Eldad shraiber - IL
By Jordan at The Zion ListInstagram usually gets me completely wrong. But when it suggested Israeli musician Eldad Shraiber, the algorithm finally got one right.
A few months ago, I was wasting time on the soul-sucking social media platform when a reel by Eldad popped up on my feed. I was immediately taken in by this energetic young reservist in an IDF armored Hummer, fervently strumming his guitar while his army buddy sat in the back of the vehicle tapping on his M-16 like it was a hand drum.
The guy playing the guitar was Eldad, singing his heart out with such conviction and passion, completely caught up in the moment.
I’m a new oleh and have no frame of reference for what it’s like to be in the army or to serve as a reservist. But seeing this video gave me a small window into what it might be like to be out there on duty, entertaining yourselves and passing the time while waiting for something exciting (or scary) to happen.
As I continued scrolling through his feed, I started to get a feel for who Eldad is. He’s that young Israeli guy in his early 20s who has spent an insane amount of the past three years in and out of miluim. You see him during a short break from service, at the beach with his friends or at synagogue for Kabbalat Shabbat. In the song הסבב ה-200, he references his “200 days,” singing about the seemingly endless cycle of being called up again and again while counting down the minutes until he can return to normal life.
I couldn’t dig up much about Eldad online. He seems to be a newcomer to the music scene, and just released his debut album, נקודת מבט, this past June. There are a bunch of tracks I’ve had on repeat, including הסבב ה-200. I also love “Yeled,” a fast-paced acoustic jam with Eldad’s booming, deep voice drawing you in.
I’m really enjoying the album, but I have to say, the best way to experience Eldad Shraiber is through his Instagram page. Most of his feed is dominated by impromptu guitar playing, sometimes solo, sometimes with a bunch of other musicians.
But I think what keeps me coming back is that it’s about more than the music. His feed gives you a glimpse into the life of a generation of young Israelis whose early 20s include friends, beaches, Shabbat, and then heading right back into miluim.
And through all of it, there’s an optimism and lightheartedness in his posts that’s hard not to get caught up in. Watching him reminds me that this is also the generation carrying Israel forward.
And from where I’m sitting, that gives me a lot of hope.
At a Glance
Who: Eldad Shraiber
Where: Israel
Why It’s On The List: For great music and an infectious glimpse into life between miluim call-ups.
Find Them: Instagram
Listen: Spotify
Images courtesy of Instagram @eldadshraibermusic
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