
Do you want to know how a nation feels? It's simple: just check the song
topping the charts.
Throughout history, music has been a powerful barometer of national mood.
During the Vietnam War, patriotic songs and protest anthems dominated U.S.
charts. The Roaring Twenties saw carefree songs, capturing the love and
optimism of a generation that felt they were sitting on top of the world.
So, what songs would you expect to top the charts in Israel in the wake of
the devastating October 7 attacks, a tragedy that claimed nearly 1,400
lives and left the nation reeling from one of the most brutal terrorist
assaults in its modern history?
A nation still at war, with soldiers fighting daily in Gaza, facing ongoing
rocket attacks from Lebanon, losing lives on multiple fronts, and enduring
the continuous trauma of hostages held captive and families torn apart?
Perhaps you'd anticipate songs of mourning, of anger, or defiance.
Instead, the most streamed song on Spotify is a profound anthem of... G-d's
love! "Tamid Ohev Oti" (Always Loves Me). The song has become an instant
Here are is a translation of some of the lyrics:
"G-d is a good Father, and He always takes pride in me,
Seeing only the good points in me.
He sees that I want to be good,
Even though it doesn't always work out,
And I'm just a few prayers short.
And G-d, blessed be He, always loves me,
And I will always have only good.
It will get even better, and even better, and even better..."
Think about this for a moment. Israel has experienced one of its worst
traumas in modern history. You might expect the mood to be down or even
bitter. And yes, many people in Israel are deeply stressed by what’s
happening.
Yet, despite it all, everyone sings: "I will always have only good, and it
will get even better!" People choose to have a relationship with G-d that
is based on pure love.
The Rebbe always championed this approach to relationships with G-d.
Already on the first evening when he became Rebbe, he made it clear that
his top priority was going to be the three loves: love of G-d, love of the
Torah, and love of the Jewish people—and how they are all really one.
This vision of love inspired the Rebbe to begin the Chabad House movement
shortly afterward.
What started with the Rebbe in the 1950s with a handful of Chabad locations
became a massive empire, with Chabad Houses literally all around the world.
Cambodia? Check. South Korea? Check. Siberia? Check. Pittsford? Check (I
had to include that one!).
This coming week, the annual Kinus, Chabad's global conference, will take
place in Brooklyn, and I’m looking forward to joining thousands of my
fellow Shluchim there
And it was all based on love.
The Rebbe explained that in previous generations, the relationship with G-d
may have been based on other emotions such as awe and fear, but nowadays,
love must be the main component of our connection to G-d.
The Rebbe would illustrate this principle with a teaching from the Zohar:
"Rabbi Shimon rejoiced and referred to the verse: 'G-d, I have heard Your
renown, and I am in awe.' Rabbi Shimon then commented: There [in the other
context], it is appropriate to focus on awe and reverence.
"For us, however, everything hinges on love and affection, as it is
written: 'And you shall love the L-rd, your G-d.' 'It was out of love for
you that G-d chose you.' 'I have loved you, says the L-rd.'"
G-d loves us. We love Him. We love each other. This is the recipe that is
going to keep Am Yisrael Chai for generations.
And if there is one thing we can do today to help secure the future of the
Jewish people, it is to actively add more of the three loves to our world:
love of G-d, love of Torah, and love of each other, one act at a time. (Thank you to Rabbi Mendy Kaminker for sharing his thoughts with me).
Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Yitzi Hein