suffered a thousand scars

Deep inside we hid a sigh

Our eyes are dry from crying

Tell me we've already passed the test

Give us the rain only when it's time

And in the spring, spread flowers for us

And let her be with him again

We don't need more than that

We've already covered one hill after another

We buried our hearts among the cypresses

Soon the sigh will break out

Take this as a very personal prayer

Give us the rain only when it's time

And in the spring, spread flowers for us

And let us see him again

We don't need more than that

Give us the rain only when it's time

Give us the rain only when it's time

Lovely translation from Lyrhub.

Alon Oleartchik - Let's Hug

Sagui Dekel-Chen, Iair Horn, and Sasha Troufanov, all from Kibbutz Nir Oz, are finally in Israel after 498 days in hell. It was a tense week, heightened by Trump's reckless threat for 'all hell to come down on Gaza' if all the hostages are not released, a threat embraced enthusiastically by the far-right ministers who opposed the hostage deal. Obviously, all the hostages should be released, the sooner the better, but it's clear at this point that any return to fighting will put the remaining hostages in immediate danger, especially after we've learned more about the harsh conditions in which they are being held. Kol adam olam umlo'o, every person is an entire universe, and I am thrilled to see that three universes were saved today, though the road to recovery is just beginning. Iair was abducted with his younger brother Eitan, who is still in Gaza and set to be released only in the second phase of the deal. Sasha was taken hostage along with his grandmother, his mother, and his girlfriend. The three were released last November and he learned today that his father was murdered on October 7th. Sagui learned that his family had luckily survived the massacre in Nir Oz - his wife had given birth two months later and his three daughters were safe and okay. Sagui's wife had also helped run his business while he was in captivity and in all of the interviews with her I was so impressed with how calm and collected she seemed, maybe because she had to stay strong for her daughters. Today she will finally be able to embrace him, a happy ending that almost didn't happen.

Hana Goldberg, who wrote the lyrics to this heartwarming song, said she woke up one morning and felt the urge to hug someone. It was released in 2004, during the Second Intifada, and there are hints of the darkness in the background. I love how charming it is, a reminder to hold on tightly to the sweet moments, no matter how dark things are.

If you're a bit sad

Feeling bad and hurt

If you need me

You have a loving man

If you're lying

There, by yourself

Let me, in the dark

Hold your hand

Let's hug, we'll get lost

Let's hug in a tight slow dance

If you're shivering

In the hot night

If you're afraid

That everything good is gone

Come touch

Come to me

Yes, you know

I'll dance with you forever

Let's hug, we'll get lost

Let's hug in a tight slow dance

Let's hug, we'll get lost

Let's hug in a tight slow dance

Elai Botner and Kobi Aflalo - A Letter for My Brother

Not an easy morning. As joyous as it is to know that Ohad Ben Ami, Or Levy, and Eli Sharabi are finally in Israel after 491 days in Hamas captivity, it was difficult seeing the images of them, so frail and clearly malnourished. They are all returning to a very different reality. Or Levy, 34, was at the Nova music festival with his wife. They took refuge from the rockets in a shelter on the highway, which later became known as the Reim "death shelter" where his wife was murdered, along with 15 others, and Or was taken hostage. They have a 3-year-old son, who was told yesterday that his father was finally found after months of searching for him. Ohad Ben Ami, 56, was abducted from his home in Be'eri together with his wife, Raz, who was released last November. His daughters have been fighting for his release and now he is finally home, though it will still take time until Be'eri becomes livable again. Eli Sharabi, 52, is also from Be'eri, and on October 7th his wife and two teenage daughters were murdered while he was taken hostage. It's not clear if he knows what happened to them, or if he knows that his brother Yossi, who was also taken hostage, was killed as a result of an IDF strike. Their brother Sharon has been fighting for Eli's release and to bring back Yossi's body for a proper burial in Israel. In a recent interview, he said that when he'll hug his brother, it will be a collective hug, also in the name of the citizens who worked for his release, the soldiers who were killed in the war, and the injured. I can't stop thinking about the important role that Sharon and his other siblings will play in Eli's recovery, just as Or's siblings will be an important part of Or's recovery and will help him adjust to a very different life without his wife.

