Israeli Songs of Grief Reflect the Unhealed Wounds of October 7
Translated & summarized from Zman Yisrael by baba
Israeli songs are emerging to capture the grief three years after the October 7th massacre, with "Abba Chataf" highlighting the pain of a father who died before his hostage son's release. "Every Year in Autumn" by Naomi Shemer is also presented as a profound expression of parental sorrow for fallen soldiers. The songs reflect the ongoing, unhealed trauma and the struggle to cope with immense loss. The author, Shlomit Tana, shares these songs as a way to process the enduring pain.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Three years after October 7th, Israeli songs like "Abba Chataf" express the deep, unhealed grief.
- "Abba Chataf" tells the story of Yossi Jan, who died before his hostage son Almog's release in June 2024.
- Naomi Shemer's "Every Year in Autumn" is cited as a powerful, restrained portrayal of parental sorrow for fallen soldiers.
- The song "Every Year in Autumn" commemorates Giora, who fell in the Yom Kippur War at age 21.
- The songs reflect the ongoing trauma and the difficulty of finding solace over time.
- The article is written by former journalist Shlomit Tana.
Three years after the October 7th massacre, the pain remains raw, with songs emerging that attempt to capture the profound grief. One lesser-known song, "Abba Chataf" (Hostage Father), by Rabbi Lior Engelman, is highlighted for its poignant portrayal of a father's suffering. The song was inspired by the death of Yossi Jan, who died just hours before his son Almog, a hostage, was released in Operation Arnon in June 2024. The immense suffering overwhelmed Jan, preventing him from seeing his son's return. The song, composed by Eran Weitz and sung by Chava Alberstein, features lyrics describing a father consumed by worry, his hair turned white, and his spirit broken.
Alberstein expressed her feeling of obligation to share the "distressing and sad picture" the song represents, stating it "really spoke from my throat." The article also references a bereaved mother's cry about living in a world without her son, killed by a drone in Lebanon, questioning how one can continue with such endless pain.
Another song, Naomi Shemer's "Every Year in Autumn," is presented as a powerful expression of parental grief. Though seemingly minor and restrained, its strength lies in its cosmic portrayal of sorrow, where the universe and nature also seem to mourn. The song, dedicated to the memory of Giora, who fell in the Yom Kippur War at age 21, reflects the deep pain of his parents, who were close friends of Shemer. The melody and the repeated, emphasized invocation of Giora's name convey immense longing and heartbreak. The song also mentions other fallen soldiers, Tuvia and Yechiam, as part of the cumulative sorrow, noting that time offers no solace.
The article is written by Shlomit Tana, a former journalist who began covering kibbutzim in 1981. The content reflects the author's views and not necessarily those of Zman Israel.
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