Introduction

In this lesson, students will review two Hebrew songs that each were significant in the Refusenik era. Students will learn the background of these songs, read the lyrics, and then analyze the meaning of each song by comparing and contrasting.

Procedure

  1. Explain to students that 2 well-known Hebrew songs play a significant role in the fight for Soviet Jewry. Play students a short clip from each song (in the links below) and ask who recognizes either song and what they already know about it.
  2. Review both songs below, by reading the lyrics in English and/or Hebrew, reviewing the song’s background and meaning, and listening to the songs’ melodies.
  3. Lead an active discussion with students, comparing and contrasting the two songs. This can be done through a comparison chart or Venn diagram on the board, or through group discussion.

Points to consider:

  • Is it clear from the lyrics alone the period each song was written? In what way does the time in which each song was written influence its words and meaning?
  • Which song seems more hopeful? Why?
  • Which song has a more universal message?
  • Did reading the history and background of each song affect how you feel about the song? In what ways?

Blue and White

SONG #1 :  

כחול ולבןKachol Ve-Lavan


THE STORY BEHIND THE SONG

“Kachol Ve-Lavan” (translation: Blue and White), is a Hebrew patriot song that became an anthem of Soviet Jewry and was also popular in Israel.  

The song and its melody were written in the late 1960s by Israel Rashel, a Jewish resident of Minsk, who was then 21. Rashel wrote these words as a poem that expressed his connection to Israel. He fought for his right to immigrate to Israel until he achieved it in March 1971.


THE SONG’S MEANING

The song expresses feelings and meanings associated with the colors blue and white, the national colors of the State of Israel.


LINK TO SONG’S MELODY

https://youtu.be/qsVXn3bzGvI


LYRICS IN ENGLISH AND HEBREW

ENGLISH Transliteration HEBREW
Blue and white Kachul ve-lavan כחול ולבן
are my colors, Ze tzeva sheli זה צבע שלי
blue and white Kachul ve-lavan כחול ולבן
the colors of my land, Tziv-ay admati צבעי אדמתי
blue and white, Kachul ve-lavan כחול ולבן
blue and white, Kachul ve-lavan כחול ולבן
are my colors. Ze tzeva sheli זה צבע שלי
For all my days, forever, Kol yamay, le-o’lam כל ימי לעולם
blue and white, Kachul ve-lavan כחול ולבן
like a song, like a dream, Kmo shir, kmo chalom כמו שיר, כמו חלום
blue and white, Kachul ve-lavan כחול ולבן
a hope for peace. Tikva le-shalom תקוה לשלום
Blue and white, Kachul ve-lavan כחול ולבן
blue and white, Kachul ve-lavan כחול ולבן
blue and white, Kachul ve-lavan כחול ולבן
are my colors, Ze tzeva sheli זה צבע שלי
for all my days, forever, Kol yamay, le-olam כל ימי לעולם
blue and white. Kachul ve-lavan כחול ולבן
Hermon and Kinneret, Hermon ve kineret חרמון וכנרת
blue and white, Kachul ve-lavan כחול ולבן
my heart is singing, Libi mezamer et ליבי מזמר את
blue and white, Kachul ve-lavan כחול ולבן
blue and white, Kachul ve-lavan כחול ולבן
blue and white, Kachul ve-lavan כחול ולבן
are my colors, Ze tzeva sheli זה צבע שלי
for all my days, forever, Kol yamay, le-olam כל ימי לעולם
blue and white. Kachul ve-lavan כחול ולבן
Sky and snow, Shamayim ve sheleg שמים ושלג
blue and white, Kachul ve-lavan כחול ולבן
It’s a wonder and a wonder, Ze pelle ve pelle זה פלא ופלא
blue and white, Kachul ve-lavan כחול ולבן
blue and white, Kachul ve-lavan כחול ולבן
are my colors, Ze tzeva sheli זה צבע שלי
for all my days, forever, Kol yamay, le-olam כל ימי לעולם
blue and white, Kachul ve-lavan כחול ולבן
there are no other colors. Ein tzeva acher אין צבע אחר
Blue and white, Kachul ve-lavan כחול ולבן
I’m just repeating to say, Ani rak chozer אני רק חוזר
blue and white, Kachul ve-lavan כחול ולבן
blue and white, Kachul ve-lavan כחול ולבן
blue and white, Kachul ve-lavan כחול ולבן
are my colors, Ze tzeva sheli זה צבע שלי
for all my days, forever. Kol yamay, le-olam כל ימי לעולם

