Who by Fire: Leonard Cohen During the Yom Kippur War

An international rock star finds himself in a war zone. He sleeps in a sleeping bag, eats combat rations, and in between performs for soldiers facing the inferno. What actually brought him to the front line—and how did all of this become a song?

Leonard Cohen’s experiences during the Yom Kippur War have been etched into the Israeli story as a mythical, enigmatic event. Who by Fire, an original multidisciplinary production by Beit Avi Chai, sheds light on the events through Cohen’s own eyes. He documented the surprise attack on Israel, the smoke of battle, and the human soul’s attempt to protect itself through words and music. His experiences in Israel resonate differently after October 7, 2023, drawing a thread of memory and consolation from 1973 to the present day.

The performance presents the complete story through narration, testimonies, diary excerpts, and, of course, the High Priest of Song’s legendary compositions in exclusive performances. The show has toured Israel and received wide acclaim.

Host: אסתר רדא (Esther Rada)
Music: Geva Alon and Maya Belsitzman
Special guest: Matti Friedman

Written and directed by: Avishai Houri
Narration: Kobi Meidan
Video excerpts: Yonatan Zaid
Video art: Arik Futterman
Production: Shahar Montlake, Shir Sharoni
Artistic accompaniment: Amichai Hasson
Project management: Eyal Levitt
Lighting design: Alon Porat
Sound: Shay Streifler
Stage management: Noa Mordovitz

Based on the book Who by Fire: Leonard Cohen in the Yom Kippur War by Matti Friedman.