When we first launched Israel from the Inside’s podcast several years ago, I turned to a student at Shalem College, Shaked Jehuda, and asked her if we might use the melody she’d written for the classic medieval poem by Rabbi Shlomo Ibn Gvirol and the video of her performance of that song with Eyal Gesundheit. Shaked graciously agreed, and for more than three years, her beautiful melody and inspiring voice have been an integral part of the podcast.

Since then, Shaked has graduated (and gotten married) and Israel has changed a great deal. Given all that has transpired here, it seemed appropriate to use the podcast music as an opportunity to offer a platform to young Israeli musicians whose work reflects the aches and hopes of today’s Israeli society.

I have lost count of how many listeners have written to say how moved they were by Shaked’s melody and performance. Some, assuming that she must be a musician on tour, have even written to find out where she’s performing next! I am beyond grateful to Shaked for allowing her talent to shape and enrich these hundreds of episodes over the years.

Beginning this week, we’ll be using a new song, by a young Israeli artist whose music is a direct response to the sadness and hope of our times. We’ll rotate between performers periodically, and for this next period, will be fortunate to hear Roni Bar Hadas’ song “If there’s still hope in the world.”

We’ll soon be running a column about Roni and her music. In the meantime, above, there’s a video of someone’s recording of her performing, and below, a studio-quality recording of the song.

The video above is subtitled, and both the English and Hebrew lyrics are provided below. We’re very grateful to Roni for her permission to use her music to accompany and inspire these conversations and look forward to our listeners getting to know more about her and her work in the weeks to come.

Nothing will ever be the same again Morning has risen once more and he still hasn't returned Just yesterday he promised to protect me under the blanket How can one even see a rosy future in the darkness? If there's hope in the world I'd give everything for it Love and not strength Another day, another breath From deep within the abyss I will smile again Even if it's not clear why Even if it's not clear how Even if it's not clear how Between flowing tears, staring in an empty room A chain of worries, the thread is choking Only in a moment of silence could I feel you close The window is open, waiting for some light to enter If there's hope in the world I'd give everything for it Love and not strength Another day, another breath From deep within the abyss I will smile again Even if it's not clear why Even if it's not clear how From deep within the abyss I will smile again Even if it's not clear why Even if it's not clear how Even if it's not clear how.

שום דבר כבר לא יהיה אותו דבר בוקר שוב עלה והוא עוד לא חזר רק אתמול הבטיח שישמור עלי מתחת לשמיכה איך בכלל אפשר לראות עתיד ורוד בתוך החשכה? אם יש בעולם תקווה אתן הכל בשבילה אהבה ולא כוח עוד יום עוד נשימה מתוך תהום עמוקה עוד אשוב לחייך גם אם לא ברור למה גם אם לא ברור איך בין דמעות שוטפות בוהה בחדר ריק שרשרת דאגות, החוט חונק רק ברגע של דממה יכולתי להרגיש אותך קרוב החלון פתוח מחכה שיכנס קצת אור אם יש בעולם תקווה אתן הכל בשבילה אהבה ולא כוח עוד יום עוד נשימה מתוך תהום עמוקה עוד אשוב לחייך גם אם לא ברור למה גם אם לא ברור איך

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"If there's still hope in the world ... I'd give everything for it."