It was Israel’s Memorial Day. We stood in a pristine white building in downtown Tel Aviv, listening to the music. Our translator leaned in and whispered the lyrics.
“Our hope is not yet lost - the hope of two thousand years: To be a free nation in our land.”
Only eight lines long, Israel’s national anthem conveys the pain of thousands of years of Jewish struggles, but even more so, it speaks of hope. In fact, its title “Hatikvah” is Hebrew for “the hope.”
We were deeply moved as we listened to the crowd sing.
As we travel the world, we’re amazed at how much a national anthem can reveal about a country. Far more than a simple account of state history, they help to create and maintain national identity.
The “Star-Spangled Banner” reflects America’s conflict-laden past with references to war: rockets, bombs and a perilous fight. Today it’s often played overtop a video montage of majestic bald eagles, fighter planes in formation and the flag flapping in the wind. … read more
