Israeli musician and actor Guy Mazig, known for his breakout with the funky 2000s band HaDorbanim (“The Porcupines”), brings a deeply personal touch to this moving episode of “Song of Hope.” Reflecting on his childhood in the mixed city of Lod, Mazig shares a harrowing story of surviving a kidnapping attempt as a young boy—a traumatic memory that echoes painfully in the wake of October 7.
He recounts the fear etched into his memory: “I remember the escape home. My legs gave out from fear, my muscles weren’t functioning… I was walking and shaking.” Despite the terror, he and a friend managed to fight back and escape.
In the days following the devastating Hamas attack on Nahal Oz on October 7, Mazig performed for the surviving female soldiers of the unit, many of whom had lost comrades or endured unimaginable horrors. “Meeting them rekindled my faith in humanity,” he says, his eyes lighting up with renewed hope.
With that spirit, Mazig delivers a heartfelt rendition of Acheret Lo Haiti Shar (“Otherwise I Wouldn’t Sing”), originally performed by Hanan Yovel with lyrics by the legendary Ehud Manor. Written in 1987, the song is a timeless anthem of resilience, declaring that as long as one can still sing, hope endures. And Guy Mazig is still singing.
