Am Yisrael Chai
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Am Yisrael Chai (Hebrew: עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי; lit. 'The people of Israel live') is a Jewish solidarity anthem and a widely used expression of Jewish peoplehood and an affirmation of the continuity of the Jewish people. The phrase gained popularity during the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry, when Jewish songwriter Shlomo Carlebach composed the song for the movement's 1965 solidarity rally in New York City.
The Forward has placed "Am Yisrael Chai" second only to Hatikvah, the national anthem of Israel, as "an anthem of the Jewish people".
History
In the circa 1938 songbook Songs of My People, compiled in Chicago, the song "Am Yisrael Chai" appears. The lyrics are the words "Am Yis-ra-el, am Yis-ra-el chai. [/] Am-cha Yis-ra-el chai," in varying order.[1]
On April 20, 1945, five days after the
The front of the stage of a concert in Munich in 1945 or 1946 by the St. Ottilien Ex-Concentration Camp Orchestra displayed the words "Am Yisrael chai".[5]
Carlebach song
The phrase gained popular use in 1965, when Jewish songwriter
While in Soviet-dominated Czechoslovakia, Carlebach wrote and first performed "Am Yisrael Chai" before a group of youth in Prague. On April 2, 1965, Carlebach phoned Birnbaum with news that the song was completed. Carlebach publicly performed the song for the first time at rally on April 4. The song became the centerpiece of the SSSJ's annual solidarity rally between 1972 and 1991.[6][7]
According to musicologist
It is the final song of Soul Doctor, a Broadway musical about Carlebach's life.[8]
Contemporary use
The song and its core phrase widely became a defiant expression and affirmation of Jewish continuity, especially during times of war and heightened antisemitism.
It is often used by the
Jewish a cappella groups
US Ambassador to the UN
Composition
Hebrew[16] | Transliteration | English |
---|---|---|
עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי (repeat 3x) עוֹד אָבִינוּ חַי (repeat 3x) |
Am yisrael chai od avinu chai |
The people of Israel live, our Father still lives! |
The song's lyrics are derived from
Legacy
During the
In 2023,
References
- ^ Coopersmith, Harry (1937). Songs of My People - שירי עמי. Chicago: Anshe Emet Synagogue. pp. 153–4.
- ISBN 9781644696811. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
- Jewish Journal. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
- ^ Soloveichik, Meir (May 2021). "The Nation of the Dry Bones". Commentary. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
- ISBN 978-3110649208. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
- ^ a b c d Rosenblatt, Gary (2023-11-03). "'Am Yisrael Chai' has become an anthem for the Jewish people — but where did it come from?". The Forward. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
- ^ Bensoussan, Barbara (2011-12-28). "Rallying Cry". Mishpacha. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
- ^ ISBN 978-1442258396. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
- ^ "Am Yisrael Chai". Jewish English Lexicon. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ Jerusalem Post. 2023-10-07. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
- ^ Brackman, Levi (2009-01-09). "Meaning of Am Yisrael Chai". Ynet News. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ "Benny Friedman Releases 'Am Yisrael Chai'". Collive. 2023-10-17. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
- Algemeiner. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ Zaltzman, Lior (2023-10-27). "The Maccabeats, Y-Studs and Six13 Band Together for a Song About Israel". Kveller. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
- ^ Magid, Jacob (2023-10-12). "Biden's UN envoy at Israel solidarity rally: 'Never again' is now. Am Yisrael Chai'". Times of Israel. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ "Am Yisrael Chai". Zemirot Database. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
- ^ "Genesis 45". Sefaria. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
- ^ "The revolution is not over, says Neshama Carlebach". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Times of Israel. 2013-10-23. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
- S2CID 203072080. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ "Mural titled 'Am Yisrael Chai' unveiled at Ben-Gurion Airport". Jerusalem Post. 2023-06-20. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
External links
- Entry in the Jewish English Lexicon dictionary