Brothers in Arms for Yom HaZikaron - Aviva Rajsky & Tom Bellman

As Israel prepares to mark Yom HaZikaron (Remembrance Day for her fallen soldiers), see the link to “Brothers in Arms,” an iconic peace/anti-war anthem penned decades ago by Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits. The song is performed by Rabbi Cantor Aviva Rajsky and guitarist Tom Bellman, who led services at Toronto’s Congregation Habonim.

As the war continues to drag on in Gaza, my thoughts turn to "Brothers in Arms," an iconic peace/anti-war anthem penned by Mark Knopfler in the 1980s. (Mark Knopfler's Hungarian father, Erwin Knopfler, an architect and accomplished chess player, was a political prisoner during the 1930s. He fled his native Hungary in 1939 to escape Nazi persecution.) 

The song reminds us of the pain and futility of all the wars fought since the beginning of time. Like the prophet Isaiah's wish for a time when "nations no longer raise up swords against nations," Knopfler concludes his song with the plaintive yearning that one day humanity will finally realize this simple truth: "We're fools to make war on our brothers in arms."

I first remember hearing "Brothers in Arms" in Israel at a Yom HaZikaron ceremony prepared by Israeli soldiers in memory of their courageous comrades who lost their lives defending Israel. As this year's Yom HaZikaron approached, I thought more and more about the war in Gaza and the message of this song's lyrics.

So, a few months ago, I asked Aviva and Tom to record their version of the song - and here is the link to their evocative and profoundly moving interpretation of "Brothers in Arms" that they recently recorded at Toronto's Congregation Habonim.  

As the loss of life during the Gaza conflict mounts along with the suffering that follows in its wake, the message of "Brothers in Arms" is perhaps worthy of reflecting upon - now more than ever.

Let us all hope that, in the coming days, all the Israeli hostages will return home, that the war in Gaza ends soon, and that a lasting peace descends upon Israel and her neighbours.

Eli Rubenstein