New Day Will Rise

Yuval Raphael's words upon returning home

The Eurovision song contest is a big thing in Europe. Growing up in the US, I’d never heard it, and to this day don’t love the fact that Israelis get so excited by being “part of Europe” in this way, or by feeling our legitimacy somehow validated by receiving love and support from such things. However, these past two years, when Israel has sent two young women, Eden Golan and Yuval Raphael, as its representatives, and these women have faced down intense negativity, threats, and disgrace with grace, pride, and talent, it’s impossible to ignore the power in their presence. This year, Yuval, a Nova survivor whose father instructed her to “play dead” when he understood the seriousness of the situation she was in, has shone in her incredible ability to rise up and spread light, and in doing so, inspiring many.

Both women always made it clear they were proud to represent their country and knew they were giving voice to all those directly affected by October 7, which is really the whole country. Yuval moved a nation when at the end of her performace she shouted “Am Yisrael Chai!”, and this is what she had to say upon her return home to Israel last week: