Song Honors Fallen Soldier Shoval Ben-Nathan with Ancient Hasidic Melody

A new, emotional musical piece titled "Hosha Na" has been released ahead of the Sukkot holiday, honoring the memory of Sergeant (Res.) Shoval Ben-Nathan, who fell in battle in southern Lebanon on Hoshana Rabbah, 5785 (2024). Ben-Nathan, a 22-year-old resident of Rachlim and a fighter in the Carmeli Brigade, was killed alongside his comrades Shmuel Harari, Mordechai Amoyal, and Aviad Neiman.

The song merges the traditional Hoshana Rabbah prayers, specifically from the seventh circling, with an ancient Hasidic melody from the Warka (Amshinov) tradition. The family chose these specific prayer texts because Ben-Nathan fell in battle on Hoshana Rabbah.

According to the family, the idea for the song emerged on the eve of Sukkot, born from a deep longing for Shoval. "On the eve of Sukkot, a desire arose within us to connect an ancient melody with the Hoshana Rabbah verses, with hearts full of longing for our beloved Shoval, who gave his life in a heroic battle in Lebanon on Hoshana Rabbah, Tishrei 21, 5785, and in cherished memory of the friends who ascended with him," the family stated upon releasing the song.

The song "Hosha Na" is performed by Shoval's uncles, Uriah and Elchay Ben-Nathan. Yiftach Dekel is responsible for the keyboards and guitar, as well as the recording, arrangement, and editing. Miro Sabag plays the kamancheh, and Odelia Achi David is responsible for the music video. The fusion of the ancient Hasidic tune with the Hoshana Rabbah verses imbues the familiar words with new meaning, weaving Shoval's memory and that of his friends into the prayer on the very day they fell. The family concluded the song's dedication with the words: "And all who ascended in the flame of fire. Hosha Na!"