Yom Ha'atzmaut - Israel turns 61!

Yom Ha'atzmaut is the Israel Independence Day. It almost always falls on the 5th of Iyar as well celebrate the declaration of the state of Israel by David Ben-Gurion in Tel Aviv on May 14, 1948 (5 Iyar, 5708).

In tribute, here are some pictures my from incredible journey to Eretz Yisrael last June. After that, Hatikvah and other songs.

Independence Hall

Photo of David Ben Gurion

A photo on the wall, showing the room in 1948

Jeremiah 31:8

Isaiah 35:1

The Declaration Room

Theodore Herzl quote

Amos 9:14

The Kotel aka Western Wall


Hatikvah
Kol od baleivav p'nimah
Nefesh y'hudi homiyah
Ulfa'atei mizrach kadimah
Ayin l'tziyon tzofiyah
Od lo avdah tikvateinu
Hatikvah bat sh'not alpayim
Lihyot am chofshi b'artzeinu
Eretz tziyon viyrushalayim

As long as in the heart, within,
A soul of a Jew is yearning,
And to the edges of the East, forward,
An eye gazes 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.

כל עוד בלבב פנימה
נפש יהודי הומיה,
ולפאתי מזרח קדימה,
עין לציון צופיה,
עוד לא אבדה תקוותנו,
התקווה בת שנות אלפים,
להיות עם חופשי בארצנו,
ארץ ציון וירושלים.


David melech Yisrael chai chai vekayam
Am Yisrael Chai, Od Avinu Chai

Lu Y'hi (Let It Be)
Words: Naomi Shemer

There's still a white sail bravely gleaming,
Though the clouds are black and low,
Everything we wish let it be.
And when at evening by the window,
Sabbath candles softly glow.
Everything we wish let it be.

Let it be, let it be,
Only let it be,
Everything we wish
let it be.

I hear the sound of people singing,
Bugle notes that fill the air,
Everything we wish let it be.
Above the fanfare and the music,
Let them hear my silent prayer,
Everything we wish let it be.

Let it be, let it be...

Within a green and quiet village,
Stands a house with open door,
Everything we wish let it be.
The summer's ended and the journey,
Bring the soldiers home once more
Everything we wish let it be.

Let it be, let it be...

And when a distant star in heaven
Lights our darkness from above,
Everything we wish - let it be.
Oh, give them strength and give them quiet,
Those we cherish, those we love,
Everything we wish - let it be.

Let it be, let it be...

JERUSALEM IS MINE
By Kenny Karen

I am the sun, Jerusalem,
You are a painted sky
I am a bird, Jerusalem,
You have the wings to fly
You are the father of my dreams,
I am a gift of time
I am your child, Jerusalem,
Jerusalem is mine
You are an orchard in the sand,
I am the fruit you bear
You are the glove that warms my hand,
I am the smile you wear
You are the music of the hills,
I am the words that rhyme
I am your song, Jerusalem,
Jerusalem is mine

You are the cradle of freedom,
and I am the harvest of springtime
You are the dawn of a new day,
I am tomorrow, you are forever

You are my shelter from the storm,
I am your guiding light
You are a book whose leaves are torn,
I am the page you write
You are the branches of a tree,
I am a clinging vine I am your prayer, Jerusalem,
Jerusalem is mine
I have come home, Jerusalem,
Jerusalem is mine

Oseh Shalom
Oseh shalom bimromav Hu ya'aseh shalom aleinu V'al kol Yisrael V'imru, v'imru amen.
May the One who makes peace send peace to us and all of Israel, and let us say, Amen.

Im Tirtzu
Ein zo agada
Lih-yot am chofshi b'artzeinu
B'eretz tziyon virushalayim

I you will it, it is not a dream
To live as free people in our land
In the land of Zion and Jerusalem