Culture Corner:

Kol Yisrael

By Sarah Bier
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
KOC Assistant Editor

One of the greatest aspects of Jewish camps is how hard camp leadership tries to teach Jewish and cultural Israeli music. Few campers, if any, leave camp at the end of the summer without knowing a slew of Zionist songs about rebuilding marshy land or the beauty of Jerusalem. Campers love screaming at the top of their lungs (until the tune of the song is inaudible) and pounding on the chadar ochel tables until their palms turn pink. But, it does seem that as campers or students in the formal Jewish educational system, we've missed out on another major part of Israeli music - modern, radio-played songs.

Until last year when I was on Nativ, I had virtually no clue as to what music was played on the radio - for all I knew the air waves were full of Naomi Shemer's Yerushalayim Shel Zahav. The idea of her voice coming across the Galgalatz air waves seems funny now that I am familiar with Israeli music.

In reality, Israeli music has many genres. There's typical sounding Middle Eastern music complete with hand-slapping drumming and guitars. Amir Benayoun is successful in bringing his Mid-Eastern sound to mainstream listeners' collections. Some musicians have been influenced by the constant presence of American and European music in Israel. Mookie has successfully challenged Israelis to accept rap. Similarly, a new album featuring Rita and Rami, a married couple, combines their talents and songs in a live concert. Shlomo Artzi, Arik Einstein, Yehuda Polikar, Aviv Gefen and David Broza are among the most popular singers in Israel. Aside from these few examples, Israeli music has enormous variety and in content and sound - there's something for everyone.

Like American musicians, these artists have an impressive ability to represent their listeners' feelings and address present day issues. But besides from writing songs about love, loss or anger, many Israeli songwriters address the seemingly never-ending violence the country experiences. While opinions vary tremendously on how to reach solutions, musicians and listeners can connect to each other despite differences in politics. Yehuda Polikar has written a b

eautiful song about the current intifada called "Aich Korim Laahavah Sheli." "BaYom Shel Hapetzatza" by Rami Kleinstein is tells the story of a bombing. "Livkot Lecha," a song that is strongly associated with Yitzchak Rabin's life and death voices the author's hope for his friend to stay strong and that the two should meet in the next world.

Now that I have left Israel and am stuck in the middle of Illinois' cornfields, I enjoy more than ever listening to Israeli radio and CDs. I can create a bubble of Israeli life - ignoring the fact that I live within one thousand feet of over six hundred people and any schoolwork I may have - until my roommate comes in and bursts it, begging to listen to something in English.

Check out these great sites for Israeli radio fun: www.glz.msn.co.il, www.netvision.net.il, and www.102fm.co.il. Happy listening!

[Posted 10/27/02]