The Queen Has Fallen – A Gush Etzion Family’s Journey from Captivity to Music Festival

Interview with musician Yativ Leucher on the Aharit Hayamim festival a “Jewish indie rave festival” held every year in Gush Etzion.

He tells the story of his grandparents who helped found Kibbutz Masuot Yitzhak and were taken hostage by the Jordanians during the War of Independence in 1948. His grandmother Rachel Doron was separated from her infant son when she stayed behind to broadcast “Malkah naflah” -- the queen has fallen, a code for the Kfar Etzion massacre, allowing others to escape.

Today, the family hosts the annual Aharit Hayamim festival, which this year features Din Din Aviv, Tomer Yosef, Laivy Miller, Bini Landau, Nissim Black, Nuriel, Sinai Tor, Muna Camuna and more.

For tickets click here.

For my past coverage of the Aharit Hayamim festival including interview with Grammy-nominated musician Yossi Fine click here.

Rachel Doron at Kibbutz Masuot Yitzhak, in the 1940s.

The Leuchter brothers at the Aharit Hayamin festival, 2024. Credit: Ben Bresky

Israeli female fighters training in Ein Zurim in Gush Etzion, 1948. Photo Shlomo Gor-Gorozovsky

Notes:

• The 'Jewish indie rave' music festival returns to Gush Etzion - Jerusalem Post

• Biography of war hero Rachel Doron - Ynet

• Video interview (Hebrew) with Rachel Doron

• The Siege and Fall of Gush Etzion

• Aharit Hayamim (the band) on Spotify

• Jewish jams return - Jerusalem Post

• Aharit Hayamim festival Facebook page