The Israel Philharmonic with the IDF Orchestra - Naomi Shemer's "Al Kol Eleh"

 

"Please do not uproot the planted, Do not forget the hope. 

Bring me back and I shall return to the good land." 

Today is Chol Hamoed, the intermediate day of Passover, but it's still a struggle to say "Happy Holidays". We found words of encouragement and comfort in the song "Al Kol Eleh”, (For All These), the words of encouragement that Naomi Shemer wrote to her widowed sister. 

Join us in watching and listening to the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and the musicians of the IDF Orchestra conducted by Major Rom Shamir in this timeless entreaty to God. We hope the line "Hashiveni v'ashuva" (Bring me back and I shall return) is heard and that our hostages return soon. 

Moadim L'simcha!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.

Yehoram Gaon and the IDF Choirs Sing "Lo Tenatzchu Oti" - You Won't Defeat Me

Yehoram Gaon has been an Israeli musical legend for more than half a century. In 1984 Naomi Shemer wrote a song, Lo Tenatzchu Oti, for a new album that he released that year. It has become very popular in Israel.

Now Yehoram Gaon has produced a new video of this song, joining with the choirs of the Israel Defense Forces to make a forceful statement that Israel will not be defeated.

As Phil Schneider wrote Tuesday in Israel Unwired,

One of the enjoyable aspects of this song is that the attitude is not one of arrogance, but one of unity. If there is one secret aspect to Israel’s success thus far in the War in Gaza, it is the unity that is so pervasive at this moment in history. Because of the enormity of the horrible tragedy of the massacre on October 7th, Israelis instinctively banded together to fight back.

The song is in Hebrew with English subtitles. The English words appear below the video.

Am Yisrael Chai!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.

    

You won't defeat me.

 From my window I can see a street like an over flowing river and people on their way to work.

And young children going to school with their satchels on their backs.

And in their hands they hold some blossoming myrtle branches. 

Suddenly it becomes clear, And I say to myself: No, No, No, You won't beat me. 

I will not be defeated so fast. No, No, No, You won't beat me. I will not be defeated so fast. 

From my window I can see A plane taking off, a plane flying, Hiding in the distant clouds. 

I hear a machine in the right tune that rolls around outside and in the markets.

 Suddenly it becomes clear, And I say to myself: No, No, No, You won't beat me. 

I will not be defeated so fast. No, No, No, You won't beat me. I will not be defeated so fast. 

In my window are spring and autumn. A rainy day and a scorching day. 

Light and darkness, soloist and choir. It’s all mixed up and confused. 

Songs of Lamentations, Songs of Hallel. And sometimes it’s one giant mess. 

Suddenly it becomes clear, And I say to myself: No, No, No, You won't beat me. 

I will not be defeated so fast. No, No, No, You won't beat me. I will not be defeated so fast.

Cantor Azi Schwartz Sings Naomi Shemer's Yom Kippur War Song "Lu Yehi" as Prayer for Today's IDF Soldiers

Lu Yehi was written and composed by Naomi Shemer during the Yom Kippur War (1973), and has since become one of the symbols of the war.

Before the war, Naomi Shemer decided to write Hebrew words for the Beatles' song “Let It Be”. She did not like the translation of the song's name to "Shihyeh" which could be understood as “Whatever,” and thought that it should be given the name "Lu Yehi".

Her version is not a translation of the Beatles song but a hopeful prayer for a quick end to the war and for the safety of IDF soldiers ("This is the end of the summer, the end of the road, let them come back.")

Mordechai Shevitz, Naomi Shemer’s second husband and poet in his own right, who had just returned from reserve military service, declared: "I will not let you waste this song on the tune of strangers, this is about a Jewish war and you must write a Jewish melody.” This statement rang true for Naomi and accordingly she changed the tune to fit the Hebrew words.

In this video recorded on October 20 at the Park Avenue Synagogue in New York City, Cantor Azi Schwartz sang Naomi Shemer's song in a Kabbalat Shabbat service that included remarks by Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Pastor Kaji Dousa.

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.

The Great Israeli Singing Groups: Chocolate, Menta, Mastik Sings "B'Rosh Hashanah"

Chocolate, Menta, Mastik (Hebrew: שוקולד מנטה מסטיק‎‎, translation: Chocolate, mint, gum) was an Israeli female musical trio, active in the 1970s, composed of Yardena Arazi, Ruthie Holzman and either Tami Azaria (1972-1973) or Leah Lupatin. All the girls served in the IDF as part of the Nahal Ensemble. 

The trio performed both in Israel and internationally, especially after being the 1976 entry to the Eurovision Song Contest in The Hague with "Emor Shalom".

In this video they sing B'Rosh Hashanah by Naomi Shemer, her most beloved New Year Song. The Hebrew lyrics and English translation appear below the video.

Enjoy!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.

בראש השנה

נעמי שמר מילים ולחן: נעמי שמר
בראש השנה, בראש השנה
פרחה שושנה אצלי בגינה
בראש השנה סירה לבנה
עגנה לה בחוף פתאום

בראש השנה, בראש השנה
ליבנו ענה בתפילה נושנה
שיפה ושונה תהא השנה
אשר מתחילה לה היום

בראש השנה, בראש השנה
פרחה עננה ברקיע הסתיו
בראש השנה כנר נשמה
נדלק בשדה חצב

בראש השנה, בראש השנה
ליבנו ענה בתפילה נושנה
שיפה ושונה תהא השנה
אשר מתחילה עכשיו.

בראש השנה, בראש השנה
פרחה מנגינה שאיש לא הכיר
ותוך יממה הזמר המה
מכל חלונות העיר

בראש השנה, בראש השנה
ליבנו ענה בתפילה נושנה
שיפה ושונה תהא השנה
אשר מתחילה בשיר

On Rosh Hashanah, on Rosh Hashanah,
In my garden bloomed a rose.
On Rosh Hashanah, a white sailboat
Suddenly set anchor by the shore.

On Rosh Hashanah, on Rosh Hashanah,
Our heart responded in ancient prayer:
May the year beginning anew today
Be wonderful and special in every way.

On Rosh Hashanah, on Rosh Hashanah,
In the autumn sky bloomed a first cloud.
On Rosh Hashanah,
Rising like a memorial flame,
In the meadow bloomed the first squill.

On Rosh Hashanah, on Rosh Hashanah,
Our heart responded in ancient prayer:
May the year beginning anew today
Be wonderful and special in every way.

On Rosh Hashanah, on Rosh Hashanah,
Bloomed a melody - new and unknown,
And overnight its strains did resound
From every casement in town.

On Rosh Hashanah, on Rosh Hashanah,
Our heart responded in ancient prayer:
May the year beginning anew today
Be wonderful and special in every way.