By Leah Rosenberg
October 14, 2018
IDF
Hatikvah is Israel’s National Anthem. And when volunteer soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces sing it in sign language, it is all the more meaningful.
History of Hatikvah
The words of Hatikvah – “The Hope” – were modified from a poem by Naftali Herz Imber, a Jewish poet from Zloczów, which today is Zolochiv, Ukraine. He first wrote it in 1877. The idea represented in the poem is the Jewish people’s 2,000 year old yearning to return home to the Land of Israel (Wikipedia).
That is something unique about the Jewish people. Despite being exiled, despite the suffering, and despite the constant aggression against them, the Jewish people never lost their faith, hope, and integrity.
The Jews sing, pray, and dance – even in the darkest of times.
Judaism is a special religion. A nation who can hold on to religion after so many trying times is strong and resilient.
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Hatikvah in Sign Language
Today, over 140 years later, the Jewish people are still singing Hatikvah. What is so beautiful is that soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces – people who are protecting the Jewish people and the state of Israel – are singing this song of hope. And these soldiers are not just regular soldiers, but they are volunteer soldiers. They could have chosen a different path in life. For various reasons, these volunteers were not obligated to serve in the IDF. But they wanted to help their country in some way.
Furthermore, they sang Hatikvah in sign language so that the swearing-in ceremony included more people.
There is something so special about the nation of Israel. And this is just one of many, many examples.
The Jewish people are unique. They hold on to hope even when they have nothing else to grasp. And so, it is very apropos that the national anthem of Israel is Hatikvah – The Hope.
Source: israelunwired.com/soldiers-sang-hatikvah-way-people-cant/
