Liraz Charhi: Mishehu ("Someone")

“Tired and hungry waiting for a sign on paths of dust and time.” This sentence from the song Mishehu (“Someone”) made actress and singer Liraz Charhi think of the soldiers, the hostages and her family in Kibbutz Be'eri who lived through the horrors of October 7th. However, the next sentence, “We will meet at the end of roads and questions, we will meet after many days, after many nights,” is a source of strength and optimism.

Hoping and anticipating peace against all odds is in Liraz Charhi’s blood. Some international audiences may recognize her from her role as an Israeli Mossad agent in the Israeli espionage TV series “Tehran” on Apple TV+. However, in her music, the Israeli-Iranian singer relentlessly promotes peace between the two enemy countries that make up her identity.

In recent years, her music had been devoted to a fusion of modern Israeli pop with Iranian music, but for this project she chose a vintage all-Israeli staple. The ballad Mishehu was made famous by one of Israel’s most well-known female singers, Yehudit Ravitz. Its winding and meandering melody was composed by Matti Caspi, and Ehud Manor wrote its lyrics in memory of his father, who died when Manor was 15. The song was later performed by Caspi at Manor’s funeral.

Mishehu was famously performed by Ravitz at the 1978 Israel Song Festival, which for the first time that year became a contest intended to pick the Israeli participant in the next Eurovision Song Contest. Mishehu, which later appeared on Ravitz’s eponymous debut album, was not sent to the Eurovision, but it became a hit in Israel, as well as a staple at Yom HaZikaron ceremonies – Israel's official Remembrance Day for its Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terrorism – and annually, an essential component of any Israeli radio playlist on this sad day.