I am 51 years old. In 19 years, I’ll be 70. I’m a seasoned singer, married to Ruth for 20 years, with five grown children. My father and eldest brother have passed away, and my mother has been battling Alzheimer’s for years. I live in a torn Israeli society, where there is no dialogue, no space for different voices. Peace is absent, and unbearable war is in the hands of reckless populist politicians. There is existential danger, endless mourning, and pain.
Like Frodo the Hobbit, and like all of us, I stand by the boat, faced with a choice. I can turn around and flee, or I can choose to step onto the boat, to try to live and act, at least for today, in accordance with what I believe. Around me are so many good people—children, parents, and dedicated individuals—full of courage and hope, rowing their small boats, navigating their way toward the good.
And I—what do I choose to do with the time I have left? I’m celebrating a new album in the midst of war. It’s absurd, but it’s also necessary. So here’s to this moment, strange as it is.
