RE: Ha-sela ha-adom or Red rock (Israeli song)

[yoel <yoel...>]

The song is about going to Petra, in Jordan.  In the mid 1950's an Israeli
adventurer named Meir Har-Tsiyon climbed from the Arava up to the ancient
Nabatean city, sneaking past Jordanian guards.  Sneaking to Petra became a
big macho thing in Israel, and a number of Israeli youths were killed by
Jordanian forces while trying to get there.  As a result, when Arik Lavie
recorded the song, it was banned on Israel radio for a number of years.

This is a well-known story in Israel.  My own source for details of the
story is my wife, but you can surely confirm it from more authoritative
sources.

Joel Epstein
Moshav Magshimim, Israel
tel: 972-3-9333316
     972-52-333316
fax: 972-9338751
yoel (at) netvision(dot)net(dot)il


>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: owner-jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org
>> [mailto:owner-jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org]On Behalf Of Jane Beebe
>> Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2001 6:15 PM
>> To: World music from a Jewish slant
>> Subject: Ha-sela ha-adom or Red rock (Israeli song)
>>
>>
>> Hello -
>>
>> A professor in the political science dept. at Amherst
>> College is interested
>> in information about the popular Israeli song Ha-sela
>> ha-adom. She has a
>> recording sung by Arik Lavie which we believe is from the
>> 50s. We are trying
>> to identify when the song first became popular and if at all
>> possible the
>> lyrics to the song. She is alos interested in the social
>> significance of
>> this song. I have searched the internet and the other
>> resources I have
>> available with not much luck.
>>
>> Thanks very much!
>>
>> Jane Beebe
>> Music Librarian
>> Amherst College, Amherst, MA
>>
>> ---------------------- jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org
>> ---------------------+
>>