Hatikvah: The Story Behind the Anthem

Hatikvah, Israel’s national anthem, predates the establishment of the Jewish state by decades. Zionist leader Theodor Herzl hated it and many of Israel’s citizens refuse to sing it. So, how did this unlikely song take the national anthem top spot? What were the alternatives? And are there any plans to change it? Join Noam Weissman as he deconstructs the music, melody and meaning behind Hatikvah.  ~~~~ The Unpacking Israeli History Podcast series is sponsored by Andrea and Larry GillThis episode is sponsored by Jack and Ellen Kahan Zager in honor of Ala and Yoske (z”l) Brosh ~~~~ Learn more about Unpacked: https://jewishunpacked.com/about/ Visit Unpacked on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/unpacked  Teaching about this topic? Check out our relevant educator resources here: https://unpacked.education/video/history-of-israels-national-anthem-does-hatikvah-mean-hope-for-all/ ~~~~ Sources: Song "Hatikva" version by Daniel Saadon - Instagram @daniel_saadon1995 https://israelforever.org/interact/blog/hatikvah_song_of_hope_time_of_despair/ https://www.neaman.org.il/EN/Files/Hatikva-The%20Real%20Story%20behind%20Israels%20anthem.pdf https://www.songfacts.com/facts/traditional/hatikvah https://judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/2405/jewish-tunes-similar-to-non-jewish-ones https://www.timesofisrael.com/rivlin-said-to-vow-he-will-sign-nation-state-law-in-arabic/ https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/hatikvah/ https://www.timesofisrael.com/how-an-unwieldy-romantic-poem-and-a-romanian-folk-song-combined-to-produce-hatikva/ https://www.timesofisrael.com/how-an-unwieldy-romantic-poem-and-a-romanian-folk-song-combined-to-produce-hatikva/ https://www.haaretz.com/1.5028325 https://www.haaretz.com/1.4817521 http://www.jewishledger.com/2013/04/hatikvah-in-the-holocaust/ https://www.jta.org/1944/11/28/archive/jewish-flyer-who-fled-german-prison-camp-tells-of-mistreatment-of-jews http://www.thetower.org/article/hatikva-keeps-its-edge-despite-everything/ https://www.thetorah.com/article/tikvatenu-the-poem-that-inspired-israels-national-anthem-hatikva https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywq1wXU_HZs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtMhYQoEgCs https://www.timesofisrael.com/expert-confirms-jews-and-arabs-nearing-population-parity/ http://www.thetower.org/article/hatikva-keeps-its-edge-despite-everything/ https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israels-anthem-and-a-row-about-harmony-7576841.html https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4397079,00.html https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/arabs-should-not-have-to-sing-hatikvah-say-israelis/ https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-blasts-hebrew-u-over-report-it-nixed-hatikvah-to-avoid-offending-arab-students/ ~~~~ Unpacked is a division of OpenDor Media