Hatikva - Hope [Middle School]

Brief

The objective of this activity is to introduce chanicim to the history and meaning of Hatikva, Israel’s national anthem.

Equipment

• Copies of the lyrics of "Hatikvah" in both Hebrew and English.

• Paper and art supply. 

• Speakers to play the different anthems and music of Hatikva

Activity length: 60 minutes

• Opening (5 minutes)

• Trigger activity (national anthem challenge, 10 mins)

• Program - understanding Hatikva, (25-30 mins)

• Create a Hope Poster, (20 mins)

Age Groups

Middle School

Topics

Culture, Zionism

Adaptable for Shabbat

The program is not ideal for Shabbat because it requires playing Hatikva and using art supplies.

Download for Printing

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Goals & Overview

1. Gain an understanding of the words, meaning and background of the Israeli national anthem.

2. Discuss the concept of hope in Israeli and Jewish society.

3. Use individual creativity to express an understanding of Hatikva.

Thought Questions / שאלות למחשבה

1. What significance does an anthem have in building a national identity?

2. What feelings does singing Hatikva invoke within you?

3. Does the anthem need to represent all the citizens of Israel?

4. If you were tasked with writing a new anthem what would its message be?

5. What is hope? Why is it important to the individual, to the citizen, to the nation?

6. What gives you hope in times of darkness and despair?

7. In what way does hope embody the Israeli spirit?

8. What is the difference between optimism and hope?

For the facilitator

Hatikvah, the Hebrew word for "The Hope," is the national anthem of Israel. It was taken from a longer poem titled “Tikvatenu” (our hope), written in the late 1800’s by Naftali Herz Imber, a little-known Polish Jewish poet.  In 1888, Samuel Cohen, a young Jew living in the land of Israel, found himself humming a melody based on an old Moldavian-Romanian folk song.  This tune was soon embraced with enthusiasm.  It is in a minor key, which is usually not used for national anthems because it has a somber sound.  However, the words stand in stark contrast to this melancholy tone, conveying the 2,000-year-old hope of the Jewish people to return to their homeland as a free nation.  The poem resonated with Zionist pioneers and became an unofficial anthem for the movement, eventually gaining official recognition at the First Zionist Congress in 1897.  Interestingly, Hatikvah was only formally adopted as Israel's national anthem in 2004, over 50 years after the country's founding.  Despite its widespread use, Hatikvah has faced criticism over the years. Some religious Jews feel it lacks explicit religious references, while broader concerns focus on non-Jewish citizens, who struggle to connect with an anthem solely focused on Jewish aspirations. This lack of connection has led some non-Jewish officials to decline singing the anthem.  Some argue that Hatikvah reflects the yearning of a diaspora Jew (Asheknazi Jews to be precise),  longing for a return to a historical homeland. Critics argue that this perspective doesn't fully represent the experience of many Israelis, who identify as Israeli first and foremost.  Despite the controversy, Hatikvah remains a powerful symbol of hope and longing for the Jewish people, sung at official events both in Israel and by Jewish communities around the world. 

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Program

1. Intro: National Anthem Challenge (10 mins)

• Divide the group into 2  teams.

• Play a short snippet of various national anthems (without revealing the countries).

• Recommendations: U.K, France, Canada, U.S, Mexico, China

• Each team has to guess the country based on the music and any clues they can pick up.

2. