Israel Hour Radio - Israeli Music Podcast

This July 4th, America turned 250 years old...and on Israel Hour Radio, we celebrated the only way we know how: with music! But not just any music - today's show is a full hour of your favorite English-language classics, translated and sung entirely in Hebrew. Turns out Israeli singers have been covering American hits for decades, and the results are somewhere between hilarious and beautiful. You'...

Summer is here, and with it comes your official Israeli summer soundtrack! It's time for our monthly look into the hottest tracks and the hottest singers - ready to entertain you in the hottest months of the year. And what a playlist it is! You'll hear Dudu Tassa, Benaia Barabi, Hatikva 6, Noam Bettan, Yuval Raphael, Shiri Maimon, Odeya, and SO many more. Judging from the feedback from our live au...

Sometimes our broadcasts are emotional, sometimes our broadcasts are informative. And sometimes, our show is just plain fun...and today is one of those days. In honor of a couple of our favorite singers (Shiri Maimon and Eden Golan) appearing on the current season of Israel's 'Dancing With the Stars' - we decided to play songs about dancing. Turns out, there are a lot of them! And we promise...it'...

Last week on Israel Hour Radio, we brought you the most popular Israeli songs of 2020, that crazy year in which the entire world shut down. But after the show, we realized that there were SO many more songs we didn't include - but should have. Throughout the pandemic, Israel's musical community kept us entertained, comforted, and inspired, over and over again. So this week, we present part 2 of ou...

All aboard! The Israeli Music Time Machine is ready to depart 2026...and land in 2020! Who doesn't remember 2020? Probably the most interesting year of our lifetimes, 2020 was marked by the outbreak of a global pandemic that disrupted literally EVERY aspect of life. Thank God for Israeli music - there to comfort us, console us, and keep us company during some very difficult days. How was Israeli m...

Three words: NEW. ISRAELI. MUSIC. First and foremost, this show exists to bring you the latest and greatest in music from Israel...and it's been a while since we've lived up to that promise! So today, we'll catch you up quickly, so you know EXACTLY what to add to your next Spotify playlist. This week: new tunes by Omer Adam, Noa Kirel, Eden Ben Zaken, Mosh Ben Ari, Avraham Tal, and many more. Thes...

Not all soldiers fight on the battlefield. Since before the founding of the State of Israel, some men and women of the IDF served their country in various IDF Musical Ensembles, entertaining the troops and uplifting the country. Through the years, these talented groups created some of the most beloved Israeli classics of all time. Some sing of the beauty of the Land of Israel. Some mourn fallen Is...

It's that time again...our favorite show of the year! Sure, Israel Hour Radio celebrates Israel EVERY week. But on Yom Ha'atzmaut, we get to play our favorite patriotic, blue and white, pride-inducing LOVE songs dedicated to the State of Israel! How many other countries regularly celebrate their nation with new songs, year after year? Only in Israel do the country's leading musicians create new so...

Every year at this time, Israeli society takes a trip on an emotional roller coaster. On Yom HaShoah we make time to pay tribute to the victims - and survivors - of the Holocaust. A week later, on Yom HaZikaron, we remember those who lost their lives while fighting for our freedom and our survival. Then, the very next day, Independence Day, we celebrate like there's no tomorrow. If we don't rememb...

Why is this Passover different from all others? This year, as we ask that ancient question around the seder table, the answer feels closer than ever...because this year, we're celebrating Pesach in the middle of war. Israelis are running to shelters day and night, and yet somehow, we're still singing. This week, we share Passover songs old and new - many of them fresh, modern interpretations of ou...

When life gets hard, we turn to comfort food — and when times are really scary, Israelis turn to their music. With the war with Iran weighing heavily on everyone's hearts, we asked our Facebook community a simple question: what Israeli song brings you comfort during difficult times? From songs of prayer to songs of unity to the most patriotic anthems you know and love, this week's playlist is a wa...

In the midst of war and uncertainty, Israel's vibrant music scene continues to thrive. So what are Israelis listening to RIGHT NOW? Even as the war with Iran rages on, the songs topping the Israeli charts aren't battle hymns — they're the same catchy, feel-good tunes that were popular before the fighting began. Sometimes the most powerful statement a people can make is simply to keep dancing! We'r...

