A Sentimental Favorite Song of Mine


BaalChatzaf

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Please listen to (the late) Ofra Haza singing Jerusalem of Gold, a song composed when the Israelis retook the Old City of Jerusalem (where the Temple Mount is) during the '67 war. Jews got back their city after 2000 years! It is considered the unofficial national anthem of the State of Israel. Hatikvah is the official National Anthem.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlIJOAZ1pak

The song is sung in Hebrew but there are English subtitles.

Ofra Hafaz (now deceased) z'chor l'vracha (may she be remembered for a blessing) had a gorgeous voice. There are few female singers like her.

When I hear this song, especially by Ofra, there is not a dry eye in my head.

Ba'al Chatzaf

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Al Atlal "The Ruins"

This is a song about a love affair gone wrong. The climax, more attractive to Western ears, is from 6:14 to the end. I played it when we bombed Baghdad.

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Ba'al, I responded quite strongly to "Jerusalem of Gold", but I'd have to listen to it several times more before I could be sure how much of my response was to the music and how much to the words.

Ted, I experienced "The Ruins" as painful -- not emotionally but physically. It felt as though it were hurting something in my head, and I kept wanting to push it away, There are many Oriental things I love, but apparently the music is not among them.

Barbara

Barbara

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Ba'al, I responded quite strongly to "Jerusalem of Gold", but I'd have to listen to it several times more before I could be sure how much of my response was to the music and how much to the words.

I think the event itself is moving. For nearly two millenia Jews have been reciting "next year in Jerusalem" from the Passover Haggadah. Finally! Finally it comes to pass. The children have returned home at last. How many times does one see a Prophecy come true? L'shanah ha'ba'ah b'yrushalaym! Next year in Jerusalem.

When the IDF reached the West Wall of the Temple (the so called Wailing Wall), the chief Rabbi of the IDF blew the Shofar (ram's horn) to mark the event. That surely must have been an unforgettable sight and sound for those who were there.

Have you ever heard a Shofar well blown? It is combination air-raid siren and the Trumpet of the Lord in one. The sound makes one's hair stand on end.

Ba'al Chatzaf

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