A Star Is Born in Basel

Yuval Raphael lit up the stage – and the world – with just a mic, a melody, and a mission

A survivor of Oct 7th, yet a bringer of hope

Some in the crowd may have booed, but the world stood and clapped

Second place by vote. First place in hearts

From the ashes of Nova to the lights of Eurovision

They tried to drown her out. She turned up the volume

While some spewed hate, Yuval sang peace
While some brought noise, Yuval brought grace

Same city. Different century
130 years ago, Herzl dreamed here
This week, Yuval delivered the encore

In Basel, Herzl saw the storm coming
In Basel, Yuval showed that we we’re still dancing

From “Let My People Go” to “Let My People Glow.”

Once they tried to destroy us
Now they can’t stop watching us shine

From shtetls to start-ups
From pogroms to pop stages
From Inquisitions to IDF

Israel isn’t a footnote in history
It’s a headline in the present

They said Jews can’t
We built a country

They said Jews won’t
We scaled up

They said we’re done
We’re just getting started

Yuval is not alone
She’s one voice in a chorus of courage

In Miluim I’ve stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel’s Gen Z warriors

Young commanders with old souls

They’ve buried friends
And still fight for light

They’ve seen the worst
And still believe in the best

They’re not just the future
They’re the upgrade

Israel’s young 20-something generation doesn’t quit
It levels up

Call them the “Scale-Up Generation”
Because they dream bigger – and deliver

I’m hopeful because I’ve rubbed shoulders with those that will be Israel’s next leadership in 20-30 years

From Herzl’s pen to Yuval’s mic
From trenches to TikTok

Am Yisrael Chai is not just a chant
It’s history’s original comeback story

History doesn’t repeat itself
It rhymes – and this time, we’re the chorus
On the main stage, front and center, writing the next chapter

So let them boo
We’ll keep building

Let them chant
We’ll keep hoping

Let them deny
We’ll keep dancing

Because Israel’s light can’t be dimmed
Not by rockets. Nor by rhetoric

Yuval sang it best:

“New day will rise, life will go on
Everyone cries, don’t cry alone

Darkness will fade, all the pain will go by
But wе will stay, even if you say goodbye”

Am Yisrael Chai