Hatikvah

/ˌhɑːtɪkˈvɑː/ noun

Definition

The national anthem of Israel, adopted in 1948, meaning 'The Hope' in Hebrew and expressing the Jewish longing for a homeland.

Etymology

From Hebrew 'Ha-Tikvah' (התקווה) meaning 'The Hope.' The lyrics were written in 1878 by Naftali Herz Imber as an expression of Zionist aspirations, and the melody is based on a Moldovan folk tune.

Kelly Says

Hatikvah is remarkable because its lyrics express a longing written 70 years before the state of Israel actually existed—when Herz Imber wrote it, it was a dream of Jewish refugees scattered across Europe and the Middle East, making it one of history's most powerful articulations of collective hope.

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