Musician Yahel Doron Embarks on Yearlong Journey Reading the Bible Inspired by Idan Raichel Interview
Israeli musician Yahel Doron, known from the duo "Guy and Yahel," recently shared with his followers a unique personal project: reading the entire Bible from beginning to end over the course of nearly a year. Doron revealed that the inspiration came after watching an interview on the show "In the Salon with Tzofit" where musician Idan Raichel discussed Jewish identity and societal tensions with host Tzofit Grant.
During the interview, Raichel was asked whether he identifies more as Jewish or Israeli and spoke about the fears his parents had regarding Shabbat ceremonies in kindergartens. This conversation sparked Doron’s decision to engage directly with the biblical text, which he described as "the glue that has held us together for thousands of years," aiming to read it without intermediaries.
Doron described the experience as intense, noting striking parallels between biblical events and contemporary Israeli society. He pointed out recurring themes such as division, corrupt leadership, and religious misconduct. For example, he compared the biblical negotiation with the tribes of Gad and Reuben about military service to current debates on equal burden sharing, and likened King David’s pursuit of Amalekites who kidnapped women and children to the events of October 7.
He also emphasized that the Bible does not mention modern sectoral divisions like Haredi, religious, or secular Jews, but rather distinguishes between the God-fearing and the wicked. Doron expressed concern that Judaism has been monopolized by certain groups and believes that reading the Bible could change how people engage in today’s public discourse.
Concluding with a warning drawn from the Bible’s ending during King Zedekiah’s reign, marked by destruction and exile, Doron cautioned that blindly pursuing justice without openness to others could lead to ruin. He expressed hope for a different, more positive ending this time. The interview that inspired him aired on "In the Salon with Tzofit," a program on the "Meshav" channel by the Tzohar organization, which features open conversations about Jewish identity and values with prominent Israeli figures.
