Hebrew Songs I Love

This post displays a collection of Hebrew songs that most touch me. The collection is divided into six groups:

[A] Mourning Holocaust; [B] Mourning the Fallen of Israel (confined mainly to the most devastating — War-of-Independence, 1948-1949; Yom-Kippur War, 1973); [C] Songs of Faith and Prayer; [D] Solemn; [E] Songs of Eretz-Israel; [F] Just Cheerful and Beautiful;

And a Tip, no words needed…

For some, for lack of preference for one performance over another, I display several for same song.

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[A] Mourning Holocaust:

הסדר האחרון בגטו ורשה

(“The Last Passover Seder of Warsaw Ghetto”)

“Going to Caesarea” (“Eli, Eli”; “My God, My God”) (Written by an Israeli paratrooper, Hana Senesh, on a mission to rescue Jews in Europe in World War II, caught and executed by the Nazis, with others). Singer — Nechama Hendel:

“The Village is on Fire” (“Ha’ayarah Bo’eret”). A most moving song, sung by Meital Michaeli (first) and Dorit Reuveni (second below). Written by a Polish Jewish poet, Mordechai Gvirtig, in 1938, in response to the pogrom in the Jewish community of Pshitik, March 1936. This poem is widely considered as an alert to the upcoming Holocaust, and as a prophetic poem: “Brothers, our village is on fire…it will consume us all…and you are watching from afar…embracing yourselves…not delivering the needed help”:
- העיירה בוערת – מיטל מיכאלי – YouTube
- העיירה בוערת – דורית ראובני

[B] Mourning the Fallen of Israel (mainly, War-of-Independence, 1948-1949; Yom-Kippur War, 1973):

“Bab-El-Wad”. Singer — Yafa Yarkoni (1948 War): https://youtu.be/Jqsmy_ZQ7II

“Reut” (Comradeship). Singer — Esther Ofarim (1948 War).

“Ve-Netane Tokef” (From Rosh Hashanna & Yom Kippur Prayers; Making a chilling link between the judgement of all living, executed on Yom Kippur according to Jewish tradition, and those who lost their lives in defense of Israel in the Yom-Kippur War). Performed by The Gevatron – Israeli Kibbutz Folk Singers. Soloist — Hanoch Albalek (two versions).

“We are from the same village” (“…now you are beyond the fence…”). Singers — Arik Sinai (first link), Shai Abramsom (second link), Lehakat Pikkud Merkaz (IDF singing group) . Yom Kippur War (Written by Neomi Shemer, 1966; Has become national symbol for the agony of the Yom Kippur War, 1973):

“Lu Yehi” (“Let there be”). Singer — Chava Alberstein. Yom Kippur War (Written by Neomi Shemer, 1973; Has become national symbol for the agony of the Yom Kippur War, 1973)

“Al Daat Ha-Makom” (combining verses from Job and Genesis and Jewish prayer; the story of two Israeli soldiers, carrying same name, killed on the same day, and the tragic chain of errors that followed, breaking the news to the families). Singer — Miri Aloni (Lebanon War):

[C] Songs of Faith and Prayer:

Rachem (“Have Mercy”). Singer — Jacob Shweki: https://youtu.be/hLQ0yOuwbmI?list=FLGSRFy4_td_fwDJgpWw0Qmw

Rachem (“Have Mercy”). Singer — Avraham fried: https://youtu.be/4HBNyj6KVxo?list=FLGSRFy4_td_fwDJgpWw0Qmw

“Ana Be-Choach”. Singers — Hallel Group, with Meirav Brener:

“Ana Be-Choach”. Singer — Dikla Chachmon Orbach:

“Ha-Ben Yakir Li” (“My son, dearest”). Performers — Shai Abramson and The Gevatron, with The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra: https://youtu.be/c2jOE45pxj8?list=FLGSRFy4_td_fwDJgpWw0Qmw
“Shema Israel Elohay”. Singer — Sarit Hadad: https://youtu.be/HQlRrrReua0

[D] Solemn:

National Anthem (from Israel Central Ceremony, opening Independence-Day Celebration): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMwSlp7I7IQ&list=FLGSRFy4_td_fwDJgpWw0Qmw&index=275&t=0s

“Jerusalem of Gold” (written by Neomi Shemer, A short while prior to the breakout of the 1967 war). Singer — Shuli Natan:

“Jerusalem of Gold”. Singer — Ofra Haza:

[E] Songs of Eretz-Israel:

Ruthi (“Li Kol Gal..”). Singer — Arik Einstein:

“I have a Kineret” (“Sea of Galilee”). Singer — Aril Lavi:

“On the seashore of Kineret”. Singer — Arik Einstein:

“The Song of the Valley” (On Emek Israel, the Valley of Israel). Singer — Arik Einstein: https://youtu.be/Tbs8VFNdFpU
“There were Nights” (on the Jordan Valley; a love story). Singer — Esther Ofarim:

“Kalaniot” (plural of the name of an Israeli plant, Kalanit; Used also to be a nickname for British soldiers, during British mandate over Palestine prior to the re-birth of Israel, because of the color of their hats). Singer — Shoshana Damari:

[F] Just Cheerful and Beautiful:

“Hevenu Shalom Alechem” (“We have brought a greeting of peace upon you”). Performers — The Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance: https://youtu.be/mZ_nbinWkvE?list=FLGSRFy4_td_fwDJgpWw0Qmw