But more than that: Bon Jovi stood with Israel and gave us reasons to smile. Especially last night, when we really needed it.
“We’re finally here. It took me long enough,” he said in the concert.
The frontman introduced keyboardist David Bryan – aka David Bryan Rashbaum, who’s Jewish and once told The Forward that he blows the shofar at his synagogue on Rosh Hashana – and said that 45 years after sending him to piano lessons, Rashbaum’s dad would be so proud that he was playing in Israel. Then, the band played “Who Says You Can’t Go Home.”
On what was a difficult night for many, attending a rock concert less than an hour after a terrorist attack, Bon Jovi dedicated two empowering songs to Israelis. First “We Don’t run,” which he said “should be the fight song for Tel Aviv” and features lyrics like “We don’t run, I’m standing my ground, We don’t run, And we don’t back down.” Then, “It’s My Life” with: “Better stand tall when they’re calling you out, Don’t bend, don’t break, baby, don’t back down.”
https://youtu.be/nxDTi0CEx5o
An unequivocal show of support for Israel. AND a huge f*** you to Roger Waters.
Mensches. Now added to my list.
Anyway, for those of you us who missed the concert, enjoy the following videos from it.
Update: Some reactions from the show.
https://twitter.com/BonJoviUpdates/status/650416718733537280
https://twitter.com/zivshapiraa/status/650442523735945216
https://twitter.com/brianoflondon/status/650418590735314944
https://twitter.com/Hilajes81/status/650413411050856448
https://twitter.com/BonJoviUpdates/status/650402654464643073
