Rika Razel is a member of the famous Razel family - a family that came to Jerusalem from the United States, repented and released a number of musicians, including Yonatan and Aharon Razel.
She is now releasing a song called "I Wanted to Escape" against the background of the suicide case of Haim Velder, who was accused of sexual harassment in the ultra-Orthodox sector.
The song is based on the harassment her friend went through many years ago.
"It's a song I wrote a long time ago, quite a few years ago, after a good friend of mine went through an unpleasant story and shared with me everything she went through," says Rika.
"After all the stories of the last period, I remembered it and decided to record it. I felt I had to put out the song, so that they would understand what victims of sexual harassment go through and what a heavy mental matter it is. The song talks about how hard it is for the victims."
Did you share with the company the decision to release the song?
"I shared it and she's happy. Of course I will not say who it is."
It seems that ultra-Orthodox society is less likely to delve into the issue of sexual harassment.
"Absolutely. In the ultra-Orthodox and religious public these are things that are not so much talked about, from a place of desire to keep society clean, but in the end it exists and we have recent evidence that has flooded the issue to everyone. I feel we are in a healing period. "The sewer - the whole jeep is going up. I hope that in the end it will lead to a place of more awareness. These are things that can happen to anyone."
So still the MeToo movement reaches the ultra-Orthodox society?
"I do not represent the ultra-Orthodox and I do not define myself as ultra-Orthodox, but people are more open. We need to bring up the issue, and of course talk to the children about protection and protection. My son told me that they talked to them about it at school. "Come and say it. It seems to me that the whole society is going through a shake-up. From a world where men rule - move to a world where there is female power, and I hope there will be balance. There is no war between men and women, but we need balance."
Brothers Yonatan and Aharon Razel,
What reactions do you get to the song?
"A lot of people have told me, especially women, that it's important that I give legitimacy to this issue."
Were there also less good responses?
"I have not yet encountered any bad reactions, or maybe they did not want to tell me. I received a lot of positive reactions. Someone talked to me about Haim Velder's suicide and claimed he could not be tried because there was no trial. I, for my part, did not come to say anything about anyone specific. "But to say that I understand the victims and identify with them. You can not believe how many girls wrote to me that they were harmed. One wrote to me that she was sexually assaulted three times. I feel that when you talk about things - they can not happen easily."
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