Over the last several months, Israel Hour Radio has kept you up to date with the latest Israeli music, born of pain and pride during this time of war. It's reminiscent of another time of war - the Yom Kippur War of 1973. It began 50 years (nearly to the day) before the horrific attacks of October 7, 2023, and like our current conflict, Israel was taken by surprise on one of its most sacred days of the year. Israel suffered many losses during that war, and much of the music released the...

Clay Aiken once said: "A song can be more than words and music ... when sung with soul a song carries you to another world, to a place where no matter how much pain you feel, you are never alone." Well, in today's very painful world, so many in Israel and around the world have turned to singing to help ease the pain and bring people together. Ever since October 7th, the internet has been flooded with videos of communal singing, in which thousands of people filled up auditoriums, stadiums, or...

What does Israeli music sound like today? A mix of everything. Some of it is sad, some of it hopeful, some of it patriotic. And some...is just back to normal. This week on Israel Hour Radio, you'll hear it all - from love songs to the country, to plain old love songs that could be recorded anytime. From painful songs about our hostages, to painful songs in memory of fallen Israeli soldiers. From classic Israeli songs heard in a whole new light, to classic Jewish texts reimagined. A meaningful...

Ask Josh Shron about his 'happy place,' and he'll tell you: number one is on the beach in Tel Aviv, and number two is behind the control board at WRSU Studios in New Jersey. This week he comes to you from Happy Place 2 for the first time in six months, and you can just hear the excitement in his voice! Despite his joy, he also brings along a playlist of emotional songs about the 'matzav' (situation), with new Israeli music mourning those we've lost, praying for those we miss, and celebrating...

We've focused on the victims, we've focused on the survivors...but how about a show dedicated to the soldiers? The men and women of the IDF are putting their lives on the line each and every day, fighting on the front lines or behind the scenes. They are all true HEROES, defending our right to exist! This week, Israel Hour Radio salutes our chayalim during this time of war, with positive, uplifting songs of strength, heroism, patriotism, and dedication. You'll emerge from the hour with a...

Music is amazing. It can raise you up or knock you down with just a few well-placed notes or lyrics. And somehow, the music in Israel since October 7 has been able to take us on all kinds of highs and lows. Each week, we at Israel Hour Radio have taken you on a musical roller-coaster ride, throwing your emotions into overdrive. But this week, just by coincidence, it seems we have more uplifting songs than we've had in a while. And despite the pain, we have plenty of good reasons to be...

It's been more than 100 days. 100 agonizing days of darkness. Of heartbreak. Of pain. 100 days of despair. The world recently marked 100 days since the horrific events of October 7, with special emphasis on the hostages that remain in Hamas captivity. This is a milestone we never imagined we'd reach. As painful as it is to think about the plight of these beautiful men, women, and children, it's so important for us to keep them in our hearts and minds every single day. So this week on Israel...

It's our first show of 2024 - but despite the new year, the 'matzav' (situation) drags on. We're still at war, we're still awaiting the return of our hostages, we're still grieving what we lost on October 7 and its aftermath. Thankfully, new Israeli music helps unite us, reminding us constantly of what we're fighting for. This week, more new music to depress, inspire, frustrate, uplift, move, and reassure you, connecting you to the vibe of today's Israel as nothing else can. Plus - we wish a...

Yes, it's become the year many of us would like to forget. But as 2023 comes to a close, we take an hour to reminisce about the songs released in the blissful days before the world turned upside down. Radio stations in Israel radically changed their playlists after the tragic events of October 7, but for nine months prior, they played innocent, fun, upbeat songs, blaring on radios throughout the country. This week, we count down the songs that received the most airplay on Israeli radio...

It's been more than 80 days since the horrors of October 7th, and the healing process still has a very long way to go. There are more than 100 hostages hidden somewhere (presumably) beneath Gaza, we learn daily of more fallen Israeli soldiers, and yes, we still are a very pained nation. Can music help us heal? You tell us. This week, many of the songs are as depressing as can be...but maybe that's exactly what we need to help us move forward. We continue to look at the music of Operation...

War, sadness, death, hostages, casualties...as Operation Swords of Iron continues, the news isn't getting any easier to digest. But as usual, music helps us cope - and Israeli music seems to be a bit more upbeat, optimistic, and positive over the past few weeks. The roller coaster ride of emotions continues this week on Israel Hour Radio, but this time, the brand new music you'll hear is generally more positive than it has been lately. It's all about perspective and mindset. Sure, this...

Chanukah 5784 is here - perhaps the most meaningful Chanukah in our lifetimes. With Israel at war and antisemitism rising around the world, the Chanukah story is as relevant as ever. Can we truly celebrate during these dark times? We think there's no better time to spread the light of Chanukah to banish the darkness. So this week, a little musical 'comfort food' as we celebrate Chanukah the way it's meant to be celebrated - with songs of light, candles, dreidels, latkes, sufganiyot, and more....

Ever since Operation Swords of Iron began, the situation has pulled our hearts and emotions in a gazillion different directions. On one hand, we're mourning the massive loss of life on October 7, and are worried sick about our hostages. On the other hand, we are bursting with pride for the brave IDF soldiers fighting for our freedom. Many Israelis are finding their spiritual voices, some for the very first time. Add the euphoria of some of the hostages coming home, and you suddenly find your...

