[HANASHIR:11347] Re: hatikvah with the "bat"

[Shirona <shirona...>]

Steve,

I didn't know that the Reform community was "largely anti-Zionist till the 6 
day war".  As someone who grew up in Israel this seems shocking.  Does this 
mean, for example, that in reform temples people didn't celebrate Yom 
Ha'atzmaut, didn't teach Israeli songs, etc...?  Were they "against" Israel (as 
the word "anti" implies") like the Satmar Hassidim?

Also, I've seen the Hatikvah in conservative synagogues without the word "bat" 
as well, so I'm not sure the mistake was divided along denominational lines 
only.

Shirona
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Singer, Songwriter and Teacher of Jewish Music
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  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Stevehumm (at) aol(dot)com 
  To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org 
  Sent: Wednesday, April 17, 2002 1:29 PM
  Subject: [HANASHIR:11346] hatikvah with the "bat"


  i was always stumped by why american jews, in seemingly great arrogance, 
would  change israel's national anthem, and remove the word "bat."  after 
giving up, and choosing to sing hatikva WITH the "bat," an israeli friend shed 
some light on the subject for me , which i cannot guarantee to be completely 
accurate, but it sounds good. 

  apparenly, naphtali imber's speech in the mid 19th century DID include the 
word "bat."  but, sometime between 1948 and the 70's, as israel's "new" 
language, modern hebrew, was evovling, the accepted way of speaking became such 
that in describing one's age, it was no longer necessary to use the word "ben" 
or "bat."  it was too "stiff."   

  so, my friend explained, there were short-lived and largely unpopular 
factions within israel who were dropping the word "bat" in the national anthem. 
 apparently, the american reform community, which was largely anti-zionist til 
the 6 day war in 1967, became excited about israel and "discovered" ha-tikva at 
the wrong time.  you will notice that american conservative jewish sources have 
always had it right, while the reform community is struggling with what might 
be called a hard habbit to break.  encouragingly, our new "shireinu" provides 
the "optional bat."  we're on the right track.   

        -steve hummel 
         santa monica, ca