In honor of Israel’s 77th Independence Day, internationally renowned singer Netta Barzilai has partnered with the Jewish Agency for Israel to release a powerful new rendition of the iconic Israeli anthem “Chai,” originally written by Ehud Manor and famously performed by Ofra Haza at the 1983 Eurovision Song Contest.
This modern adaptation brings together a diverse group of participants: new immigrants, olim, who arrived during wartime, young volunteers from across the Jewish world, Jewish Agency shlichim (“emissaries”) who served Jewish communities worldwide amid surging antisemitism, youths from the wartorn regions of southern and northern Israel, survivors of terrorism and freed hostage Dafna Elyakim. Collectively, their appearance in the music video delivers a unifying message of hope, resilience and mutual responsibility.
Since the Oct. 7 attacks, the Jewish Agency has been leading efforts to rally the global Jewish community in support of Israel by advocating for the hostages, strengthening Israeli society, and reinforcing the bond between Israel and world Jewry. It operates in partnership with the Jewish Federations of North America, the World Zionist Organization and Keren Hayesod.
The video features individuals who symbolize the resilience and diversity of Israeli society. At its emotional climax, Elyakim joins Barzilai to sing the powerful line: “So here’s to life—to all my friends and to those yearning to return.”
Throughout the video, participants are shown standing on the soil of Israel—initially dry and barren but gradually renewed by their presence, symbolizing rebirth and unity. The project reflects the Jewish Agency’s mission to rebuild and heal Israel while fostering mutual responsibility and a shared destiny with Jewish communities around the world.
Maj. Gen. (res.) Doron Almog, chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel, said: “On the 77th Independence Day of the State of Israel, as our hearts remain with the hostages who have yet to return home. This new arrangement of the song ‘Chai’ reminds us of the Jewish people’s strength in choosing life, even in the most difficult moments. Netta Barzilai, together with new olim, shlichim, youth and victims of terror, embodies the hope, mutual responsibility and unity that connect Israel with the Jewish world. The Jewish Agency will continue to stand at the forefront of connection and action for Israel, and our brothers and sisters wherever they may be.”
Yehuda Setton, CEO of the Jewish Agency for Israel, said that “the connection with Netta is moving because it manages to touch the heart of everything we are experiencing during this tumultuous year. In this video clip, one sees with their own eyes what we feel in our hearts: the power of hope, partnership and rebuilding. This is not just a song—it’s a living declaration: that light is greater than darkness, that connections are stronger than divisions and that the people of Israel, in the Land of Israel and throughout the world, continue to build and to dream even in the hardest of times.”
“Since Oct. 7, the strongest feeling I’ve had within our collective sense of loneliness is that it demands togetherness,” said Barzilai. “That our unity is our strength. Through community and people, we amplify the light in this ongoing darkness. Ehud Manor’s timeless lyrics serve as a poignant backdrop to the important efforts and human connections cultivated by the Jewish Agency.
“I had the privilege of holding hands with Dafna Elyakim, who returned from the inferno in Gaza, and singing with her, we must never forget for even a moment, for our people must return.
“In this spirit of unity, even in the difficult hour of war, we must look inward and hold on to our values, so that the amazing people I have the privilege of meeting each day will also be the Israel reflected in the eyes of the world,” Barzilai continued. “That we may return to loving ourselves, and, in doing so, as Manor himself said, we must be able to ‘extend a hand to friends across the sea,’ to bring peace between us and with the entire world.”
“Chai” was originally penned by the Manor, who died 20 years ago this month, and composed by Avi Toledano. The song rose to international acclaim in Israel when Ofra Haza’s rendition earned second place at the 1983 Eurovision Song Contest in Munich. This new version bridges generations and moments of national significance, echoing Israel’s enduring spirit and its people’s strength.