Yom Ha'atzma'ut Same'ach

The Forward is starting a great conversation about the lyrics of the Israeli nation anthem "HaTikvah".  Can "HaTikvah" ever really be an anthem for all Israelis when it speaks of the hope of the Jewish soul?  Philologos, the Forward's language columnist proposes changing the lyrics slightly so as to not exclude Israeli Palestinian citizens.  The changes he proposes actually get us closer to the original words of the poem that "HaTikvah" is based upon by Naftali Herz Imber.  Philologos, who is Israeli writer Hillel Halkin, is no dove, and is usually seen as right-of-center in Israel.  Follow the link below for the editorial from the Forward and watch the Neshama Carlebach singing the anthem.  What do you think?  
An Anthem for All? – Forward.com

While we are at it, here is my favorite recording of "HaTikvah" done in a Sephardic style by Itzhak Algazi with Imber's original words.  Algazi's version can start a whole other version.  The "HaTikvah" that we sing today is very Ashkenazi in its stress of the the Hebrew syllables, and very European in its melody (just listen to Smetana's "Moldau").  This is a discussion I tried to start in my first post on this blog.

Yom Ha'atzma'ut Same'ach!

Memo to American Jews: Learn Hebrew – Forward.com

Great op-ed by David Hazony in the Forward to read as we begin to prepare for Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha'atzmaut this week.
Memo to American Jews: Learn Hebrew – Forward.com

Yom HaShoa 5772

Have a Zissen Pesach

Here is a great piece to help you prepare for Pesach from Judith Shulevitz.

Chag kasher v'same'ach.

Chag Pesach Sameach

Here is something to get you ready for Pesach.  This is a great high school rendition of the classic Israeli dance choreographed by Ohad Naharin of the  Batsheva Dance Company of the Pesach song "Echad Mi Yodea."  Enjoy.