Montana Tucker Honors Israel and Its Diverse Culture

Last Saturday, Montana Tucker, the multi-talented singer, actress, dancer, social media influencer, and advocate for Israel, delivered a performance she will never forget. Tucker sang “Ha Tikvah,” Israel’s national anthem, in Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square, surrounded by families of those still held captive by Hamas in Gaza.

“I have sung ‘Ha Tikvah’ many times before, but I’ve never sung it in Israel, so to sing it here, in the Holy Land, I knew it would be emotional,” Tucker shared. Despite her all-American appearance and name, Tucker is proudly Jewish. This marked her second visit to Israel since October 7, sponsored by the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM), a coalition dedicated to fighting anti-Jewish hatred.

Standing on stage and holding hands with family members of the hostages, Tucker was deeply moved. She explained, “I was not nervous, but it was a big moment. I had to do justice to the words of the song and honor the families. They gave me strength by holding my hand up there.” Tucker has developed close bonds with several released hostages, including Moran Stela Yanai, Yocheved Lifshitz, and Raz Ben Ami.

The rally was especially poignant, coming shortly after the discovery of the bodies of several hostages, including Shani Louk and Itzhak Gelertner. The event featured video messages from Hillary Clinton and Dr. Phil, as well as performances by Israeli stars like Eden Golan, Noga Erez, and Netta Barzilai. Tucker’s heartfelt rendition of the anthem stood out as a highlight.

During her visit, Tucker has had a packed schedule. She visited Kibbutz Be’eri, which suffered heavy losses on October 7, and the Sheba Medical Center to see wounded soldiers. She documented her experiences on video and plans to share them on her social media platforms soon.

Another significant moment for Tucker was visiting the site of the Supernova Music Festival at Re’im, where nearly 400 people were killed and about 40 kidnapped by Hamas. She performed a dance piece to honor the victims with dancers from the Lilach Friedman Dance Center and festival survivors. “Music and dance speak where words can’t,” Tucker said, emphasizing the emotional impact of the performance.

Tucker also visited the Benyamin Rotman Eshel Hanassi School in Merchavim to speak with friends of Noya Dan, a 13-year-old girl kidnapped and murdered by Hamas. “I wanted to bring back the light to Israel,” Tucker said. She aims to clear misconceptions and combat propaganda about Israel, highlighting its diverse and peaceful coexistence of different peoples.

Known for her music and dance, Tucker has also featured content inspired by her Jewish heritage, including a series about the Holocaust. Since October 7, she has focused on Israel, showing support at events like the Grammy Awards and regularly posting about the country.

Despite facing hate for her pro-Israel stance, Tucker remains undeterred. Her grandparents, Holocaust survivors from Hungary and Romania, instilled in her the importance of supporting Israel. “I believe the Holocaust wouldn’t have happened if Israel was around back then,” she noted.

Tucker emphasizes that both Jews and non-Jews should support Israel, particularly in light of anti-Israel campus protests. “People are waking up and realizing that these protests are also anti-America,” she observed.

While she could advocate from the US, Tucker finds visiting Israel indispensable. “There’s nothing like being in Israel. I’d come here every day if I could,” she said. She encourages everyone, especially critics, to visit Israel and witness its reality. “The more people I meet here, the more frustrated I get with the propaganda about Israel. That’s why I keep posting – to show the world the incredible resilience and strength of Israelis.”

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