 

Tzion, Tzion, Tzion

SONG #2 : 

SONG TITLE IN HEBREW

צִיּוֹן, הֲלֹא תִשְׁאֲלִי לִשְׁלוֹם אֲסִירַיִךְ – Tzion, halo tishali lishlom asira’ich


THE STORY BEHIND THE SONG

This song is an excerpt from a poem for Rabbi Yehuda HaLevi, associated with the tragedies of Tisha B’Av — the long Jewish exile from Israel and the destruction of the Temples. The song evokes a yearning for the “prisoners,” or the exiles from Israel, to one day return to their homeland, Zion (Israel). With the return to Israel in modern items since the emergence of the State of Israel, the song’s meaning has evolved to refer to a variety of other “Jewish prisoners,” including the Refuseniks.  


THE SONG’S MEANING

Rabbi Yehuda Halevi’s poem is a song of love and longing for his beloved soul, in the Land of Israel. As a devoted and faithful lover, he faces the ups and downs of a whirlwind of heavy feelings – betrayal, difficulty dealing with the loss of his lover’s youth, and the supposed loss of her special qualities. In contrast to the emotional jolt of the speaker, the collective presented in the poem exhibits a steady attitude towards Zion. They are prisoners of love for her. Apparently, the agitated speaker derives his stability from the collective’s stability. At the end of the poem, he becomes part of the collective, that awaits patiently.  Source 


LINKS

 Short version

 Longer version 

Full Lyrics in English  

Full lyrics in Hebrew 


LYRICS IN ENGLISH AND HEBREW

ENGLISH Transliteration HEBREW
Zion, why don’t you ask about the wellbeing of your prisoners? Tziyon, ha-lo tishali­ li-shlom ashira-ich, צִיּוֹן הֲלֹא תִשְׁאֲלִי לִשְׁלוֹם אֲסִירַיִךְ
The remaining members of your flock (community)? Dorshei shlomech vehem yeter adaraich דּוֹרְשֵׁי שְׁלוֹמֵךְ וְהֵם יֶתֶר עֲדָרָיִךְ
From the (West), and the East, and the North and Yemen Ma-eim u-mizrach u-me-tzphone u-timan shalom מִיָּם וּמִזְרָח וּמִצָּפוֹן וְתֵימָן שְׁלוֹם
From near and far, bring them (the prisoners) from every direction, Rachok ve-karov she-ee mikol avara-ich רָחוֹק וְקָרוֹב שְׂאִי מִכֹּל עֲבָרָיִךְ,

The prisoner’s tears are like the dew on Mt. Hermon,

Who wants to let them fall on the slopes your peaks?

U-shalom ashir teava, noten dimotav ketal hermon ve-nichsaf lirdetam al harara-ich וּשְׁלוֹם אֲסִיר תַּאֲוָה, נוֹתֵן דְּמָעָיו כְּטַל–חֶרְמוֹן וְנִכְסַף לְרִדְתָּם עַל הֲרָרָיִךְ!

To cry of your pain I holler out like a jackal,

But in times that I dream that your imprisonment might end,

I become like a violin for your songs.

Livkot anutech ani tanim, ve-et achlom shivat shevotech – ani kinor leshira-ich לִבְכּוֹת עֱנוּתֵךְ אֲנִי תַנִּים, וְעֵת אֶחֱלֹם שִׁיבַת שְׁבוּתֵך – אֲנִי כִנּוֹר לְשִׁירָיִךְ.

 

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