I used to like watching the torch-lighting ceremony marking the beginning of Independence Day celebrations, but I felt like I couldn't see it last night. In the past few years, it has become so political, organized by Transport Minister Miri Regev, with constant camera cuts to her seated next to Netanyahu and his wife. I heard that Netanyahu gave an election-style speech, in which he talked about returning all the hostages from Hamas captivity, without differentiating between those who were returned alive and those whose bodies were returned. I thought of the moving interview I saw with Rachel Goldberg-Polin, whose son Hersh was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7th and was executed in August 2024, along with five other hostages. In the interview, Rachel talks about the day of the funeral and how she saw people in the streets carrying signs reading the word "sorry". I remember the anguish during that time. It wasn't just "we are sorry for your loss", it was "we are sorry that we didn't bring Hersh back sooner, before it was too late". We will always have enemies, but he should never have been taken captive from a security-cleared music festival within Israel's borders.
This song was written in 1990, in response to Shimon Peres's attempt, and failure, to form a narrow government with the ultra-orthodox parties, in what became known as "the dirty trick". Reading the lyrics, this could have been written today, and it's not a surprise that Zehu Ze chose to perform it on their show last week, together with T-Slam, who are still rockers to their core.
He went out in the morning of a tiring summer's day
Kissed his wife, crossed the road
Kissed his wife, crossed the road
An elegant car, a skillful driver
Galloping to the capital - a new day for the small businessman
Places a call during the trip - party business
And worries about his part of the slice of the cake
The conversation streams, things were promised to him
For many years now, he hasn't represented those who voted for him
Documents for review, budgets for development
And cigar smoke out the open window
And cigar smoke out the open window
He says to a member of the party, "Just a moment Gedalia
Perhaps you'll be the Ambassador to Australia"
He observes the landscape of the nation he loved
So what if on the way, he lied and stole
His face is reflected in the window in the corner
His face is
The face of the nation...
The halls of power and the floors of bureaucracy
Budgets for Yeshivas at the cost of inflation
He cut in a minute three factories
And four hundred workers were made unemployed
Driving south in his car - bluish window blinds
He stopped for a visit to bereaved parents
He forgot he advocated for war
His face is
The face of the nation
He's important and well-connected and will continue, come what may
He is the one who will decide if there will be a war
He is the one who will determine your children's education
He is the one who will set procedures, and you'll lose your temper
In a fiery speech to an emotional crowd
Redeeming ground with sickle and scythe
Vote correctly and I implore you...
Give me power
Let me scream
Whatever I desire
Because I had
A land of milk and honey
Play music now...
And I don't understand what changed
If I'm the only idiot in the country,
Who is anxious about tomorrow and dreams of olive leaves
And wants to feel that my home is here
I caress your face, look out the window
And you smile within a dream
I love that you are like this and don't change
Your smile is
The face of the nation
Thank you to Moshe Kaye for the translation.
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