By Eileen Wingard in La Jolla, California
With the establishment of the State of Israel, two new Jewish holidays were instituted, Yom Hazikaron (The Day of Remembrance) and Yom Ha’Atzma’ut (The Day of Independence). Yom Hazikaron was approved by the Israeli government in 1951 as the General Memorial Day for the Heroes of the War of Independence and in 1963, the Knesset enacted the holiday into law. It commemorates not only fallen soldiers, but civilian victims of terrorism.
During the ceremonies and radio broadcasts, many Israeli songs are performed, songs inspired by the wars, the soldiers, the love of life and the longing for peace.
At the Thursday, April 16, 2:00 p.m. program of Treasures from the Music Collection of the Astor Judaica Library: Music of Yom Hazikaron, my guest, Guri Stark, and I will introduce a playlist of 13 recorded songs.
Israeli-born Stark served in the IDF and is a graduate of the Technion. His engineering skills elevated him to become a CEO in high-tech in California, but since his retirement, he has devoted himself to his artistic talents as a water-color artist, a novelist, a poet and a student of classical guitar. Stark assisted in selecting the playlist.
Magash Hakesef (The Silver Platter), has lyrics by the Israeli poet, Natan Alterman, and is set to music by Nurit Hirsh. It compares the youthful soldiers of Israel to a silver platter upon which the State of Israel was born.
Lo Yisa Goy is based on the words of Isaiah: “Nation Shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”
HaReut is about the soldiers’ strong camaraderie. It was written during the War of Independence by Haim Guri with music by Sasha Argov and is regarded as an anthem for the fallen.
Bab El Wad was the place of fierce fighting during the War of Independence, where rusting armored cars still remain on the way to Jerusalem as memorials to the fallen. Haim Guri wrote the words, Shmuel Farshko composed the music.
Anachnu Shnaynu Meoto Hakfar (We Are Both from the Same Village) is a poignant 1966 Israeli memorial song also written and composed by Naomi Shemer, describing the close friendship between two young men from the same village, one of whom is killed.
Achi Hatzair Yehuda is Ehud Manor’s heartfelt song about his younger brother, killed in Lebanon.
Shir l’Shalom (Song to Peace) was Yitzhak Rabin’s favorite, the lyrics of which were in his pocket the night he was assassinated. The lyricist was Yaakov Rothblit and the music was by Yair Rosenblum.
Ben Yafe Nolad (A Beautiful Boy Was Born) was written by Ehud Manor with music by Nurit Hirsh, another song inspired by the death of his younger brother, Yehuda.
Bashana Haba’a (In the Coming Year), Ehud Manor’s familiar ballad of hope for the future, was written in 1970.
Le Kol Ish Yesh Shem (Each Person Has a Name). The poet Zelda wrote the words which were set to music by Hanan Yovel.
Hamilkhama Ha’akhrona (The Last War) another song of hope as a father assures his little girl that this will be the last war. The words were written by Dov Seltzer and the music by Haim Heffer.
Ein Li Eretz Akheret (I Have No Other Land) is a famous Israeli anthem written by Ehud Manor in 1982, with music by Corinne Allal. It expresses his deep love for Israel despite political dissent and conflict, and became a major protest anthem representing a shared, unbreakable connection to the homeland.
This free program is sponsored by the San Diego Center for Jewish Culture and the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center and will take place in the Astor Judaica Library of the JCC.
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Eileen Wingard is a freelance writer specializing in coverage of the arts.