[HANASHIR:14335] Re: Another Hatikvah question

[ilana axel <iaxel...>]

True, however, Israel being a democracy means that
people who live here get to vote on this issue. The
content of Hatikvah, for those of you who don't know,
is often at the center of lively public debate in
Israel. It has been brought to the attention of the
Knesset in the past, but never received enough
political momentum to be changed. 
It is certainly difficult balancing different
aspirations, for example, democracy and having ONLY
ONE Jewish country in this entire world.
For example, wanting to love Israel and support her
and identify with her, but not wanting to actually
live there, or actually make time to learn to speak
Hebrew fluently.
When I was an American citizen living in Israel, I did
not vote in American elections, even though I had the
leagl right to do so. It was morally wrong in my mind,
when I beleived I would live my whole life in Israel.
Now that I live in America, I do not vote in Israeli
elections. I am presently not the one under threat of
bus bombings in Israel, for example. I can have all
the opinions I want, and am free to dicuss them, but,
ultimatle, I cannot be part of the decision making
process in Israel as long as I choose to live here.
I understand it is very difficult to balance these
seeming conlicts in our lives, but we all must make
these decisions as modern Jews.
It seems to me that as long as Hatikvah is the Israeli
national anthem, we must sing it, or risk a type of
cultural suicide. It also expresses the entire early
history of Israel's founding accurately. It is imbued
with rich associations of our history and culture. Why
should we be so quick to negate it? The Israelis will
find their way with this over time, but it probably
won't happen until the present conflict moves to
entirely new resolutions.
Thanks for listening,
Ilana Axel

--- Rabbi Richard Schachet <lvrabbi (at) lvcm(dot)com> wrote:
> I disagree with Shirona-
> 
> If we live in a democracy (which Israel is supposed
> to be) theIsraeli  Arabs cannot sing this-- in the
> same way I can't sing about Jesus.  We used to even
> sing "Onward hmmm hmmm Soldiers.  It is hard to have
> it both ways.
>   ----- Original Message ----- 
>   From: Shirona 
>   To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org 
>   Sent: Monday, May 19, 2003 9:08 AM
>   Subject: [HANASHIR:14307] Re: Another Hatikvah
> question
> 
> 
>   So maybe we should change (or re-think) the Star
> Spangled Banner because the native-Americans might
> not feel "comfortable" with it.  Don't we have
> enough REAL "tsures" ( troubles, problems, horrors,
> tragedies - take your pick) in this world (as Jews
> and otherwise) to engage in this sort of thing?
>   Give me a break!
>   Shirona
>   * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
> * * * * * * * * 
>   Singer, Songwriter and Teacher of Jewish Music
>    Visit my website at    www.shirona.com
>   Listen to my music at www.mp3.com/shirona
>   * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
> * * * * * * * *
> 
>     ----- Original Message ----- 
>     From: Batiya5723 (at) cs(dot)com 
>     To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org 
>     Sent: Monday, May 19, 2003 11:48 AM
>     Subject: [HANASHIR:14304] Another Hatikvah
> question
> 
> 
>     Another question about this song...
> 
>     In my work as a religious school teacher,
> songleader and music specialist, I have lately been
> questioned by my older students (middle and high
> school age) about the "relevance" of singing
> Hatikvah in light of current events. As one of my
> seventh-graders put it, "If I were an Arab member of
> the Knesset and had to stand while the song was
> being sung at the opening of session, I'm not sure
> HOW I'd feel. It sure doesn't speak to the
> Israeli-Arab's view of things."
> 
>     I've already brought this question to my
> Educator, who says to welcome the questions, but
> that as long as the song remains the national anthem
> of Israel, we will sing it (and I will continue to
> teach it) at religious school Israeli-related
> events.
> 
>     I would welcome the perspectives of other
> teachers who have faced similar questions, and how
> they worked with them in the context of a lesson.
> Thanks in advance. --Beth Hamon 


=====
Ilana Axel
Music Director/Jewish Music Specialist/Singer
JRF Master Teacher 2002
Shir Hadash Reconstructionist Synagogue
Northbrook, Illinois
Tel: 847-279-0473
iaxel (at) yahoo(dot)com

__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
The New Yahoo! Search - Faster. Easier. Bingo.
http://search.yahoo.com

------------------------ hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org -----------------------+