This evening I attended a neighborhood Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration. As Yom Hazikaron was about to morph into Yom Ha’atzmaut, we listened solemnly to the tales of bereaved families in heart-wrenching videos, watched silently as candles were lit in memory of fallen Israeli soldiers, maybe shed a tear or two as the memorial prayer was chanted in an emotional, haunting melody.

Then, of course, the mood changed as Yom Ha’atzmaut began.

More videos, celebrating Israel’s many achievements against all odds. A humorous look at Israeli trivia from a video produced a few years back. A viewing of Koolulam’s moving “Al Kol Eileh” from last year (which is still amazing, no matter how many times I’ve seen it).

And then, Israeli music, dancing, falafel, and blue and white cookies and cupcakes for dessert. It was a lovely evening.

However, I couldn’t help but wonder what most of my fellow attendees were feeling as they celebrated.

How do most diaspora Jews observe Yom Ha’atzmaut?

Are they bursting with pride on this special day? Are they celebrating in America, all while longing to be a part of the celebration in Israel? Do they go out of their way to truly experience the pain of Yom Hazikaron and the euphoria of Yom Ha’atzmaut? Do they struggle to remain productive at work on these days, all the while refusing to miss a minute of the meaningful programming on Israeli TV and social media? Do they yearn for a deeper connection to Eretz Yisrael, even while living thousands of miles away?

I would venture to guess that MOST American Jews don’t. Sure, they feel connected to the land, and yes, do care quite a bit. But in my extremely un-scientific research, most in the USA simply don’t have that kind of emotional attachment.

But WE do.

I believe that our Israel Hour Radio community is far more passionate about Israel than your typical diaspora Jew. We appreciate Israel on a far deeper level. We have blue and white flowing through our veins. We’ve developed a special, deep connection with the land, the people and the culture.

Why?

The music we love draws us in.

My Israeli music journey

When I began my journey into Israeli culture, I knew very little about it. I just wanted to be on the radio. But within a very short time, I was hooked.

Yes, I enjoyed the music, but my obsession ran much deeper. I was hooked not only on the music, but on the land. On the dream. On the ideal. For the first time in my life, I was a Zionist…and there was no turning back.

And I believe I’m not alone. Those who are part of our online community share a similar story. With every Hebrew lyric we hear, we are drawn closer to the land we love. Every patriotic Israeli melody hits us right in the heart. We quickly consume every new hit song, because it helps us connect to our beloved homeland. While many in Israel couldn’t care less about our annual Eurovision entry (well, until 2018, of course), we follow it as if it’s an Olympic sport. We listen to Israeli radio on our commute to work, somehow jealous of those who are actually sitting in the traffic they’re reporting in Tel Aviv. We follow the culture very closely in an almost desperate attempt to be part of the “scene”. People like us yearn for a deeper connection.

And we experience a powerful rush of emotions on this day – one which we can’t quite put into words, and couldn’t possibly begin to explain to our co-workers.

Saying “Todah” on Yom Ha’atzmaut…for your passion and love

This community makes me smile every day. The passion, the love, the dedication makes it all worth it, all these years later.

And as long as you all continue to share your passion with me, I’ll be here, sharing mine with all of you. Chag sameach…and thank you for being here.

What’s your “story”? How did you come to love and appreciate the joys of Israeli music?