With the Iran war still very much on our minds, International Women's Day takes on a special significance in Israel. From the brave women of the IDF, to the women left behind by the men of the IDF, the roles of Israel's women are more important than ever. We salute them every year on International Women's Day, but this year, we are especially grateful for the way women have kept us safe and sane t...

Why is this Purim different from all others? The day before this podcast was recorded, Israel attacked Iran, and 'Operation Lion's Roar' began. While we're all extremely optimistic about what the Middle East might look like as a result of this war, Israelis are extremely tense - and tired - in the meantime. We've been running in and out of shelters ever since the war began, and we've been disturbe...

In ancient times, Kohanim (priests) and Levi'im (Levites) were responsible for most of the holy work in the Temple in Jerusalem. While their role is now significantly diminished in Jewish life, today's Kohanim and Levites continue to trace their lineage all the way back to Aaron in the Bible. So if you know anyone named Cohen or Levy, they're probably connected to that lineage. It just so happens...

There's a certain February holiday with non-Jewish roots that has to do with hearts, cupid, love, and overpriced outings. It also appears to be VERY popular in Israel. So it's as good a time as any to spotlight your favorite cheesy Israeli love songs! Sure, the lyrics may make you nauseous, but that what makes these songs so good, right? From classic love songs to contemporary romantic ballads, yo...

On Sunday, February 8, 2026, the Israeli music world lost Matti Caspi - one of the most significant, influential Israeli singer/songwriters of all time. Matti passed away at 76 years old following a long battle with cancer, leaving behind a treasure trove of some of Israel most beloved musical classics. We couldn't possibly do justice to Matti's amazing career in one hour, but we'll do our best to...

What are Israelis listening to RIGHT NOW? We consider it our solemn responsibility to connect you to the hottest sounds of TODAY - so each month, we make sure to bring you the latest and greatest tunes coming out of the Holy Land. This week, we present new Israeli music that's inspirational, sentimental, pratiotic, thought-provoking, and just plain wacky. We're also excited to introduce you to the...

For reasons we don't quite understand, recently the internet has been full of people posting memories of 2016. Why? We have no idea...but we're happy to be followers, so we're jumping on the bandwagon. And we're glad we did! It turns out that 2016 brought us some amazing Israeli music that you're sure to love. Join us as we hop into the Israeli Music Time Machine, and land in the year of the Trump...

On Shabbat, January 3, 2026, the Shron family was privileged to celebrate the Bar Mitzvah of our youngest son, Tobey. He completely blew us away with his knowledge, skill, and confidence, and his parents are still bursting with pride weeks later. Against that backdrop this week, Josh couldn't help but share songs about children and childhood, along with the blessings that all parents wish for thei...

What did Israeli music sound like in 2025? To get an understanding of the pulse of the country, all you need to do is turn on the radio. So for our final Israel Hour Radio broadcast of 2025, we proudly present the most played songs of the year on Israeli radio stations nationwide. While you're listening, tell us: What was your favorite Israeli song in 2025? Did it make our countdown? Find out here...

On the eve of Chanukah, the world learned of the horrific terror attack in Sydney, Australia. Hours later, Israel Hour Radio was on the air, ready to play jolly, happy, upbeat songs in honor of Chanukah. How do we celebrate one of the joyous holidays of the year against the backdrop of tragedy? By doing what we always do...singing. Because at Israel Hour Radio, we sing in good times and bad. We si...

Every so often on our show, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. When we set out to share the newest Israeli music of the past few weeks, we quickly found some great new songs...but when you put them all together, you get one fantastic hour of unforgettable music - sure to remain on your personal playlist for the foreseeable future! You'll hear emotional new songs by Banaia Barabi and E...

The end of the Soviet Union. The Gulf War. Kan Noladeti. What do these things have in common? They all came to be in 1991! Let's take another ride in the Israeli Music Time Machine, and let's explore the Israeli music of 1991, shall we? This week on Israel Hour Radio, We take you back to a time when classic artists like Gidi Gov, Ethnix, Etti Ankri, and Yehuda Poliker ruled the airwaves...and the...

What are you thankful for? With Thanksgiving approaching in the USA, millions turn their thoughts this week towards gratitude. And although Thanksgiving isn't really celebrated in Israel, there are plenty of Israeli songs that express appreciation and thanks for the blessings in our lives. But this year, with hostages home and a fragile peace in place for now, many of us in Israel are feeling part...