Many of us likely have a song that, upon hearing it, conjures a vivid memory or triggers an emotion. This is common on the personal level, but it can also occur on the national level when a song achieves a widespread significant and meaningful status. One such Israeli song comes to mind this week, as the people of Israel and Jews around the world commemorate the 30th anniversary of the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin on November 4th (corresponding to the Hebrew Yahrtzeit date on the 12th of Cheshvan –this year on Monday, November 3rd).
Shir LaShalom (A Song to Peace), written in 1969 by Yaakov Rotblit (lyrics) and Yair Rosenblum (music), is the iconic song to which I am referring. In 1995, on Saturday night, November 4th, singer Miri Aloni (who was the original soloist for the song) was brought out of semi-retirement to sing Shir LaShalom at the end of a massive peace rally in Tel Aviv. She put the microphone in front of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Within minutes after the song was finished, Rabin was assassinated. At the funeral service, Rabin’s Chief of Staff, Eitan Haber appeared with a lyric sheet to the song that Rabin had folded and put into his shirt pocket, which became stained with Rabin’s blood. The song then became closely associated with this national tragedy.
Shir LaShalom actually carries much historical baggage prior to it becoming known as the anthem of the peace movement. It was first performed by the military band of the Nahal Brigade of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) during the War of Attrition (1969–1970). Inspired by the anti-war songs of the 1960s, the song was written as if spoken by the fallen soldiers, calling on the country to fight for peace. The lyrics question and confront values and traditions associated with the memorialization of the dead, singing the songs about war and fallen soldiers that were very common at the time, and placing flowers on graves. The song was controversial from the very beginning. It was even banned for a while by the government from being played on the radio. But still, everyone knew the song, and it was widely sung, albeit accompanied by arguments.
The song rejects the mourning and glorification of those killed in battle and emphasizes working for peace, and thus some people found it to be defeatist and demoralizing, while religious people objected to the suggestion in the lyrics that prayers serve no purpose. There were, however, many people who supported and appreciated the song’s desire for peace.
According to an article by Yaacov Lozowick, an Israeli historian and writer (who also served several years as Israel’s State Archivist, and had also been the Director of the Yad Vashem archives), in the 1970s, the national disagreement about the price of peace versus controlling the occupied territories got worse, and Shir LaShalom became the anthem of the peace camp; in those years it definitely wasn’t part of the consensual canon of classic Israeli songs. After the year 2000 and a rise in Palestinian terrorist attacks, the song became less popular. Shir LaShalom is still sung on the anniversary of Rabin’s death, as Israelis mourn for both Rabin and his shattered dreams, inspired by these lyrics: “Don’t say the day will come, bring on that day – because it is not a dream – and in all the city squares cheer only for peace!” The annual performance of “A Song to Peace” has become sadly ironic as Israel suffers one war after another. Yet we must hold on to hope that peace is possible! Kein Yehi Ratzon!
Here is a powerful performance of the song from a celebration of Israel’s 60th Birthday in May of 2008:
Shiri Maimon Shir LeShalom Song for Peace
Cantor Lorna Wallach
