Mabat Einecha - A Song for Gilad Schalit

 In Israel Education, we are constantly looking for ways to convey some of the unique experiences of Israeli culture in an effort to make Israel more tangible, personal, real. More often than not, we look "beyond the headlines" to show an Israel that is not all about conflict and tragedy. Sadly, however, upon occasion we find a unique and inspirational teaching moment in the tragedy of the day's headlines. Today is such a day.

Composer Maya Raviv (photo, right: from a 2009 performance with the Schalit family at the Kabalat Shabbat in the tent in Jerusalem) is a neighbor of the Schalit family in Mitzpe Hila in Northern Israel. As an active supporter of the Schalit family in their struggle to free their son, Raviv put her extraordinary talents into a song dedicated to Gilad Schalit.

Gilad was kidnapped from Israeli soil and taken into Gaza by Hamas on Sunday, June 25, 2006. He was nearly twenty years old, serving in the IDF guarding Israel's southern border.

The words of the song are from the poem Mabat Einecha (The Gaze in Your Eyes) by Rachel - perhaps Israel's best-known and most-admired poets. The song was recorded with Aviva Schalit (Gilad's mother) and the Tel Aviv Chamber Choir conducted by Michael Shani, coincidentally on the same day that a video showing Gilad alive in his captivity was filmed.

On the day it was released in Israel, five radio stations dedicated to playing the song everyday at 2 p.m. until the day that Gilad is released (since that time at least five more have joined). 

hineh ekach et mabat einecha
otzbo hashaket, tzchoko hame’ir
haroch habaruch haro’ef mimecha
harofeh lelibi kemerchav hanir
hineh ekach et mabat einecha
hineh ekach vetzararti bashir

Listen to the the song on Ynet.

Credits:
Poem: Rachel the Poetess
Music Composition: Maya Raviv
Performers:
Maya Raviv with Aviva Schalit & The Tel Aviv Chamber Choir conducted by Michael Shani
Piano: Adi Renart

Additional Resources

• Note from Noam Schalit (Gilad's father) about the song
• Letter from Maya Raviv about the piece
  
• In the coming days, the song will be available for purchase at www.gilad.org
• When the Shark & the Fish First Met - a children's story by Gilad Schalit and some activities using the book as a resource.

Questions for Discussion

• Why do you think that Maya Raviv chose this poem to set to music? How does it reflect her feelings? Do you think it reflects the original meaning of the poem by Rachel?
• Do you think that an act like this, on the part of Raviv, can have an effect on Gilad's situation?
• "Redemption of the Captive" or Pidyon Shvuyim is a Jewish value, and the notion of exchange for prisoners is a debate that has taken place in Jewish life for centuries. Why do you think Pidyon Shvuyim is a Jewish value?
• The story of Gilad Schalit and other captive soldiers holds a prominent place in Israeli news and in the Israeli consciousness. Why do you think this is the case? Is it different in other places/nations?

By: Adam Stewart, Director, Shorashim