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Native, Israeli-born Baht Rivka Whitten is an accomplished musician, recording artist, and worship leader. Her unique sound is comprised of original songs and traditional Israeli melodies fused with powerful vocals, Hebrew/English lyrics, and rhythms from around the world. Her compelling music has impacted the nations through television, radio, and the distribution of her three CDs, along with performances at international conferences and outreaches across the globe. Songs from her latest CD have played on secular Israeli radio.
Lazman Hazeh Music, Baht Rivka Whitten בת וויטן, לזמן הזה מיוזיק
God, Family, Friends, Music. Worship. Life in Isr@el. Loving. Serving. Traveling. Recording.
What many people don’t understand about Israelis is that our emotional baseline is calibrated differently.
It isn’t because we are stronger or braver than anyone else. It’s because we live inside a reality where the ground shifts beneath our feet on a regular basis, and life still has to go on.
You can’t pause a country every time history decides to show up.
People abroad often imagine war as a clear event — something that begins, something that ends. A chapter in a history book.
Here it’s more like weather.
Sirens.
Arguments about politics.
School closures.
Work meetings.
A wedding tonight if the roads stay open.
A funeral tomorrow because this is reality, too.
All of it exists in the same hour.
We debate our government loudly and constantly — sometimes viciously — because this place matters to us in a way that is difficult to explain to people who see their country as a setting rather than a lifeline.
Before October 7 we spent months arguing in the streets over judicial reform. Families fought at Shabbat tables. Friends stopped speaking. Hundreds of thousands of people protested week after week because Israelis believe fiercely that the future of this country belongs to them.
And then October 7 happened.
And suddenly the argument didn’t stop — it just moved underground while the country mobilized to survive.
Since then we’ve been living inside something most people abroad can barely imagine: a long season of grief layered on top of constant vigilance.
Missiles.
Hostages.
Funerals.
Reserve duty.
Children doing homework between sirens.
And still — life continues.
Cafés open.
Babies are born.
People fall in love.
Someone’s grandmother insists you eat more.
Because Israelis understand something that outsiders often miss: if you wait for calm in this region before living your life, you will never live at all.
So we live loudly.
We argue.
We laugh.
We complain about the government.
We show up for each other.
We keep building things even when they might be knocked down tomorrow.
It can look chaotic from the outside.
But from the inside it’s something else entirely.
It’s resilience.
Not the heroic kind you see in movies.
The ordinary kind.
The kind that wakes up, makes coffee, sends the kids to school when it’s possible, runs to shelter when it isn’t, and then goes back to making dinner.
Over and over again.
Because here in Israel, resilience isn’t a slogan.
It’s just Tuesday.
Make it a good one.
Couldn’t have said it better myself, Sarah Tuttle-Singer
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I’m sure everyone is aware by now but in the event you weren’t, please keep Israel and my family in your prayers.
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Obadiah doing amazing things in Africa— he’s on the right, in the green shirt and white hat 🥰
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Obadiah doing amazing things in Africa— he’s on the right, in the green shirt and white hat 🥰
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Even in the midst of the battle, there are quiet victories—moments of strength we didn’t know we had, lessons that shape us, and grace that carries us further than we thought was possible.
Sometimes the good isn’t overly loud or obvious. Sometimes it looks more like just getting through the day, choosing hope when it would be easier to quit, or trusting that the hard chapter isn’t the whole story. Every season has something to teach us, something to grow in us, and something to be grateful for. The battle may be real, but so is the purpose being formed through it. Our past weekend’s events and divine appointments in Alabama and Tennessee were blessed. Pressing in. Staying prayerful. Staying grateful.
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We’re somewhere in Tennessee surrounded by beauty as I take my walk. I cannot go into the ins and outs of it but my heart has been grieving over an INCONCEIVABLE situation going on (in the midst of everything else). I’m trying to remain in a place of faith through it all. I can’t be the only one, right? Taking some comfort in this word today— maybe someone else needs to take hold of it too…
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Obadiah and his team arrived safely in Africa and have been on the go since they landed— thank you so much for everyone who has sowed in prayer and financial support! And thank you for your continued prayers for safety and anointing as they travel and serve the next couple of weeks 🙏❤️🙏
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Update on my aba and our son…
This past week been stressful with aba and family in Jerusalem not being able to get to a bomb shelter, but we talked to them early this morning and they were finally able to get to my sister’s home in the south where they will be for a few days— a little comic relief as we make funny faces at eachother 🥴🤪 but then more missile alerts blaring all over the country as we talk (next to last pic) 😓. At least they can easily get into a bomb shelter now 🙌🏼! A missile hit a building very close to a very dear friend of ours and her family in Beersheva 🫣. Hopefully this thing will be over soon 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 Our son got to Africa safely— and shocked me — he buzzed all his hair off!! Thank you all for your continued prayers ❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏
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Quick Update: First of all, Chag Purim Sameyach to all who are celebrating ❤️🥰 We had three quite amazing gatherings this past weekend, our last few in Florida. It is such a PRIVILEGE to GATHER… I think we take it for granted sometimes in the western world. While there is definitely reason to celebrate this year, it’s also bittersweet for me just to think of all the kids (my little nieces and nephews among them) in Israel who look forward all year to this special holiday— the parties and festivities, the concerts and shows, the costumes and decorations— it’s a big celebration in Israel! Sadly all those things are cancelled and everyone is in bomb shelters 😣. Can you imagine, Thanksgiving (or whichever one of your favorite holidays) is cancelled all over America? My heart is torn… but at the same time, I recognize that this war is so important! And I am believing they will be able to celebrate soon!!!! 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
We left sunny Florida yesterday 😭… venturing North 🥶🥶🥶. Truly thankful for all the beautiful congregations in Florida who opened their pulpits for us to share some important words and songs for this hour. And all the wonderful friends who drove from afar to support, and those who opened their homes and driveways to us ❤️❤️❤️ THANK YOU SO MUCH. You are a BLESSING! We are now in Alabama — looking forward to another great Purim Celebration today. Later this week, we’ll be in Tennessee and then Maryland and Pennsylvania for Passover before heading back home to Israel next month. Believe it or not, even with everything going on, we still have people signing on to come on our next “Comfort my People” Israel tour this year! We are super excited to bring another team to the Land, to serve at this (once again) very crucial hour — we believe this trip will be strategic and timely as we will be visiting wounded soldiers in the hospital, hugging holocaust survivors and victims of October 7th and much MUCH more! We’re inviting you, brave friends, to join us! Let me know if you’re interested in more info! Please continue to lift up the people of Iran and Israel… and my son and his team leaving for Africa. Love you! 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
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Trying to stay at peace. My aba’s home in Jerusalem is very old and doesn’t have a safe room. The nearest bomb shelter is too far for him to run to every time the sirens sound. My son and his team are about to travel to Africa through Istanbul 🫣🙏🙏🙏
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