_Rock in the Red Zone_: A Filmmaker’s Journey

The following was written by documentary filmmaker Laura Bialis (the subject of Heeb‘s article "Gimme Shelter: War Rages and Sderot and So Does the Music") who moved to Sderot, Israel, in December 2007 to make a film about how music sustains the city’s war-weary inhabitants. Sderot, according to the UK’s Daily Mail, is the most bombed place on earth. For more info on Bialis’s film, go towww.sderotmovie.com.

"You can’t record music in Sderot. There can be a rocket attack any minute. What if you are in the middle of a good take? Who is going to want to record that way?" said Avi Vaknin, a singer/songwriter from Sderot, as sweat rolled down his tan, stubbly face. It was a summer night in July 2007, and Vaknin had finally allowed me to interview him for the first time in his studio in Netivot, a town 10 minutes down the road from his hometown. He was skeptical of news reporters, and it took me a while to convince him that I was different.

Who could have guessed that this articulate, direct man—with a tendency to keep his guard up—would someday become my husband?

As a documentary filmmaker from Los Angeles, my work has taken me all over the world: from labor camps in the Russian steppes to war-torn Kosovo, and now to the Negev desert just a mile away from Gaza. I had come here to tell a story that the mainstream news was missing. The story of a small Israeli town that, despite being hit by daily rocket attacks for seven years, still manages to produce some of the world’s most prolific musicians. In fact, it’s known as the Liverpool of Israel.

Sderot was established in the 1950s as a transit camp for immigrants from all over the Arab world: Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Iran, Iraq, Kurdistan. They were told to forget their old cultures and become "new Israelis." But two things were too strong to suppress: their pride and their music. They played darbukas and ouds on neighborhood porches and sang traditional melodies—prayers from the synagogue with a distinctly north African beat and Arabic music from weddings and henna ceremonies. But most Israelis considered the music of the old world shameful, and for years mainstream Israeli music lacked even a hint of Middle Eastern flavor. Then, in the ’80’s and ’90s, came an explosion of ethnically infused Israeli rock from Sderot. Legend goes that it started with Sfatayim (Lips), a local wedding band that wrote a rock song with a Moroccan beat and sent it to the radio. Israeli music would never be the same. Teapacks and Knesiat Hasechel (Church of Reason) followed, and are now are two of the most popular rock bands in Israel.

Sderot has certainly changed over the years, but I had no trouble finding an active music scene and kids who are confident they can make it, including a world-famous teen choir called Tzerei Sderot, led by former hard rocker Noam Shlomo, and Hagit Yaso, a gorgeous Ethiopian singer who has just been accepted into the prestigious IDF army band. Her voice rocks your soul. When I first met Avi Vaknin, he was the manager of SDEROCK, a bomb-shelter turned rock club for teenagers. Working with several hip-hop bands, SDEROCK produced an album, The Hope Project. Vaknin asked the kids to submit their lyrics. "I got twenty songs, and they were all about being afraid to die," he says. The group performed all over Israel to create awareness about what it’s like to live under constant attack.

"That’s for the kids," Avi explained. "I have my own music."

When Avi finally let his guard down, he invited me to one of his rehearsals. As he sang rock music full of soul and protest, I turned to see my producer with tears streaming down her face. These lyrics could have only come out of Sderot after seven years of bombings. The words echo with feelings of abandonment, the tone hanging somewhere between Bob Dylan and Coldplay. I had found my movie. And I fell in love. A little over a year later, Avi and I got married.

And now I am living in Sderot, finishing my film. I now know all the politics, gossip and inner workings of the music scene. A couple of weeks ago, in the middle of the war with Gaza, Avi and I were at the local Supersol market. We chatted with Haim Ulliel (of the band Sfatayim) in the detergent aisle, and ran into Ran Elmaliach, the guitarist for Knesiat Hasechel, by the cheese counter. Just then, the building shook as F-16s roared overhead. I turned to Avi and said, "Where else in the world can you go to the supermarket, hear fighter jets, and run into a rock star?" Only in Sderot.

What do you think?

