Aviv Geffen dedicated one of his songs to the people of Bnei Brak, locked down at the time due to the high number of residents ill with COVID-19.
By SHULAMIT ROSENAviv Geffen in concert via livestream, June 2020(photo credit: MOSHE SHAI/FLASH90)
It’s an interesting phenomenon. I personally noticed it twice on the same day.First I watched rock star Aviv Geffen’s emotional May 22 interview with Dana Weiss on Channel 12 News. The conversation, originally intended to focus on his efforts on behalf of stage workers financially affected by COVID-19, took an unexpected turn when Geffen related the following story.During the height of the corona pandemic in Israel, Geffen gave a performance to an empty concert hall, streamed live to fans across Israel. He dedicated one of his songs to the people of Bnei Brak, locked down at the time due to the high number of residents ill with COVID-19.“I told them: ‘Leave Bnei Brak alone, they’re not to blame,’” Geffen explained to Weiss. He followed with his potentially iconic declaration: “They believe in God, I in Google.”Following the concert, Geffen checked his phone and found no less than 420 thank-you messages from residents of Bnei Brak. Wiping tears from his eyes, he told Weiss that he sat down right then and there to read the messages and cry. At 4 a.m. they found him still sitting there and sent him home.The interesting part of this story is that Geffen is well known as a proponent of leftist ideology. For years he attacked right-wing politicians and religious groups alike.Why the change in attitude toward haredim?The same day, I read IDF Maj.-Gen. (res.) Roni Numa’s remarks about haredim. Numa managed the emergency IDF teams stationed in Bnei Brak following the major outbreak of COVID-19 in the predominantly haredi city.Considering the tension surrounding the topic of haredim and the army, bringing soldiers to the city and forcing the residents into lockdown must have been a daunting task. As Numa acknowledged, “There was a lot of suspicion between us and the haredim in Bnei Brak.”But coming off his stint there, Numa’s impressions are surprisingly positive. “I went through a journey where I think I can say with certainty that I am aware of things today I did not know before. Therefore, I am much more respectful and appreciative of the precious people found there [in Bnei Brak]. They really want to give and be a part of things.”Numa also commented on the disparity between the secular and haredi lifestyles. “And the differences [between them and us] should be maintained. That’s not the problem, on the contrary,” he stated.So the question remains, what caused the turnabout, the shifting of perspective for Geffen and Numa?Only they can fully answer the question, but I’ll venture a guess. Geffen mentioned to Weiss that he started hanging out in Bnei Brak, located not far from his home in Tel Aviv. He brings his kids there on Fridays, samples authentic Shabbat food, visits friends and talks to the locals.The answer is obvious. Forging relationships with haredim, seeing the real people, the real community, the real story – and not the media’s false portrayal of them – is an eye-opener, one that our so small and yet so disjointed country could employ as an effective tool for anyone interested in narrowing the divide.
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