麻豆APP

Photo by Wikimedia commons –

Top 10 Facts about the Hatikvah, the National Anthem of Israel

The word 鈥淗atikvah鈥� is drawn from the lyrical roots in a poem 鈥淭ikvatenu鈥� meaning 鈥淥ur Hope”. It was published in 1886 as a nine stanza poem which was very hard for people to memorize. However, the poem was published before the state of Israel was born.

It鈥檚 a 19^th century Jewish poem which is said to be a romantic composition of Jews鈥� 2000 year old hope to returning to the Land of Israel. The Israel people hoped to reclaim their land as a sovereign nation.

Naftali Hertz Imber is the author of the poem that was later adapted as the Israel national anthem.

It was in 1888, when Samuel Cohen composed the words to a beautiful melody that inspired many Israel nationals.

The content of Hatikvah by Naftali Herz Imber expressed the aspiration of the Israel nationals to return to their mother land.

It is important to note that Naftali was a Jewish poet from Zolochiv, a city known for Poets otherwise called “The City of Poets”.

Naftali went to Ottoman and read his poem to the people of Jewish villages of Rishon LeZion, Rehovot, Gedera and Yesud Hama’ala.

A young man 17 or 18 years old named Samuel Cohen who had a musical background, sang the poem by using a melody he had learnt from Romania.

After seeing the emotional responses from the Jewish farmers, he put the poem into a song. He went ahead to Popularize the song. The song spread quickly to the Zionist communities of Palestine.

The nine stanza poem was published in Naftali’s first book Barkai (The Shining Morning Star), Jerusalem in 1886. The poem was adopted as an a national anthem by the Hovevei Zion much later by a movement called the Zionist Movement.

1. The Hatikvah, the National Anthem of Israel

Photo by Wikimedia Commons –

The national anthem of Israel is written in Jewish language. There is an English translation which all nationals can read and sing. Below is the English version.

“As long as in the heart, within,

A Jewish  soul still yearns,

And onward, towards the ends of the east,

An eye still looks towards Zion,

Our hope is not yet lost,

The hope of two thousand years,

To be a free nation in our land,

The land of Zion and Jerusalem.”

The beauty of the Israel National Anthem, Hatikvah, is that it has only one stanza. This shows that they never adapted the nine stanza poem from Naftali Herz Imber or the music from Samuel Cohen.

The anthem however, has the last line changed from the original.

2. Samuel Cohen Composed the Hatikvah “Our Hope”

Photo by Wikimedia commons –

It was in 1888, when Samuel Cohen who composed the words to a beautiful melody that inspired many Israel nationals

3. The Hatikvah “Our hope” was published in 1886. 62 years before the birth of the state of Israel in 1948.

It is surprising that The National Anthem of the nation of Israel was published 62 years before the nation was established.

Basically, what this means is that the anthem existed in the 19th century when the and only came into implementation in the 20th century.

Initially, it was a nine stanza poem. Later, it was published in Naftali’s first book Barkai (The Shining Morning Star), Jerusalem in 1886.

The poem which turned into a song spread fast among the Jewish and they loved the words which gave them hope to return to their mother land. 

This is how the song was adopted as an a national anthem by the Hovevei Zion much later by a movement called the Zionist Movement.

4. The Israel anthem was never allowed in the Arab nations

The victory of a young Israeli, Alon Leviev, won the gold model in a junior category. This was at the Ju Jitsu World Championship in Abu Dhabi. 

Hatikvah was given a big boost when it was played as he stood on the podium to receive his gold medal. The Jews round the world rejoiced to see the victory and more so to hear their national anthem in mass media channels.

This is unique in that the Israeli athletes were not expected to host a tournament in the Arab countries. The interesting thing is that if they own, their flag or national anthem were not welcome.

This is the second time in history that the Israel National anthem was played in public in the Arab nations.

5. Hatikvah, a love song to every Israel National

Photo by Wikimedia commons –

It is an inspiration to every Jews from around the world. The Refuseniks, Soviet Jews who were unable to make aliyah to Israel. The anthem motivated them and assured them of a return to their land.

Their flag reflects a bit of their anthem.

6. The Demonstration and Hatikvah

During the first demonstration of Israeli students to free Soviet Jewry in 1969 at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Hatikvah was spontaneously sung by students who were very moved by the moment.

Of course the demonstration acted as a substance to challenge the Israeli government and Jewish Agency.

This was an effort to begin the worldwide campaign to free Soviet Jewry that many of us know so well today.

7. It gave all the Israel nationals hope

Photo by Wikimedia commons –

Every Jew who heard the anthem was inspired. Hope was born within them that one day they will return to their land.

8. The composition is a reflection of Jews Hope

As the meaning of the name Hatikvah is hope so is the romantic composition that reflects the Jews 2000 year old hope of returning to the land of Israel. Of importance to the Jews was to reclaim the land and make it a free and sovereign nation.

9. The anthem has a Rock and Pop Music

Just like the Jews music which has a mixture of western pop and rock with the original style of Israel folk music and oriental Jewish music, the National anthem also has bought the mixture.

10. The Anthem is only about the Jews

Hatikvah sounds sad unlike other national anthems from other nations. It is evident that the words to the songs are only about the Jews’ hope that one day their sadness will be turned into joy.

The Hatikvah “Our Hope” is the major reason why the Israel nationals all over the world felt connected and the need to reunite and build their county.