Welcome to Israel, Sir Elton John

I can't wait. Tonight is the night. Elton John is landing in Israel in a couple of hours and will be performing tonight in the Ramat Gan Stadium. Thousands of fans, among them my family and myself, will be pouring down the streets and making their way on foot, bike, taxis, buses and motorbikes to the stadium. Cellphones and maybe candles in hand, we will illuminate the warm night and show him how much we love him and his songs.

We have been looking forward to this concent for months, since it was officially announced in January that Sir Elton would be coming back to Israel for a concert after 17 years.

I also attended that previous concert. It was back in 1993. I was five-years married, no kids. And I loved every minute. Tonight I am going with my husband and two lovely children. They are hesitant about the concert (Kathy Perry and Justin Bieber and Beyonce are more my daugter's taste, and my son, MB, seems not to be much into music at all). But I bought them a ticket anyway...It is not every day we have the pleasure, honor, joy etc of his presence with us. So there!

For the past three days I have being playing his greatest hits all the time, so my kids will recognise his songs when they hear them tonight. But acutally Elton John's songs are with me all the time. In my car, in my IPhone, in my head. He is by far my favorite singer. And I am definitely a big fan.

A number of  international artists recently cancelled their performances in Israel because of its raid of a Turkish flotilla bound for the Gaza Strip with humanitarian aid on board. And in February 2010 a group of British Academics called on Sir Elton to cancel his performance here in solidarity to the plight of the Palestinians. They may be right. They may be wrong. All I know is that I am overjoyed he is coming and I am looking forward to tonight like I once used to look forward to my birthday parties.

So thank you for coming Sir Elton. I hope you will enjoy tonight as much as we plan to. I hope we will be able to make you "feel the love tonight" when you play "Your Song" for the many "Daniel(s)" that will be in the crowd and as we swing to the notes of "Crocodile Rock." You were "Made in England", but tonight you are here with us in Israel, and I am sure that "something about the way you look tonight"  will take our "breath away".

Photo Caption: Sir Elton John
www.broadway.tv/.../2008/07/elton-john.jpg