Hanan Ben Ari is a phenomenon, and his performance on Mochash at Hichal Menorah is an event I will not soon forget. It is interesting to think about the path taken by the yeshiva student who was born and raised in the Horns of Samaria, until he took his undisputed place in the heart of the Israeli mainstream.
For two hours I tried to understand the secret of the magic thanks to which this musician entered the playlist of (almost) all of us.
I began to understand the answer as soon as I entered the hall, when I met all the stereotypes we have in Israeli society: young people, adults, women, men, with and without caps, families, couples.
Believe me, everything from everything - whoever comes is welcome.
The magnet that was waiting for us on the chairs,
When we got to the seats, a magnet was waiting for us, on which was written in Ben Ari's handwriting: "I wish that every time we read this note we will remember our evening together. Thank you for opening your heart, without cynicism, without politeness."
This is the first time I come to Hanan's concert, and already at this stage, even before everything started, it was possible to feel that we were in for an evening with a different energy.
high
After a few moments the screens turn on.
Hanan and the band are filmed live backstage, just before going on stage.
"May we never get used to it," he tells them.
They go on stage, and the ceremony continues in the presence of the thousands who were waiting for them outside.
Ben Ari asks everyone: "Open your hearts tonight."
Maximum kitsch?
Yes - so what?
You know the playlist, and also the great voice.
But what stood out to me in particular was the use of the word "thank you".
Hanan ben Ari reminds himself every moment to be thankful.
Nothing is taken for granted for him, and as he soared - he is aware that the possibility of falling is always on the table.
That is why every moment is important and significant, and one that should be enshrined in the memory of the body and mind.
And the sensitivity... Ben Ari is a man of the people, one who will stop to hug every person on the street.
You don't need to be a great psychologist to understand this - it's enough to see how he skips with a smile from ear to ear between the three (!) stages built for him, one of them right between the chairs.
If we still talk a little about the music, it is enough to read a few lines of each song you choose to understand that this is a different kind of creator.
One who through his words seeks to pass on all the light, joy, faith (not necessarily religious) and love that he has.
How exciting it is to see thousands of people devoting themselves to this thing.
Even when he asks them to close their eyes for a few minutes and imagine their dreams - they go with him to the end.
Truly a meditation for the masses.
Photo: Johnny Seror
How much modesty he has.
I did not find an ounce of pride or an iota of vanity.
When he initially promised to bring his heart, I didn't believe it would be big enough to reach every corner of the hall.
Even those who sat in the last row received a warm and loving hug, also the ushers, the ushers, the security guards.
And to think this is the fourth show he's done this week.
If we ask what is the role of art in 2023 and what is its power, it seems that Hanan Ben Ari has a great answer.
In the days of political trolling, internal identity struggles and too many voices of differentiation, polarization and opposition, he asks "not to refer to politics, because I don't understand it".
I actually think that a person who does not understand politics could not show in such a convincing way how it is possible to walk together, hand in hand.
Photo: Johnny Seror
And to all those who responded "Wow, what a Sahi" when they heard I was going to this concert (yes, I understand that there is a consensus on this), I will say back: I wish you to be Sahi like Hanan Ben Ari.
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