Singer Hanan Ben Ari presented a new song with the words of a verse from the Book of Lamentations. The song, which was published in honor of the hostages' return, incorporates an emotional recording by the late Jewish music icon Rebbe Shlomo Carlebach.
Hanan wrote on social media, "So many times has this melody played within me over the past year, this is the prayer that we be renewed. So many times I sang to myself this verse that closes the Book of Lamentations, the book of destruction."
"I thought it would end the album that's on the way. I didn't plan to release it like this, but with the good news about the return home of Ziv and Gali and all the hostages, I had a burning desire to release it now, with a sample of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, beloved of my heart. This is my prayer."
"Freedom is a gift from heaven, I am moved with all my people. We are waiting for you!! We are crying and joyful. Am Yisrael Chai."
In the emotional recording Rebbe Shlomo can be heard saying: " You know what the world thinks? The world thinks freedom is something you work for. Freedom is a gift from heaven. You can't get it if God didn't give it to you you don't have it. And if you have it, nobody can take it away, right? Ask Jews, they got a gift from God - Freedom".
"They can put us in gas chambers can put us in prison", he continues, "They can sit in Siberia. They're still free. Freedom is a gift from heaven".