Happy Birthday!

Writer of "Hatikvah" (c.1870)

Naphtali Herz Imber

was born

12/27/1856
(d.1909)

          Kol od baleyvav p'nima,           As long as in a Jewish breast
          Nefesh Y'hudi homiya,             The soul's stiring has not ceased
          Ul'fa'ate mizrach kadima,         The eye for longing will not rest
          Ayin l'Tziyon tzofiya.            Until it gaze on Zion in the East.
  
          Od lo avda tikvateynu,            Our ancient hope will not perish
          Hatikva sch'not alpayim,           Hope from ages long since past.
          Lih'yot am chofshi b'artseynu     To live free in the land we cherish,
          Eretz Tsiyon vi'Rushalayim.       Zion and Jerusalem at last.
  
  A Treasury of Jewish Folksong, Ruth Rubin; 1950

The tune is an old Sephardic Hallel chant, same as "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" & used by Smetana for "The Moldau" theme.)

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