The national anthem of Israel is called: « Hatikvah ».
Continent: Asia
Bordering Countries:
– 🇪🇬 Egypt
– 🇯🇴 Jordan
– 🇱🇧 Lebanon
– 🇸🇾 Syrian Arab Republic
History of « Hatikvah »
« Hatikvah » (The Hope) is the national anthem of Israel. The anthem reflects the Jewish people’s longing for a homeland, their cultural heritage, and the enduring spirit of hope and resilience.
Key Dates and People
- 1878: The lyrics of « Hatikvah » were written by Naftali Herz Imber, a Jewish poet from Galicia. The poem was originally titled « Tikvatenu » (Our Hope).
- 1888: The music for the anthem was adapted from a Romanian folk song by Samuel Cohen, a Jewish immigrant from Romania.
- 1948: Following the establishment of the State of Israel, « Hatikvah » was informally adopted as the national anthem.
- 2004: « Hatikvah » was officially adopted as the national anthem of Israel by the Knesset (Israeli Parliament).
Anecdotes
- Zionist Movement: « Hatikvah » became a symbol of the Zionist movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was sung at Zionist Congresses and gatherings, expressing the Jewish people’s aspiration for a return to their ancestral homeland.
- Holocaust and Revival: During the Holocaust, « Hatikvah » was sung by Jewish prisoners in concentration camps as a symbol of hope and resistance. After the establishment of Israel, it became a powerful symbol of the Jewish people’s survival and revival.
- Cultural Significance: « Hatikvah » is performed at national celebrations, official ceremonies, and sporting events, reinforcing its role in uniting the Israeli people and celebrating their heritage. The anthem’s stirring lyrics and melody inspire a sense of unity and pride among Israelis.
Lyrics Excerpt
In Hebrew
כֹּל עוֹד בַּלֵּבָב פְּנִימָה
נֶפֶשׁ יְהוּדִי הוֹמִיָּה,
וּלְפַאֲתֵי מִזְרָח קָדִימָה,
עַיִן לְצִיּוֹן צוֹפִיָּה.
עוֹד לֹא אָבְדָה תִּקְוָתֵנוּ,
הַתִּקְוָה בַּת שְׁנוֹת אַלְפַּיִם,
לִהְיוֹת עַם חָפְשִׁי בְּאַרְצֵנוּ,
אֶרֶץ צִיּוֹן וִירוּשָׁלַיִם.In English (translation)
As long as in the heart, within,
A Jewish soul still yearns,
And onward, towards the ends of the east,
An eye still gazes toward Zion;
Our hope is not yet lost,
The hope of two thousand years,
To be a free people in our land,
The land of Zion and Jerusalem.Sources: