Top 9 Classic Israeli Songs
As we celebrate Israel's remembrance day of fallen soldiers as a country, we adorn ourselves in white and remember each year with songs of bravery and loss flowing through our ears.
As the sun begins to set today, on April 14th, 2021, Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s official Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and victims of terror, officially begins.
Songs are a powerful and touching way to remember our loved ones and to honor the brave heroes who fell for the existence of our country. Each year there are hundreds of ceremonies around Israel in which we commemorate through song and stories, as we remember through bringing these heroes to life.
Below is a list of the top 9 classic Israeli songs to help us commemorate and honor our fallen loved ones on this Yom HaZikaron.
9 Yom HaZikaron Israeli Songs
01 Ahi Hatzair Yehuda
"My Younger Brother, Yehuda" is a song written by Ehud Manor in memory of his brother Yehuda Weiner.
The song was composed by Yohanan Zaray and was first performed by the Armored
Troops Band in 1969. The song, one of Ehud Manor's most well-known songs, has become one of the most used songs for commemoration.
02 Leoreh Hayam
"Along the Sea" is a song recorded by Israeli singer-songwriter Ofra Haza. The song was released in 1994, as a single from her sixteenth album. Over time, the song entered into the Israeli classics and became an iconic Israeli song.
In 1995, Ofra performed the song at the 30th Memorial Day assembly for the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin.
03 Ein Li Eretz Aheret
"I Don't Have Any Other Country" is a song written by Ehud Manor, composed by Corin Alal, and first recorded by Glee Atari in 1986.
The song was written about Manor's younger brother's death in the war Milhemet Hahatasha (War of Attrition), which occurred between Israel and Egypt in 1967.
04 Hahol Yizkor
"The Sand Will Remember" is a poetic song by Nathan Yonatan. This song has always played on Remembrance Day in Israel since the 1990s, and it is commonly associated with bereavement and memory, although in its original context, sought to express a longing for the end of youth.
"The Little Prince" (also known as "The Little Prince of Company B") is a Hebrew song written by Jonathan Geffen, composed by Shem Tov Levy, and first performed in 1975.
The poem was written about a soldier, whose nickname was "Whispers" due to his slim appearance and short stature. This soldier served alongside Jonathan Geffen and was killed by friendly fire during summer training. The poem refers to the soldier as the "Little Prince" character from Antoine de Saint- Escuperi's book.
“Friendship/Fellowship/Comradeship” is a Hebrew poem written by Haim Gouri and performed by Sasha Argov. The song was written in 1950, a year after the War of Independence, and commemorates those who fell in the war. This song is often performed at memorial ceremonies.
In the 1990s, the song also became identified with the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin. Yitzhak Rabin admitted that this was one of his favorite songs, and it was performed by Shoshana Damari at the Peace Rally at which he was later assassinated. It is regularly performed at ceremonies commemorating the memory of Yitzhak Rabin.
"With What Will I Bless Him" is a song written by Rachel Shapira and composed by Yair Rosenblum. This song is one of the most well-known memorial songs in Israeli culture.
Shapira, a member of Kibbutz Shefayim, wrote this song after Israel’s Six-Day War in memory of her classmate, Eldad (Dedi) Crook, who died in a Jerusalem neighborhood, at the age of 22. This is the first known song Shapira wrote.
The song was written by Danny Robes in memory of his younger brother Yoav, who died of cancer at age 21, during his military service. The song is based on a letter found in Yoav's belongings after his death and was intended for his girlfriend.
This song was first performed in 1985 but was only recorded later in 1996.
09 Lu Yehi
“Let Him Be” is a song written and composed by Naomi Shemer during the Yom Kippur War, and has since become one of the symbols of the war.
In 1973, Shemer first performed this song on Israeli television and shortly afterward recorded it together with the Israeli band HaGashash HaHiver. In addition, Shemer played this song to Israeli singer, Chava Alberstein, who later recorded this song and added it to an album she released.
Shemer, the HaGashash HaHiver, and Alberstein went around and performed this song to the fighting soldiers, and it became a song that expresses the pain and hope during the war.
Remember through the power of song this year
