Since the morning of October 7, 2023, life in Israel has been marked by profound loss, bravery, and resilience—a daily rhythm punctuated by air raid sirens, reminding us that beneath each ordinary moment lies a stark and unyielding reality.
For those of us who live in the middle of the country, we hear the sirens less frequently, but when they do sound, they’re a call to action—my kids know exactly what to do. We head to the safe room, recite psalms, and remind ourselves that we are in God’s hands. In those intense moments, we take refuge in the knowledge that our lives are ultimately held by a Protector greater than any earthly force.
This reliance on faith has woven itself into every part of our days here in Israel, even into our music. In response to the October 7th massacre and the ongoing conflicts with Hamas and Hezbollah, Israeli artists have poured their hearts into song. These songs, born out of deep pain and a fierce love for our country and for life, echo throughout the nation, giving voice to what so many of us are feeling. One song in particular stands out: Azakot shel Emunah, or Sirens of Faith. Its lyrics, raw and evocative, touch the heart of anyone who hears them. Here’s an English translation:
The radio is on, and there’s a melody;
Songs of hope playing in the background,
So many people searching for comfort,
Deep in their hearts, there’s still a scar.
Trying to understand what happened,
What changed over the past year.
But if we bring faith into the picture,
We don’t have to understand every wound.
Because not everything is always clear, even when everything is broken,
The heart is torn, asking why, but to the Father, everything is known.
Because the Father knows, the Father hears,
Even when the child sheds tears.
Sirens of faith echo in the heavens,
Children lift prayers with tears in their eyes,
Heal this heart,
It can’t bear this pain.
Yes, it’s hard, it’s painful, it cuts at the heart,
People are searching within,
To see the light in the darkness,
To glimpse the good on the horizon,
To live in peace, not with a hand on the pulse.
An entire nation trying to rise,
Seeking an emergency exit,
Crying out to You because You are compassionate,
Pleading for You to send healing to the world,
For us to rise from all our troubles and burdens,
Our strength is depleted;
We can’t wait any longer for peace in the streets.
Just have mercy on us.
We’re a small nation in this world,
But on the map, we’ll remain here, even after everyone else.
Sirens of faith echo in the heavens,
Children lift prayers with tears in their eyes,
Heal this heart,
It can’t bear this pain.
The song captures a timeless truth: that in moments of sorrow, when we’re tempted to ask, “Why?”, we don’t have to have all the answers. When our lives feel shattered, and our cries go up to Heaven, our faith can hold us, sustaining us even when understanding eludes us.
This is a theme familiar to anyone who has read the Book of Job. In the midst of Job’s unimaginable suffering, he cries out, seeking to understand the reason for his pain. Job’s story reminds us that, while his friends tried to explain his suffering in human terms, God’s response was not to answer Job’s questions, but to show him the vastness and wisdom of His ways. Job ultimately realizes that he can trust God’s goodness, even without understanding every aspect of his suffering. As he proclaims in Job 42:2-3:
This idea—that we don’t need to understand in order to trust—is at the core of our lives as believers. We see it expressed in Sirens of Faith: “Trying to understand what happened, but if we bring faith into the picture, we don’t have to understand every wound.” This song echoes Job’s revelation that God’s wisdom is beyond our grasp, yet still, we can trust that there’s a purpose, a design to everything, even when it’s hidden from us.
In these words, Job speaks to an experience that any person of faith who has endured suffering can relate to: even when we endure loss and pain, we still affirm that God’s name is blessed. In Israel, the phrase “Sirens of Faith” means that each alarm we hear is not just a call to shelter, but a call to remember who holds our lives, to feel the faith that strengthens us.
Through all of this, we find hope by remembering that God hears our prayers, sees our tears, and carries our sorrows. The beauty of Sirens of Faith is in its call to God as “Father”—not a distant deity, but a loving Parent who is with us in our heartbreak. And when we sing these songs, when we pray, we feel that strength even more.
“Sirens of faith echo in the heavens,
Children lift prayers with tears in their eyes,
Heal this heart,
It can’t bear this pain.”
It’s a hope that we share as Jews and Christians alike: that one day, peace will come, that the pain we’re experiencing will be turned to joy, and that this nation will know a day when sirens no longer sound.
Until then, we lean into the trust that, as the psalmist wrote:
We know that while the world may tremble, there’s a foundation that will not be shaken. We continue to sing, to pray, and to hope—knowing that, though we may not understand every wound, we are held by the One who heals all pain.
In the words of Sirens of Faith: we are waiting, trusting, and lifting our voices in prayer and song, knowing that our Father hears.
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