Hadag Nachash on a Friday Afternoon (in Jerusalem)

My friend Shaanan called me this past week, to let me know that his group, Hadag Nachash (www.hadag.co.il) , would be appearing on a Friday in

Jerusalem

, but before Shabbat. Generally when they perform it is Friday night, when I am with my family sitting down to Shabbat dinner. Turn out the

Jerusalem

theater has started a series of Friday afternoon concerts – maybe out of respect for those of us who generally don’t go out to concerts of Friday night. Next week is Aviv Gefen. 

But back to yesterday afternoon – as usual we were running late. The concert was called for 1:30 PM, I figured it would not start on time. We arrived at about 2 PM. At the entrance we were asked for tickets, when I said we wanted to buy, were directed to the cashier window, which was closed – after all, the cashiers need to go home and prepare for Shabbat! The guard at the front entrance was very clear  -- no ticket, no entrance. Fair enough, I offered him to take the money, and give it to the cashier after Shabbat. No, he could not take the money, he explained, theater rules.

We could hear the concert going on (hip-hop music is not quiet!), I was there with Adin, my 11 year old son, and this was our plan for the day. I was not going to take a no so simply.

We went around to another entrance, and I told the guard we were going to hear Hadag Nachash. When asked for tickets, I said I am a friend of Shanaan, and had come to show him support. Now, you must understand that Hadag Nachash is one of

Israel

’s most popular groups,  the top hip-hop band in the country, their albums are platinum and gold. They are not a start-up here in

Israel

. The guard looked at my face, looked at Adin, and waved us in…Only in

Jerusalem

, I said to myself, would a guard feel comfortable making that call, trusting his own instincts and us.

We went in and had a wonderful time, reveling in the music and words, sometimes bittersweet. Shanaan writes almost all the words, and almost every song is an insightful analysis of life in

Israel

today. One song, Shirat Hastickerim (The Sticker Song) is epecially poignant, a collaboration with David Grossman, one of

Israel

’s leading literary figures. It was the hit song a year ago…and this past Summer David Grossman’s son was killed fighting in

Lebanon

. This connected to life I do not need to be, hits almost too hard. I jumped up and down with Adin, and prayed that during the next 7 years we will have done something to lower the chances that he will need to risk his life for our safety.

Tomorrow I ride in the Alyn Ride, a fundraiser for a children’s hospital here in

Jerusalem

. If you want to sponsor me, go to www.alynride.org.

Shavua Tov – A good week.

Jacob