Shlomo Artzi Reflects on Youth, Loss, and Change in Israel

Shlomo Artzi shares a poignant reflection on the passage of time, youth, and loss in Israel, sparked by recent personal and national events. He recalls his own high school graduation in August 1967, shortly after the Six-Day War, and the bittersweet transition from adolescence to adulthood and military service. Artzi describes the emotional weight of burying young soldiers, seeing them as innocent high school students like himself once was, and the lasting impact of those farewells.

Artzi also recounts a recent moment when his granddaughter Naomi received her ninth-grade certificate, prompting memories of his own school days and teachers who shaped him. He reflects on the psychological challenges of adolescence and the lasting scars from those formative years. The article touches on a memorial for a young man named Elad, whose loss is deeply felt, challenging the notion that death spares one from future pain by highlighting the joy and experiences also lost.

The singer-songwriter discusses reading a children’s book about a fallen soldier named Reef, emphasizing the innocence and heroism of youth. He also notes observations from the 2026 World Cup, including the multicultural makeup of the German team and the noble lineage of a Swedish player, illustrating changes in identity and heritage.

Artzi laments the dangers on Israeli roads, recalling driving with Elad and the reckless behavior he now witnesses. He ends with a somber meditation on the ongoing conflicts involving Iran and Lebanon, the pain of loss, and the complexity of life’s certainties, quoting American poet Charles Bukowski to underscore the call to resilience. The piece closes with Artzi’s emotional struggle to comprehend the harsh realities faced by his generation and the next.