Last week I came to sing to the families of the envelope after going through the worst of them. A moshav in the center of the country hosted them. From the side of my eye, I could see their equipment in boxes, their precious things that seemed to have been packed in a snap.
As soon as I arrived, the smile of a child who recognized me greeted me. Children's smiles don't lie, it's not like adults, where a smile also carries a wrinkle that suggests concern. For children, it's a glowing smile, which was like a pin that blew up my emotions without being able to control them.
Shai Gebso, Photo: Daniel Kaminski
I took the guitar and came to sing, but suddenly I became petrified. I couldn't find a song, or a word to say. As they called out to me, "Come on, sing." I pointed it back at them. "What do you want me to sing?" and they returned it to me: "Choose you."
All my life I have asked myself why I am an artist, why I have this changing temperament, hovering above ground. At that moment, as they were asking me to decide, I realized that they knew this was my job, this was my gift.
At once the wind came back to me, the words came back to me. The meeting ended with us on our feet, dancing together. Who would have thought that we would be able to forget and be in the moment for a moment.
On the drive back home, I thought about the networks filled with so much unconditional love. People collect food, transport, host, buy equipment, set up mental health support centers. Everyone gives of their gift. How strong we are when we're together. How cynicism gives way to pure spirit. Motivation and determination are what win the war, and we, such a special people, have them in abundance.
Shai Gebso, Photo: Or Danon
I want to remind all of us to take breaks from the pain as much as possible, even just for a few minutes. Put on a song, breathe, stretch, see something else. This is equally important. This gives fuel for continued functioning. I want to send reinforcements to all the security forces, to our mighty soldiers, to the police, to all the citizens who help each other with endless solutions. My heart explodes with pride.
All the questions, and there are many of them, we will save later. Now is the time to win. And we'll do it together.
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