Bring the Boss to Israel!

Call it crazy or just plain chutzpah, but with your help, who knows? Bruce: please make Morty’s dream come true!

11-year old Jerusalem resident Morty Oppenheim intends to make history by inviting none other than Bruce Springsteen to Israel. (illustrative photo: courtesy)
11-year old Jerusalem resident Morty Oppenheim intends to make history by inviting none other than Bruce Springsteen to Israel. (illustrative photo: courtesy)

If I could take one moment into my hands
Mister I ain’t a boy no I’m a man
And I believe in a promised land

– Bruce Springsteen, The Promised Land

Ever had a dream come true?

Each year we like to indulge our kids with cool Hanukkah presents. While certainly not extravagant, our gifts usually require a lot of investment of time and thought. My wife and I work hard to make sure that whatever we give the kids is meaningful and communicates to each child that we’re paying attention to what’s really important to them. This year when I asked Morty, our 11-year old son, what he wanted for Hanukkah, he made a sour face.

“What’s wrong, dogg?” I asked.

“It’s just that there’s no way I can have what I really want…” he demurred.

“Come on, what is it?” I pressed.

“Ok. I want my friends to meet the Boss.”

Oh, that.

Now I understood the face. Times of Israel readers might remember the story of the “friendship” between Morty and Bruce Springsteen. Ever since then, Springsteen’s music has permeated our home (which is pretty musical in any case), almost like the soundtrack of our lives throughout the day. Breakfast to Born to Run. Homework to Glory Days. Bedtime to Growin’ Up. And – of course – Waitin on a Sunny Day, which we nicknamed “Morty’s Song” (yes, he knows the words now.)

Unsurprisingly, we still talk about the wild story how, one accidental mini-miracle after another, Morty somehow wound up on Springsteen’s shoulders in front of 55,000 screaming fans. How could anyone ever ask for more?

Call it crazy, naiveté, or just plain chutzpah, but ask for more is exactly what we intend to do. You see, Springsteen is touring in the Spring and Summer of 2013 right next door throughout Europe, just a short flight away from our home in Israel. Could we make Morty’s dream, to bring the Boss to Israel, come true?

Well, at least we can try. Last night, Morty started a Facebook page called Bring the Boss to Israel. As the page states, if you love Springsteen and Israel, too – come join and “Like” the page. What’s cool, too, is that The Times of Israel is supporting the petition, making the campaign to bring Springsteen to Israel the first effort by TOI to engage in community activism and advocacy. So be sure to “Like” the Times of Israel’s Facebook page, too.

Says Times of Israel editor David Horovitz, a huge Bruce fan: “Bruce Springsteen embodies so much that is best about the human spirit. He’s broken through racial barriers. He stands for fairness and a social conscience. He campaigns passionately for his beliefs. And all against that inspiring soundtrack. The sooner Bruce sees and understands Israel, the better for him. The sooner Bruce plays Israel, the better for us.”

The plan is ambitious but simple: our goal is to get thousands of fans in Israel and around the world to “Like” the Facebook page that supports the efforts to invite Springsteen to perform in Israel during his world tour in 2013. We will inform Springsteen’s management of our drive after we have significant traction, and update everyone who signs on as to our progress.

‘Bruce Springsteen embodies so much that is best about the human spirit. He’s broken through racial barriers. He stands for fairness and a social conscience. He campaigns passionately for his beliefs. And all against that inspiring soundtrack. The sooner Bruce sees and understands Israel, the better for him. The sooner Bruce plays Israel, the better for us.’

 

– David Horovitz, editor, The Times of Israel

Bruce, if you’re reading this, come to the place where Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Madonna, Paul Simon, Eric Clapton, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Guns N Roses, Rihanna, Alanis Morrisette, and so many others have performed and brought light and joy to a part of the world in sore need of both. As Elton John said when he performed in Tel Aviv in 2010, “Musicians spread love and peace, and bring people together…Ain’t nothing gonna stop us from coming, baby!”

Our sentiments exactly.

Bruce Springsteen changed my life with his music over 30 years ago. He changed the lives of my kids this summer. Together we can bring his music to Israel and inspire our beloved country to believe in our own greatness, recognize our failings, face the future without fear, and, yes, remember that miracles do happen.

To sign the online petition to join the effort to bring Bruce Springsteen to Israel, simply click here to “Like” the Bring the Boss to Israel page on Facebook and follow @BossToIsrael on Twitter for updates. Talk about Working on a Dream!

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