Edited by: TJVNews.com

Israel’s culinary world recently witnessed an unexpected sensation when a humble sandwich shop ad turned into a viral phenomenon. The song, “Omelette Bread in Netanya,” originally composed to bring joy to the shop’s owner, has now captivated millions across Israel and beyond, gaining millions of views on TikTok and inspiring countless parodies and spin-offs, as was reported by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

The ad features catchy Hebrew lyrics, celebrating the shop’s mouthwatering offerings, from kebabs and merguez sausages to shakshuka and vegetable-stuffed omelette sandwiches. According to the JTA report, the earworm-like melody and the infectious chorus have struck a chord with audiences from all walks of life, becoming a hit at trance parties, weddings, and online platforms, captivating the attention of unsuspecting social media users.

“Kebab, merguez sausage, shakshuka/Vegetables and onion are always interesting…Now that you’ve eaten a baguette with soul/you will definitely be back,” the song goes.

The owner of the shop, Vicky Ezra, had an extraordinary journey leading to his role as a sandwich connoisseur. Originally a successful real estate businessman, his life took a dramatic turn when he contracted COVID-19 during Israel’s first wave in 2020, as was indicated in the JTA report.  Placed in an induced coma, he survived a harrowing ordeal that lasted weeks before he regained consciousness. The near-death experience and lengthy rehabilitation left him haunted by nightmares and convinced him to change his life’s direction, the report said.

Ezra decided to transition into a new venture, purchasing a modest-sized sandwich shop as an inheritance for his son, Moriel. The viral song was not initially intended as a marketing tactic but rather as an expression of joy to uplift Ezra’s spirits. The JTA reported that the family’s musical background played a significant role in creating this infectious tune that has now become a part of Israeli cultural phenomena.

Interestingly, the song, “Omelette Bread in Netanya,” is, in fact, a cover of the Greek song “To Diamerisma” by folk legend Vasilis Karras, the JTA report said. This is not an isolated incident, as the adaptation of Greek songs by Israeli musicians has been a longstanding tradition for over six decades. Many of the hits from the 1970s, 80s, and 90s in Israel were originally Greek songs that underwent adaptation, often influenced by the country’s Jewish conversion process.

The impact of Greek music on Israeli culture, particularly for Mizrahi Israelis, is significant, considering the relatively small Greek Jewish community due to the devastation of the Holocaust. Greek music served as a bridge between Ashkenazi and Mizrahi immigrants, filling a cultural void in the country’s early days before the emergence of a distinct Israeli music style, according to the JTA report.

The charm of “Omelette Bread in Netanya” lies not only in its catchy melody but also in its unintentional nature as a viral sensation. The JTA report said that the song’s creators never imagined its explosive popularity, making it a delightful and relatable experience for those who encounter it. Israeli music expert Yasmin Ishbi highlights the song’s allure, explaining that the melody’s universal appeal transcends borders and cultures.

“Many of the hits from the 1970s, 80s and 90s were actually Greek songs that went through giyur,” Ishbi told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, referring to the Jewish conversion process. She cited music icons Arik Einstein and Yehuda Poliker among hundreds of Israeli musicians who remade Greek songs.

“It was lighter than the music coming out of Arab countries, and because it had one foot in the West and one foot in East, it acted like a bridge connecting Ashkenazi and Mizrahi immigrants,” Ishbi also told the JTA. “Many Mizrahi Jews were embarrassed by the music they traditionally listened to, like Umm Kulthum and Farid al-Atrash.”

It makes “total sense” that “Omelet Bread in Netanya” was inspired by a Greek song, Ishbi said, because the “melody is just so good.”

“The charming thing about it is that it was done with zero intention to become viral,” she said, according to the JTA report. “So when you watch it, you laugh at them and their absurd lyrics, but you’re also laughing with them.”

So next time you find yourself humming along to the lyrics, remember that you are part of a cultural connection that spans generations and continents.