Celebrate 70 Years of Israel with the World Jewish Congress

Join the World Jewish Congress this month as we prepare to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the State of Israel. As part of the festivities, we invite people around the world to film themselves and members of their communities singing Hatikvah, Israel's national anthem. 

We are already in the process of gather individual videos from our more than 100 affiliated communities and participants worldwide, and we are hoping to add the spirited voices of others worldwide. We will compile each of the videos together as one to present to Israeli lawmakers as a birthday present from Diaspora Jewry and friends.

For nearly 2,000 years, the Jewish people lived in exile hoping to return one day to the Land of Israel. Seventy years ago, this dream became a reality. In the face of rising anti-Semitism and efforts to delegitimize the Jewish people’s right to statehood, Israel has served as an example of the power of innovation and sheer will.

It is more critical than ever to ensure a strong connection between Diaspora Jewry and the State of Israel. We invite you to join the chorus of our communities in wishing the only Jewish state a happy birthday. For more information or to submit your video, please contact Sacha Dratwa at sdratwa@wjcmail.org. The final submission date for your videos is April 5. Please join the celebration!

Hatikva text in Hebrew: 

עוֹד לֹא אָבְדָה תִּקְוָתֵנוּ,
הַתִּקְוָה בַּת שְׁנוֹת אַלְפַּיִם,
לִהְיוֹת עַם חָפְשִׁי בְּאַרְצֵנוּ,
אֶרֶץ צִיּוֹן וִירוּשָׁלַיִם.   כֹּל עוֹד בַּלֵּבָב פְּנִימָה
נֶפֶשׁ יְהוּדִי הוֹמִיָּה,
וּלְפַאֲתֵי מִזְרָח, קָדִימָה,
עַיִן לְצִיּוֹן צוֹפִיָּה,

Transliteration of Hatikva text:

Kol od balevav penimah,
Nefesh yehudi homiyah,
Ulefa-atei mizrach, kadimah,
Ayin letziyon tsofiyah.   Od lo avdah tikvateinu
Hatikva bat shnot alpayim,
Lihyot am chofshi be-artzeinu,
Eretz tzion, virushalayim.

Translation of the Hatikva:

As long as in the heart within,
The Jewish soul yearns,
And toward the eastern edges, onward,
An eye gazes toward Zion.   Our hope is not yet lost,
The hope that is two-thousand years old,
To be a free nation in our land,
The Land of Zion, Jerusalem.

 

Lyrics, translation, and transliteration courtesy of Knesset.gov.il