Elai Botner, who wrote the lyrics for this song, shared that it is about his brother, Ofer, who suffered from brain damage after a drug overdose. Ofer struggled to recover and lead a normal life and Elai wrote the lyrics after Ofer was asked to leave a luxury car dealership because of his appearance. Elai wanted to cheer him up, and maybe also cheer himself up, with an optimistic message of hope. Earlier this week we saw footage of the 5 released IDF surveillance soldiers singing this song onstage with Elai and his band, in a special performance for them and their friends. It was so emotional to see the girls sing the chorus after all they had been through and I can only hope that all the released hostages will be able to eventually build a new and happy life.

Don't be scared, aspire to know

Don't worry, you'll fulfill.

Whoever has the power to touch

Has the power to comfort.

Don't be scared, days will come

And seasons will pass

You'll see that we'll make it to the end

Don't be scared of a biting reality

And cold people.

Everyone carries in their stomach

But you only see little.

How much power a moment has

And forever is infinite.

After every tear that will drop

There will be laughter

And this is the moment

Here comes the hour

What will the wind bring?

What will melt the silence?

There are reasons for everything

There is a never-ending dream

At the end of the road you'll be happy

Let's move forward to the horizon

To the good sun

It's far but you'll make it

A bit tired and a bit thirsty for love

Which will wait for you, pick it like a fresh fruit

And then rest, fall asleep in the shade

And this is the moment

Here comes the hour

What will the wind bring?

What will melt the silence?

There are reasons for everything

There is a never-ending dream

At the end of the road you'll be happy

I used the help of this excellent translation from LyricsTranslate.

Daniel Wais - I am a Guitar

Another emotional day of hostage releases, hopefully with many more yet to come. And yet, today's release was heavier on the heart because as joyful as it was to see Keith Seigel reunited with his family and Ofer Calderon reunited with his four children, two of whom were kidnapped and were released last November, it wasn't easy to see the release of Yarden Bibas, who was taken hostage separately from his wife Shiri and their two young children, and their fate is still unknown. So many of the released hostages are carrying with them the trauma not only of their captivity but also of the tragic events of October 7th. Gadi Mozes's spouse was killed on October 7th, Arbel Yehoud's brother was murdered and her boyfriend was also taken hostage. She was not with him during her captivity and he is in the group expected to be released in the second stage. It is not clear at all that we will get there, though I hope with all my heart that we do. 

Daniel Wais from Kibbutz Be'eri tragically lost both his parents, Yehudit and Shmulik. His father was murdered on October 7th and his mother was taken captive and killed by Hamas, her body was later recovered by the IDF. We got to know Daniel this year as a participant in 'A Rising Star' which selects Israel's representative for the Eurovision. During the final, he shared how meaningful the experience was for him and how much he would miss it. He didn't win the contest, but he captured our hearts and this moving performance has stayed with me, especially at the end when he thanked his parents.

I am a guitar

The wind plays upon me

Through the changing seasons

I am a guitar

Someone is strumming me

Through the changing melodies.

When I feel like flirting

I burst in a duet

Even if it's a trio or a quartet

It doesn't bother.

Upon a plaid of red and white

A ripened cluster is on the table

And pears like that of Cezanne

And sangria also.

I am a guitar...

I am a sign, I am proof

for the friendship and the loneliness

And even on childhood paths

I will surely stroll.

Gypsy adventures

On airplanes, on ships

And colorful mistakes

All over the place.

I am a guitar...

About the ladies

We have agreements, an understanding

And I have no, no complaints

And never had any.

I have never despaired

Because what did not happen in May

Will surely happen, with God's help

In June, July.

I am a guitar

Maybe once I was a tree

And inside my echo chamber

I remember

Anyone who played me

And I say 

Thank you

Beautiful translation by Thomas222 from LyricsTranslate.