A New Day Will Come

Camp Ramah in the Berkshires

Overnight

Susannah Levithan

Using contemporary Israeli music, campers will understand how Jewish music reflects both mourning and hope across history and contemporary Israeli life. Campers will analyze lyrics and melodies for emotional tone and historical context, reflect on their personal reactions to songs of healing and recognize music as a tool for resilience in Jewish culture.

music, mourning, hope, Israeli culture, lyrics, songs, Eurovision, controversy

Contemporary Israeli Music

Campers will:

• Recognize ways in which Jewish and Israeli music reflects both mourning and hope across history
• Analyze lyrics and melodies for emotional tone and historical content
• Reflect on their personal reactions to songs of healing
• Recognize ways in which music serves and has served as a tool for resilience in Jewish culture

Entering 9th and 10th graders (14-16 year olds)

10-14 campers (can be by bunk, if applicable)

• Playlist or videos of the songs

• Music player and speakers 

• Description of evolution of October Rain and Eden Golan (scroll down to end)

• Printed lyrics for all songs
• Pencils to annotate lyrics

• Program leader 

• Members of the Israeli mishlachat or other Israelis in camp

• Leaders for the song groups

Indoor space with slideshow set up and ability to hear music and lyrics

• Create playlist

• Choose songs (can use the list here or switch to other songs)
• 
Prepare slideshow

• Opening 10 minutes
• Song study #1: Yom Chadash Yavo 15 minutes
• Additional Song Study Stations 10 minutes per station
• Wrap up 5-15 minutes

• Opening      15 minutes

  Ask a member of the Israeli mishlachat to speak. We recommend leaving this deliberately very open. We told them they could tell their October 7th stories, keeping in mind the time frame and the audience. We found the open format allowed them to speak comfortably. We had conversations with them beforehand, often over a meal as practice.

  We made sure the campers faced them in a semi-circle and we spoke about the importance of showing kavod.

• Song Study #1: October Rain (15 mins)
  • Hand out lyrics
  • Play the song or video
  • Ask campers to read lyrics and annotate/note on the page with the lyrics:
    (optional: play song softly in background) – 2-3 minutes
  • Words that express pain or uncertainty
  • Words/images that express renewal or light
  • Discussion Questions:
    • What emotions does the song evoke for you?
    • Where do you see grief in the lyrics?
    • Where do you see hope?
    • Why might someone sing this song in a moment of crisis or healing?
• Song Study Stations      10 minutes per station
  • Using the same procedure used for song #1 above, divide campers into two or more groups and go to the stations led by mishlakhat members.
  • At each station, campers can explore songs chosen by the group leaders. Suggestions include Yom Chadash Yavo, Darkeiny and Of Gozal.
  • Yom Chadash Yavo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3BELu4z6-U
  • Darkeinu: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QRn29PKuo8
  • Of Gozal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOpb-g_kF0k
  • Hand out lyrics to song
  • Play the song or video
  • Ask:
    • How did these songs help Jews cope with grief?
    • Do you think it’s hard to hold on to hope in times of tragedy? Why or why not?
• Wrap-Up Circle + Optional Extension      (5–15 mins)

  In a circle, ask:

  • What’s one idea or insight you gained from today’s session?
  • Think back to the music, how did you see grief and hope existing in the same moment?
  • How might this idea of holding onto hope at a time of sadness help us cope?
  • Optional Extension
    • Write your own “healing lyric” or line that blends grief with hope
    • You can write your own or take pieces of the songs we have explored, putting them together in a way that works for you.
    • Ask campers to share if they feel comfortable sharing

🌧 Background information for “October Rain”
Written by Harrison Rubenfeld

The song was born in the shadow of tragedy.

In the aftermath of October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a devastating attack on Israel, the country mourned. Lives were lost, hostages were taken, and the air in Israel grew heavy with grief, fear, and defiance. Out of that sorrow came a song — a haunting ballad titled “October Rain.”

It wasn’t subtle. The lyrics spoke of falling leaves, of broken skies, of memories washed away in the rain. Everyone in Israel knew exactly what it was about. And even beyond, there was no mistaking the reference: this was a song about October 7. About mourning. About endurance, about the storm.

When Eden Golan, an 20-year-old singer with a fierce voice and calm poise, was chosen to perform it at Eurovision 2024, the song instantly became a flashpoint. Critics called it political. Supporters called it truth. Eurovision’s organizers called it… a problem.

🎭 The Rewrite

Eurovision has one rule that cuts deeper than the rest: no politics. No flags beyond your nation’s. No lyrics that provoke, accuse, or rally. Just music. So the European Broadcasting Union told Israel: change the song or stay home. And so, the transformation began. “October Rain” became “Hurricane.” Many of the original lyrics were changed, softened. But the soul of the song remained. And one line — added, not deleted — captured everything:

“A new day will rise.”

That line wasn’t just a lyric. It was a message. A prayer. A defiance. A whisper to those still waiting for hostages. A promise to those who mourned.

🌍 Malmö, Sweden: The Stage and the Storm

When Eden Golan arrived in Malmö for the contest, the pressure was immense. Outside the venue, there were protests. Some shouted “Free Palestine.” Others held up posters calling for peace. Some simply shouted at her. During rehearsals, she was booed. Loudly. Relentlessly. The crowd was divided — not by music, but by politics. The Eurovision organizers muted the crowd noise for broadcast, but the tension pulsed under every note she sang.

And then came the night of the final. She stood alone on the stage — no backup dancers, no flashy effects. Just her voice and a swirling, dark stage designed to feel like the eye of a storm. When she sang “A new day will rise”, the arena seemed to hold its breath.

📊 The Votes

When the jury votes came in, Israel lagged behind. Many juries gave it low scores — whether for artistic reasons or political discomfort, no one could say.

But then came the public vote. From country after country, the numbers surged. And then — the big twist. The vote from the “Rest of the World” came in. For the first time in Eurovision history, countries outside Europe could vote: from the U.S., Canada, Australia, South Africa, and dozens of others. And in that global vote, Israel came out #1.

Many believed it was American support, especially from Jewish and pro-Israel communities, that tipped the scales. Social media had been buzzing for days. Voter guides circulated. Influencers encouraged people to vote “for truth,” “for resilience,” “for Eden.”

In the end, Israel placed second overall, behind only Croatia. Not bad for a song they tried to ban.

✨ Legacy

Eden Golan returned to Israel a hero. The line “A new day will rise” echoed across the country — on banners, on signs at protests and vigils, even etched on murals. It wasn’t just about Eurovision anymore. It had become a symbol of the country’s belief that out of the devastation of October, something would begin again.

Not all agreed with the song, or its message. Eurovision had cracked open the cultural divide over the war, and many saw Israel’s success as controversial. But for Eden Golan — and for many who voted — it was a storm worth walking through. And when she whispered that last line again in interviews, soft and steady — “A new day will rise” — you couldn’t help but believe she meant it.