Hila Ben David and her 3rd Temple
By Zanna Linskaia
From the Jewish history we know, that the First Temple in Jerusalem, constructed by King Solomon, was destroyed by Babylonians in 586 BCE, and the destruction of the Second Temple, built after Babylonian exile in 515 BCE, occurred in 70 CE during the first Jewish–Roman war. The Western Wall, a remaining part of the 2nd Temple, became a central site of Jewish prayer and pilgrimage.
While the theologians of Rabbinical Judaism are waiting for Mashiach and the construction of the 3rd Temple in Jerusalem, one of the most talented Israeli singers, Hila Ben David, made an extraordinary decision. She created her own virtual Temple HALO, where she presents her new songs – Temple capsules, as she called them.
Once you listen to her magnificent voice, you will never forget it. Hila Ben David is not only an outstanding singer, but also a songwriter, composer, producer and the mother of three children. She is an international phenomenon, who transfers Hebrew ancient prayers into contemporary magic music. Her repertoire combines Sephardic poems with Hasidic melodies, traditional Torah prayers with modern vocal techniques.
Her interpretations of the ancient Hebrew prayers and spiritual artistic devotion have been praised by millions of her fans and followers online from 190 countries. They admire the emotional power and the strength of her voice in her videos, records, live performances on her YouTube channel, Facebook and HALO Temple, comparing Hila with Celine Dion and Whitney Houston. "Your singing was truly a blessing, like angels were among us” – wrote her fan.
When in one of her interviews the singer was asked, why did she create HALO Temple, Hila answered: – ”Many years ago I had a vision in my head. I felt that I wanted a spiritual space, that will be holy and sacred, that it cannot be destroyed. A place that unites people from all around the world – from any place, any time, with God and with Holy energy of the source. And I wanted to do it with the 1st language – Hebrew, relying on the sacred music.”
Her fans and listeners wonder – Why now, at this turbulent time? Hila believes that in our lives loneliness and anxiety increase and it is the best time to bring to people a space and return ones to themselves. She hopes that her songs touch the different zones between human beings and Creator.
“I’m very honored that people can use this bridge, – says the artist, use that tool to reach His energy from any place and any time. Many people live apart from their hearts, apart from their inner passion and inner soul.”
Hila Ben David sees her mission to fulfill this gap through her songs. She also believes that her virtual 3rd Temple HALO is a place like Jews used to have thousands of years ago, but her Temple would never be destroyed.
Besides her online activities, the singer gives many live concerts and performances not only in Israel, but in Germany, Italy, Spain, USA, Canada, Japan in English, Spanish, Italian languages, but her favorite pieces are always in Hebrew.
What stays in my mind more than her incredible voice and the touching performances, is an unforgettable video that Hila Ben David, granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor, made in December 2023. She went to a kibbutz near Gaza after the massacre by Hamas and Palestinians. Horrifying pictures, you can see by yourselves, and Hila’s message to all of us:
“We need to fight anti-Semitism in every single tool that we have in our hands. If we stay outside, we won't be able to exist, we won't be able to live in this world. Do it for our country, do it for our people and nation. Our enemies gave us a very painful lesson, that we must be united and must be together. And nothing, nothing should take us apart. No matter what differences we have – we are all sisters and brothers. The only solution for us to bring a better future is when we start working together – one for each other, and then nothing could ever break us again.
(Watch Psalm 121 on YouTube video singing by Hila Ben David)
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