Koolulam | Like a prayer - Madonna | Bring Them Home, NOW

After a nerve-racking few days since the hostage deal was first announced, we finally saw the first group of 13 Israelis released. 10 Thai nationals and 1 national from the Philippines were also released yesterday in a separate deal. We were so anxious about the deal and whether it would go through as planned, I can't even begin to imagine what it is like for the families of the hostages, many of whom don't know yet if their loved ones will be included in the groups being released in the next few days. When I saw the images of the released hostages together with my family we were overjoyed with emotion, though I have to admit that we were hoping to see little Abigail Mor Edan, whose parents were murdered by Hamas militants and just turned 4 yesterday, as well as Shiri Bibas and her two sons, Ariel, 4 years old, and little Kfir, just 10 months old. There are 40 hostages under the age of 18 and 4 were released yesterday. It is not guaranteed that the rest are among the remaining 37 to be released since not all are held by Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror group is said to be holding hostages as well.

Overall 50 women and children will be released, and while we are overjoyed to see Israelis finally back home, our thoughts are with the hundreds who will not be released yet. Yesterday Keren Munder was released with her 9-year-old son Ohad and her mother Ruth Munder, but her father Abraham Munder, 78, was left behind in Gaza, hopefully a temporary situation. I am looking at the faces and names of the hostages, there are so many who have entered my heart after hearing their stories from their loved ones, among them: Noa Armagani, 26, Yarden Bibas, 34, Amiram Cooper, 84, Carmel Gat, 39, Romi Gonen, 23,  Yotam Haim, 28, Hersh Goldberg Polin, 23, Guy Illouz, 26, Ofer Kalderon, 53, Oded Lifshitz, 83, Alon Ohel, 22, Chaim Peri, 79, and Mia Schem, 21. No one must be left behind.

I was moved to tears by Koolulam's version of Madonna's Like a Prayer, with the participation of the families of the hostages together with thousands of people from more than 100 locations around the world, in a moving show of support. As Yoni Asher, who was reunited yesterday with his wife Doron and his two children, Raz, 4, and Aviv, 2, said: "I am happy that I got my family back... but I don't celebrate. I won't celebrate until the last of the hostages returns."

Sheygets - New York - Rafah // Intercom

You said that after the rains

It would be better, it would be more pleasant

You said that after the holidays

We'll return to routine, we'll return like adults

We've passed the rains and Sukkot

And everything remains the same and I'm the same idiot

You lied because it's now after Sukkot

And if you were right, then why do I feel like crying?

This world stinks from New York to Rafah

Wherever you go, you'll always find an enemy

These are homeland birth pangs, and I want to leave

Whether black or white, we'll all die racists

You told me that I'm the best and that I have no competitors

And that we are both in love

You told me that everything is great

And that this is a beautiful time, but it's a time in life

So how come yesterday you didn't pay attention to me

And you didn't care what was happening to me?

And how come? Sometimes you understand

And sometimes you're a bitch, a bit of an unclear girl

Oy! And you make this world stink so much

From New York to Rafah

Wherever you go, you'll always find an enemy

These are homeland birth pangs, and I want to leave

Whether black or white, we'll all die racists

This world stinks from New York to Rafah

Wherever you go, you'll always find an enemy

These are homeland birth pangs... I want to leave

Whether black or white, we'll all die racists

The only music I've been able to listen to since October 7th is the music on Can 88, sensitively curated for a traumatized country. The Israeli songs they're playing these days are usually soothing songs from a distant past, like the beautiful 'Ein Gedi' which I heard while taking the underground light rail home from work, the only public place where I allow myself to use my headphones. Through Can 88's Facebook page I came across Yuval Mendelson's performance of 'New York - Rafah', which he wrote 22 years ago and is sadly still so relevant today. Maybe not as soothing as Yehudit Ravitz, but it was exactly what I needed to hear, for so many reasons.

I checked out Mendelson's page and came across a heartwarming performance of 'Intercom' (this time from 19 years ago), which he performed for displaced residents from the North, evacuated due to the tense situation by the northern border. Ever since the war began, Israeli musicians have been performing for injured massacre survivors, for displaced residents, and for soldiers about to risk their lives. This Friday is Bandcamp Friday and there's been an initiative to give back to Israeli musicians who have been volunteering day after day while facing economic insecurity. If you're into EDM please check out the #BringThemBack compilations, all proceeds will be donated to aid survivors of the Supernova massacre, from mental health care to support in bringing the hostages back home.

Tomorrow will be better ♥  

It's raining outside and it's a sad winter for me

A big hat just so they won't see it's me

Young girls who haven't finished high school yet

And there are a hundred thousand people here but I will always be the last

I'd offer you a ride but I don't have a driver's license

And maybe tomorrow will be better you'll see

Tomorrow will be better for me

And if you hear my song then know that it's me

Tomorrow will be okay, you'll see

Tomorrow will be okay for me

And if you're passing by my street, call me on the intercom

And then I'll get up and open the door for you.

A cute blonde is sitting at the bar and pinching her nose

One pinch from her and soon I'm out the door

I thought maybe I'll approach her and we'll start to talk

I'll order a drink for her but until I'll have the courage

The blonde and I will wait

I'd invite her to listen to records

But I live with my parents

So maybe tomorrow will be better you'll see

Tomorrow will be better for me

And if you hear my song then know that it's me

Tomorrow will be okay, you'll see

Tomorrow will be okay for me

And if you're passing by my street, call me on the intercom

And then I'll get up and open the door for you.