IsraElla MUSIC: Insights into Israel, From Ella
Date: Apr 4, 2025
Author: Shinshinit Ella Bargil
As part of our work to bring young modern Israeli perspectives to Shir Hadash, we’ve invited our Shinshinit, Ella, to help our teens understand different cultural aspects about growing up as a modern, Israeli teenager. This first IsraElla feature is focused on: MUSIC!
Israel has a vibrant and robust indie music scene and culture, and Ella has fond memories of the wonderful energy and incredible experiences she has had in Israel exploring with friends to music festivals large and small, and meeting modern Israeli musicians.
Connect with modern Israeli music! Ella has curated two Spotify playlists for us that include some of her favorite musicians and songs:
We encourage you to open these playlists and give them a listen! The mixture of raw emotion, modern sounds, distinct musicality, rhythm, and mood can help you enjoy some insight into the modern experience of Israel’s active music culture.
What does it feel like to be a teen in Israel? We’re so thrilled that Ella is creating a special four-session program for teens in our Tuesday evening JET (Jewish Experiences for Teens) program that will provide our teens with direct insight and connection to the experiences of real-life modern Israeli teen culture. These special IsraElla program sessions will begin at the end of April through when the JET program ends for the year in late May.
So much of what our community encounters in the dialogue around Israel is deeply political, but politics is only one aspect of modern Israeli society: diverse landscapes, vibrant cultures, lively new music, incredible food, outgoing people, and a rich history all play a role. We want to help our community understand modern Israel better.
What is a Shinshinit? Ella is participating in the Shinshinim program which involves deferring service in the IDF for one year, and travelling abroad to serve and support the international Jewish community through the Jewish Agency of Israel. We’re lucky to have Ella as a local shinshinit supporting both our Shir Hadash community as well as Yavneh Day School.