2nd May, 2020 Israel celebrated its 72nd birthday a few days ago. That is if you date its birth from the declaration of statehood by David Ben Gurion when the British Mandate ended and the last British soldier departed the shores of Palestine, the name given to the Land of Israel by the Roman Emperor Hadrian in the second century.
However, the children of Israel have lived in the land of Israel more than three thousand years. They built a Temple in Jerusalem, and then a second when the first was destroyed by the Babylonians, only to have it destroyed by the Romans.
The Balfour Declaration of 1917 and the League of Nations endorsement at the San Remo conference exactly one hundred years ago merely acknowledged those historical facts, confirmed by written sources and archaeological excavations.
The prophet Ezekiel prophesied 2,500 years ago “Thus saith the Lord God: Behold I will take the children of Israel from among the nations whither they be gone and I will gather them on every side and bring them into their own land. And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel”. (Ezekiel 37:21-2) I am one of those “children of Israel”.
I came to Israel a half a century ago and have seen it change and mature. The Israeli poetess and song-writer Rachel Shapira in her song Ha-Aretz Sheli – My Land/Country – has succeeded in describing Israel and its contrasts.
As a guide I would read my English translation to each of my groups prior to their departure after touring the land/country with me.
I invite you to enjoy her portrayal, as they did.
Ha Aretz Sheli words – Rachel Shapira, music – Moni Amarilio
Ha Aretz sheli, it’s an ocean and it’s a mountain,
It’s a green valley and it’s a wild desert,
It’s the horizon drowning in the clouds,
It’s sandstone and white beaches.
Ha Aretz sheli, it’s the heat and it’s the frost,
It’s steep cliffs and it’s gentle plains,
It’s the wide open spaces and it’s so tiny,
It’s the heavens above and the ground below.
Ha Aretz sheli, it’s colours and it’s smells,
It’s narrow alleys and it’s the four winds,
It’s the peace of the village and it’s the pace of the city,
It’s choked weeping and the melody of a song.
Ha Aretz sheli, it’s my dozen loves,
It’s thousands of strangers passing me by,
It’s pain and hate and it’s deep fear,
It’s a bouquet of love and laughter.
Ha Aretz sheli, it’s salt and it’s honey,
It’s an ancient book and it’s a modern miracle,
It’s the saga of a never despairing struggle,
It’s my country, it’s my land, really, really.
It’s my country, it’s my land, really, really.
