David Draiman, the Jewish lead singer of the American metal band Disturbed, posted a video on Instagram Wednesday expressing his deep sorrow for Yarden Bibas, who played the band's song Hold on to Memories at the funeral of his wife and two young sons, Shiri, Ariel and Kfir.
"Dear, dear Yarden. Shalom, achi (hello, my brother)," Draiman said in the video. "I am so, so very sorry for your loss. All of Am Yisrael is crying with you today. Hold on to the memories of your family, hold on to the memories of your children, of your beloved wife—we all will. And as long as we hold onto them in our memory, they'll stay there.
"May the memories of your beloved children and your wife—Shiri, Ariel and Kfir—be a blessing to you, always. Am Yisrael Chai, achi—stay strong."
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Earlier Wednesday, during the funeral for Shiri, Ariel and Kfir Bibas—who were murdered in Hamas captivity in Gaza—Yarden Bibas played three metal songs, concluding the ceremony with Hold on to Memories.
The song’s lyrics, read during the service, include: "Make the most of the rest of your life/Make a ride of this world while you can/And hold on to the memories/Hold on to every moment to keep them alive/The world's greatest tragedy/Souls who are not remembered cannot survive.
Disturbed, known for its heavy metal anthems, has performed in Israel several times. including a 2019 concert in Rishon Lezion where members wore IDF tank tops on stage. The band's music frequently incorporates Jewish themes.