Gradually stories of survival through music in captivity are coming to light. After more than two years of torture in the Hamas tunnels in Gaza numerous hostages are only now beginning to talk about how music helped save their lives in captivity. Different songs turned into national or personal hymns.”Home” (Habaita in Hebrew) was originally written by Ehud Manor as a protest song calling for the withdrawal of the Israeli army from Lebanon in 1983. It became a call for the speedy return home from Gaza of the 251 hostages. Following the atrocities of Oct 7, this song became the hymn of the hostages.

In captivity music served as a bridge between memories from home in the outer world and a means of survival during the worst ordeals in captivity. Music cemented family bonds and was a link to the life that had been stolen from them. Songs and rhythms enhanced resilience in adversity. The newly released videos of the six hostages who were later murdered by Hamas singing softly Hanuka songs while lighting candles to commemorate the historic triumph of the few Jews against the many Greek oppressors in 164 BCE , reflects this. Even though the bodies of Hersh Goldberg Polin, Eden Yershushalmi, Ori Danino, Alex Lubnov, Almog Sarusi and Carmel Gat were emaciated their spirit was lifted by chanting songs of ancient miracles while “in the valley of death”.

One of the many striking stories of survival thanks to music is that of twenty- two year old pianist, Alon Ohel. In the midst of utter despair in the Gaza tunnels and with one eye injured Alon taught his fellow hostages “The Song without Name”, written by Shalom Levine in 1980. This was the last song Alon played on the piano on that fateful evening before being kidnapped on Oct 7 2023 from the Nova Music Festival. Later Alon recounted how in captivity chained and wounded he dreamt of the prophetic words of that song the last stanza of which reads as follows; “Because my song is a breath of fresh air, my open window, the fountain of my strength, laughter and tears, the end of my suffering…” On the helicopter after his release from Gaza Alon waived the blackboard with the lines; “the end of my suffering”.

His ultimate victory was when he played shortly after being freed on the yellow piano “A Song with No Name” at the Hostage Square in Tel Aviv. The wheel has come full circle when Alon performed with a rockstar charisma alongside Israel’s top artists at the concert titled “I have a chance to be saved” four months after being freed. Alon dedicated this song to his fellow hostage and mentor in captivity Eli Sharabi.

Another survivor, Yosef Chaim Ohana, recounted an amazing story of survival. When his body could no longer tolerate the torture in captivity he used to hum of all songs his favorite childhood melody “Good Morning World” from Pinocchio. For him it reflected a child’s excitement at being alive . After his release Ohana described in a radio interview how that upbeat song let a lot of light into his world in the midst of so much darkness. Twenty three year old Omer Shemtov from Herzliya was also kidnapped from the Nova Music festival and held in solitary confinement. He too acknowledged the indispensible power of music that kept him alive. He constantly hummed Rita’s song “Waiting”, especially the following lines; “One day it will happen , something will change, something will calm us, something will touch us and we will have nothing to fear…”

Fifty- five year old Ohad Ben Ami, kidnapped along with his wife from Kibbutz Be’eri, on Oct 7 told the story of how the younger observant fellow hostages taught him, the secular Jew from Kibbutz Beeri, traditional Sabbath songs. To lift up his spirits they sang to him his favorite song; “Sleep my daughter father is coming home soon” their favorite song which he used to sing to his two daughters.

So many of the hostages attributed their survival to music, the only power that kept them sane in captivity. In his 1864 poem “Abt Vogler” the great English poet Robert Browning wrote these celebrated lines; “God has few of us whom he whispers in their ears tis we musicians know”. Abt Vogler highlights music’s unique ability to convey divine truth beyond the grasp of the intellect. No doubt the hostages, who clung to music for dear life, would only concur.

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)