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Shalom everyone,
On Shabbat we were honored with a visit by Tamar and her parents. We made a barbecue of delicious steaks and Tamar was full of compliments for Ettie's cooking. Tamar also enjoyed the hammock we have on the balcony; she said she found it very relaxing.
On Friday Ettie and I went to visit Ariel, Lilach and Ophir. It was quite a while since I last saw him and he had grown a bit. He's also learned to perfect his foreword somersault and to say the names of the objects he pastes on a piece of paper. We played a bit with the ball, he's an excellent ball thrower, and soon he'll be catching it with great expertise.
Until now I've been collecting classical and jazz music on my computer. So far I have about 2 days of music but I wasn't collecting Israeli music until I started taking an interest in the history of Zionism
I've always had the feeling that Zionism is an important new development in the long history of Judaism and generally, in the history of ideas which have changed the world. The more I studied Judaism the more I realized that Zionism is a stage in the development of Judaism that could only come about after many thousands of years of the practice of Judaism by many millions of people.
For example the idea of a nation's return to its homeland can only develop from a situation of original attachment of a nation to its homeland followed by exile from that homeland. A nation that's never been exiled can never know the joy of return.
I remember once my friend Paul from S. Carolina told me how much he loved Ilanit. I often wondered about why a Christian from S. Carolina should be attracted to the songs of Ilanit until I listened more carefully than before to the words of the song and I realized it expresses the joy of a nation returning to its homeland to which it was deeply attached but from which it was exiled for a long time.
Below is a translation of one of Ilanit's songs to show you what I mean. There are many other singers like Ilanit. These songs are al available on the internet; if you're interested Ill send you the URL's.
These songs were sung by the early pioneers who joyfully faced malaria, unbelievably hard work, constant persecution by the Turkish authorities, vicious attacks by Beduin tribes all in order to rebuild the land of their ancestors that had been left deserted for thousands of years.
Now I have about 40 new songs of famous Israeli singers. I love the way the People of Israel sing. They've been singing from the moment they returned to Israel at the end of the nineteenth century. A nation that sings at its beginning is a strong nation.
If you'd like to receive a file of the music please let me know and I'll send it to you. It's played on Windows Media Player but takes about 20 minutes to download.
The land, land, land.
The blue cloudless land.
Its sun
Is like milk and honey
The land where I was born
The land where we'll live.
Where we'll dwell
Come what may.
The land we'll love
It'll be our mother and father.
The nation's land
The land forever.
The land where we were born.
The land where we'll live.
Come what may
The land, land, land.
The sea and the shore.
Flowers and children to infinity.
The Kinneret in the North
The sands in the South
Borders touch the East and West.
The land we'll love……….
The land, land, land.
The Land of the Bible.
The source of light.
And the language of faith.
The land, land, land.
The precious land.
You promised it
It's not a legend.
The land we'll love………
We were always great singers and musicians because we were always a happy people. This is clear from the many examples in the Bible when the Jews sang and danced and played musical instruments as a sign of joy.
The singing and dancing of the modern pioneers is like history repeating itself.
At the approach of Saul and David (on David's return after slaying the Philistine), women came out from each of the cities of Israel to meet King Saul, singing and dancing, with tambourines, joyful songs, and sistrums. 1 Sam 11:6,
While David and all the Israelites made merry before the LORD with all their strength, with singing and with citharas, harps, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals. 2 Sam 6:5
Again I will restore you, and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin Israel; Carrying your festive tambourines, you shall go forth dancing with the merrymakers. Jer 31:4
Stilled are the cheerful timbrels, ended the shouts of the jubilant, stilled is the cheerful harp. Is 24:8
You will sing as on a night when a feast is observed, And be merry of heart, as one marching along with a flute Toward the mountain of the LORD, toward the Rock of Israel, accompanied by the timbrels and lyres. Is 30:32
Wishing you a great no news day.
Yours truly
Leon Gork