For most of us who care about Israel, the past few weeks have been a roller coaster, to say the least. One minute we're deeply depressed, the next we're uplifted by the bravery and courage of the IDF. Along the way, we've probably felt every emotion in between. That's been the vibe in Israel ever since October 7, and that's been the theme of the music we've played over the past few weeks. This week, however, we thought it would be nice to focus on the positive, just for a bit. So with your...

When the world is against us...when no one seems to understand who the 'good guys' and 'bad guys' are...when you're feeling a sense of despair, loss, and helplessness...that's when our community can do the most good. Here you're among people who GET you. You're with people who share your values. A warm community whose members are going through the same whirlwind of emotions as you are. Tune in to the podcast, and feel like you're at home - with songs of pride, songs of pain, and songs of...

30 days since the 'Black Shabbat' of October 7, 2023, and it's not getting any easier. The images continue to haunt us, the hostage crisis continues to infuriate us, and the soldiers continue to inspire us. But as usual, music is there to unite us. Yes, the songs can be painful, heart-wrenching, and emotional, but they connect us to Eretz Yisrael and Am Yisrael in a very powerful and meaningful way. This week, we present more songs inspired by the events surrounding Operation Swords of Iron,...

As Operation Swords of Iron enters its fourth week, Israel's artists continue to work overtime to boost morale in the country. Some perform in hospitals for injured soldiers, some perform on army bases, some perform online for fans around the world. But in the midst of it all, they also release new songs to help us cope with this very uncertain time - and we couldn't be more grateful. Their new songs will make you cry, make you think, and make you proud to be a supporter of the State of...

Israel's musical community is amazing. When tragedy strikes in Israel, they are always there to help us cope with the grief. So as Israel's war against Hamas continues, Israel's top musical artists have sprung into action. This past week, some of our favorite artists released an impressive selection of songs to capture - and elevate - the somber mood of the country. These emotional songs will make you cry, inspire you, and fill you with pride during this difficult time. While the songs...

We return to you this week with very mixed emotions. On one hand, it's Josh's first show since making Aliyah, and he's thrilled to be back. On the other hand, Israel is at war - one that threatens its very survival. It's been a VERY rough week in Israel to say the least, and at the very least, we could all use a 'musical hug'. Join Josh on his very first broadcast from his home studio in Israel, as he shares the music he's been hearing on the radio this week along with your song requests....

Welcome to August Chagigot 2023! Each week during the month of August, we devote an episode of Israel Hour Radio to a particular topic in Israeli music, and with your help, create a playlist of songs about that topic. With only three more live shows to go before Josh makes Aliyah, we thought it would be fun to kick things off this year with a 'Chagigat Shirei Nesiya' - a celebration of songs about travel. Sometimes the journey is as exciting as the destination, and these songs will help...

Just a few days after Tisha B'av, the saddest day on the Jewish calendar, Jewish tradition offers a fun season of love. Tu B'av, a holiday on which Jewish women traditionally would come out and look for mates, has become something of a Jewish Valentine's Day. It's also the perfect time to devote an episode of Israel Hour Radio to the best Israeli love songs of all time. Who doesn't love a good, cheesy love song? We're playing all of your favorites old and new, so hold on to this episode for...

Summer is here, and the Israeli music is getting HOT! The stars are out this week, all competing to become THE 'go-to' song of summer 2023. Competing for the title? Artists like Hatikva 6, Stephane Legar, Omer Adam, Noa, Netta, Narkis, Nunu, and many more! These are the songs that will be ALL OVER Israel this summer, blaring at the beach, the pool, the cafe, and in your earbuds all summer long! Your next favorite Israeli song is waiting! Looking for music to make your summer sizzle? Start...

On April 19, 2023, the Israeli music world lost one of its most creative and accomplished minds, as poet and lyricist Yehonatan Geffen passed away at age 76. Yehonatan was responsible for some of the most famous Israeli songs ever written, with classic Israeli songs for adults and children alike. As Israel Radio's Benny Dudkevitch commented, 'Israel grew up on his songs.' This week on Israel Hour Radio, we feature many of Yehonatan Geffen's most popular songs, sung by artists like Miri...

Our listeners pick their favorite Israeli songs! This time, we're pleased to introduce you to Breandan Ward of London, who has a very interesting Israeli music journey to share! Breandan grew up on a dairy farm in Ireland and moved to London after college where he worked in investment banking for 10 years before later moving to New York. His first encounter with Hebrew and Judaism happened when he met Israelis during a backpacking trip to Australia in 2002, around the same time as he started...

Seems like just yesterday to some, but 1998 was 25 years ago. It was the year Google was founded, 'Titanic' was a hit in theaters, and Monica Lewinsky was a household name. But what songs were playing on Israeli radios 25 years ago? This week, we set the dials on our Israeli Music Time Machine to 1998, and play some of Israel's biggest songs of the year. You'll hear songs by Eyal Golan, Ethnix, and Ben Artzi (who was HUGE that year), and a little song by Dana International...that made...