A song for the hostages

A few hours before the news broke of Hersh’s murder, my sister Eva and I recorded a raw take of a song that I had written some time ago about the hostages. We had planned to revisit it later and to do a proper recording. But shortly after, the hope that we had clung onto for Hersh’s freedom shattered into grief. The numbers Rachel Goldberg wore on her chest every day since his capture would no longer climb. Our song was frozen in time.

Despite this, we decided to keep Hersh’s verse in our song. Even after the senseless slaughter that cut his life short, Hersh’s parents embody the palpable hope and resilience of all the hostage families fighting for their loved ones’ return. In our minds, they always will.

I understand that the phrase ‘bring them home’ can be interpreted as Israel bearing full responsibility for the return of the hostages. So let me be clear: This entire crisis has been perpetrated, from its onset until the present moment and beyond, by Hamas’ financiers in Tehran. It is Hamas and Iran who should be incessantly pressured by world leaders to free the remaining captives. In the context of this song, however, ‘bring them home’ is simply a desperate cry into the universe.

Hersh’s story will forever remain in our hearts. May his memory be a blessing. May Eden’s memory be a blessing. May Ori’s memory be a blessing. May Alex’s memory be a blessing. May Almog’s memory be a blessing. May Carmel’s memory be a blessing. May the memory of every hostage that has lost their life to terrorism be a blessing.

And may the hostages that are still clinging onto life be reunited with their loved ones once again.