ODE TO JERUSALEM
literary talents , and Zionist convictions , Imber was described by one contemporary as “ a vagabond , a drunkard and a Hebrew poet ”. For other early Zionists , it was not the author of Hatikvah but the non-Jewish origin of its melody that proved objectionable .
In later years , Hatikvah continued to be a subject of debate . Religious Zionists frequently objected to the secular lyrics , which do not mention G-d . And this is where a song like Yerushalayim Shel Zahav fits the bill so much better .
TANACHIC ROOTS
Many of the lyrics in Yerushalayim Shel Zahav refer to traditional Jewish poetry and themes , particularly dealing with exile and longing for Jerusalem . Jerusalem of Gold is a reference to a special piece of jewellery mentioned in a famous Talmudic legend about Rabbi Akiva : “ To all your songs , I am a lyre ” is a reference to ‘ Zion ha-lo Tish ’ ali ’, one of the ‘ Songs to Zion ’ by Rabbi Yehuda Halevi : “ I cry out like the jackals when I think of their grief ; but , dreaming of the end of their captivity , I am like a harp for your songs .”
The poem is woven with mournful Biblical references to the destruction of Jerusalem and subsequent exile of the Jewish people . “ The city that sits alone ” is from the first verse of Eicha : “ If I forget thee Jerusalem ” is a quote from Psalm 137 , ie : “ By the rivers of Babylon , there we sat down and wept , when we remembered Zion .” This contrasts with the joyous return from exile in the fourth stanza .
CONTEMPORARY REFERENCES
Some of the song ’ s melody is based on a Basque lullaby , Pello Joxepe , composed by Juan Francisco Petriarena ‘ Xenpelar ’ ( 1835-1869 ). A famous Basque singer , Paco Ibanez , sang the Basque melody on which Jerusalem of Gold is based , at a performance in Israel in 1962 . ( Ibanez said his mother would sing the lullaby to him when he was little and he sat in her lap .) It is possible that Naomi Shemer heard it then .
“ Somewhere or other , something from another song sticks to us just as dust sticks onto clothes ,” said Shemer , when criticised for its resemblance to this folk tune ; even Ibanez himself did not consider the resemblance to be plagiarism .
Composer Gil Aldema , producer of the 1967 song festival , recalls : “ At first , Shemer could not get it right and was angry that she had been told to write a song about Jerusalem ; but two weeks later , she called me and read me Jerusalem of Gold . It had only two verses at that point . She insisted that Shuli Natan sing the song . I remember that when Shuli sang the song at the festival , there was first utter silence in the hall , and then the audience broke into thunderous applause . It was a really amazing feeling .”
JERUSALEM FOREVER
The song is full of historic and contemporary references , but speaks to the timeless centrality of a Jerusalem both as a city and a vision , and does so with humility , sadness , joy and hope . There is none of the confident bravado of G-d Save the Queen or the staunch call to arms of La Marseillaise . Instead , it is redolent of the conflicting experiences and emotions of Jews across the centuries . The English translation of the final line is not clear . Is it : “ Forever will peace dwell in your walls ”, or : “ Will peace forever dwell in your walls ?” A statement of faith or a question ? No wonder it still resonates so deeply with us , even 50 years on . ■
To learn more , and in celebration of 50 years since the reunification of Jerusalem , join The Academy in the Jerusalem series of lectures . Visit www . theacademy . org . za or call 010 140 2099 .
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