About The Author

37 Responses

  1. AngelaE8654

    “You can’t record music in Sderot. There can be a rocket attack any minute. What if you are in the middle of a good take? Who is going to want to record that way?” said Avi Vaknin

    Wow. What a sad way to have to look at life. And yet, you chose to emb

    Reply
  2. brainyfox

    Great piece. I love seeing Jewish related, thoughtful pieces on here. It is so refreshing!

    Reply
  3. KostasP

    I agree with Angela; you have a quite an adventure in you to go through this.

    Reply
  4. soulgeek

    Hi, i visited Sderot last year in June, though it was summers but was a pleasant experience, and Yes,its a dream destinations fro dance or music shoots.

    Reply
  5. emilyrisa

    Fascinating story.. I would love to read more articles about artists and their experiences in volatile regions of the world.

    Reply
  6. KyllieKay80

    Great story laura you really have guts please checkout my weight loss blogs

    Reply
  7. ShanelDaley

    Great piece. I love seeing Jewish related, thoughtful pieces on here. It is so refreshing!

    Reply
  8. Norman_Fell

    A cute piece, but I’d prefer Heeb continue to showcase stories more suited to a self-hating audience.

    Reply
  9. john

    Laura, this is an amazing and inspiring story. I will look out for more of your adventures and travel stroies. John,

    Reply
  10. amiwilsn

    O really I appreciate this this is important thing and thanks for giving information.

    Reply
  11. bestonwww

    Angela is right, you can not register a record there, is very dangerous.

    Reply
  12. Portlandwindowcleaning

    That’s crazy. The most bombed place on earth.

    Sounds like a very tough place to live.

    Reply
  13. bataspur

    “When Avi finally let his guard down, he invited me to one of his rehearsals. As he sang rock music full of soul and protest, I turned to see my producer with tears streaming down her face. These lyrics could have only come out of Sderot after seven years

    Reply
  14. bataspur

    When Avi finally let his guard down, he invited me to one of his rehearsals. As he sang rock music full of soul and protest, I turned to see my producer with tears streaming down her face. These lyrics could have only come out of Sderot after seven ye

    Reply
  15. paolosan888

    I would really like to visit Israel one time. I admire it through photos, internet but never gone there.
    Awesome Story Laura, God Bless you

    Reply
  16. pudsey

    I would also love to read more articles about artists and their experiences in such interesting regions of the world.

    Reply
  17. tylerparkman

    An interesting story, but I’m more used to stories more directed towards a self-hating audience.

    Tyler

    Reply
  18. Joanna

    Yeah, you can’t focus recording any sound or music in Sderot, you can’t even stand watching a 30 minute tv show. LoL.. this is a good story.

    Reply
  19. steven

    Wow, great article. You really communicated what it is like in Sderot – to live there and to know its music scene. When I vacation in Israel, I hope to make it there.

    Reply
  20. CharleyBrown

    This was an incredibly powerful write-up Laura. I can’t say that I’d like to visit Sderot myself, but you really showcased how life is living there. The quote about not being able to record music speaks leaps and bounds.

    Reply
  21. auctions

    Great story.. I like to read more articles about artists and their experiences..Thanks for sharing this good article..

    Reply
  22. Ronenergy

    I would like to send my birthday money to help the children in Sderot, Israel, can someone tell me how i can do this?

    Reply
  23. joshua_neuman

    Sure! Just send it to Heeb Media, PO BOX 687, NY, NY 10012 (ATTN: Josh)

    Reply
  24. chloeb

    this takes guts. just found this site, it reminds me of something ive read before..

    Reply
  25. DualActionCleanse

    Heeb magazine is one of the most entertainer and write good story always i read this filmmakers journey and enjoy this story . it is very good climax in this story………

    Reply
  26. tuffel

    It is very informative about the war in Israel. Writer has done very well work and documentary is very real. I read your full story and i wonderful for this hard job there can be a rocket attack any minute……

    Reply
  27. acluett

    Very nice and informative articles. How I wish I could study more the history of Sredot, Israel for me to have some ideas no how to help people there.

    Reply

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