Alon Ohel, a concert pianist, was among the hostages kidnapped by Palestinian terrorists at the Nova Music Festival, and taken to Gaza. He was severely wounded, never treated, and never visited by the Red Cross. He survived two years of hell.
In Episode 78, I brought you my conversation with his mother, Idit. (Scroll down for a transcript.)
Now, he’s among the few who made it home. He was among the 20 living hostages finally freed as part of an exchange that included the release of huge numbers of convicted Palestinian terrorists, rapists and murderers.
On the Israeli TV program “A Wonderful Country,” which usually focuses on comedy, Alon played the piano.
At a time when so many people in Western countries take democracy for granted, it’s important to realize all the layers that this video represents.
In democracies, people can tell their stories, share their music, express themselves, and make fun of anything they want. (See this TV show’s hilarious takes in English on Greta et. al. and Zohran Mamdani, whom I’ve reported on).
They can also sing about anything they want — including love of all kinds. The song, “Under the Sky,” is by David Broza, a brilliant musician and peace activist. (An actual one, not a performative one.) Here, the show’s cast and Alon’s family members sing it. The lyrics include, “We came here from under the sky — two, like a pair of eyes. We have time under the sky. In the meantime, we’re still here.”
This video shows the power of standing for survival rather than standing for victimhood. At a time when the media is obsessed with victim narratives, survivors like Alon show strength, perseverance, and a commitment to putting good things out in the world no matter what they’ve been through.
Here’s what Idit Ohel said when we discussed his injuries and his plight.
