They say “absence makes the heart grow fonder”. That’s definitely a lesson the world has learned during the Coronavirus pandemic. We’ve all lost a sense of freedom and a sense of togetherness. Most of us are isolated from family and friends. We’ve all stopped gathering together at celebrations, houses of worship, offices, concerts, sporting events, etc.

As we continue to adapt to the “new normal”, many have written about the lessons of our isolation. But in less than two minutes, Israeli singer Hanan Ben Ari paints a picture that is both chilling and breathtaking at the same time.

With a beautiful melody written by Hanan and lyrics co-written by Hanan and Lior Angelman, it is the imagery in the video that is most powerful. Scenes of a desolate Israel fill the screen. The quiet streets of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, deserted beaches, shuttered parks, empty buses and trains, all serve as a sad reminder of what much of the world looks like in March 2020. Seeing these sad scenes in our beloved Israel makes the video that much more impactful.

The message of the song is quite clear. Society has lost its way, and we have important lessons to learn when this crisis is over. We need to appreciate each other more. We need to care about one another in ways we’ve forgotten. Now that we’ve temporarily lost our ability to interact with other humans, we must savor those opportunities more than ever before.

We at MyIsraeliMusic were so moved by the song that we took it upon ourselves to upload a translated version to YouTube. We encourage you to watch it at least twice; once to soak in the imagery, and again to absorb the message of the lyrics. May we emerge from this crisis soon, stronger than before.