SCoJeC’s YaCHaS project, which aims to connect Israelis living in Scotland, held a gathering in Glasgow to share memories and songs of an Israeli national icon, the singer Arik Einstein, whose sudden death last November, was met with great sadness by the Israeli community in Scotland. To many Israelis, Einstein symbolised the essence of “the old and the beautiful Israel”, and his passing was a great loss to the country they felt they knew and had left behind.
The event marked 30 days since his death, and was held just a couple of days after what would have been his 75th birthday. Singing his unforgettable songs, which many regard as a sound track to the country they miss and long for, united young and old in their grief and memories.
People brought candles, food, drinks, lyrics to songs, DVDs, and anecdotes to share in Einstein’s honour. But there was laughter too, with a lively musical trivia quiz about Einstein’s songs, and everyone wished the evening, a testimony to Einstein’s unique personality and creativity, could have lasted longer.
