They love the Merkava, in Moldova
Rock Band Iron Dome releases its first single, in honor of the IDF tank
Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center
This is a story about a man, his music, and his love for a tank.
Aviel Krutinsky made aliya from Moldova in September and now lives in Eilat. Back home last year, he and his bandmates, Eugen Scobioala and Dumitru Demciuc — their band’s name is Iron Dome, for the Israeli rocket interception system — recorded their first single. It’s about an Israeli tank Krutinsky fell in love with last year.
Krutinsky’s passion for the Merkava MK-IV stems from a visit he made to the Latrun tank museum last year, while studying at Ariel University as part of the Masa Israel program.
“It was my first time seeing the Merkava Mk.4. I was standing next to it and I fell in love with this machine,” said Krutinsky of the IDF’s main battle tank, usually written as Merkava MK-IV, which was introduced into service in 2004. “I felt its power, how beautiful it is.”
Krutinsky returned home to Moldova, where his band mates had been working on some new music. He said he immediately “understood that the lyrics would be about the Merkava.”
For the video, the band used footage that was available online.
In Eilat, Krutinsky plays in a new band, Duelist, and also plans to start a photography business.
First, though, he’s hoping “Merkava Mk.4” goes viral, as a symbol of his pride in Israel.
“I always celebrated Israel’s independence back in Moldova,” said Krutinsky on Monday, “but when I heard the [Memorial Day] siren last night, I was filled with a sense of pride. I felt part of this land and part of the Israeli people.”
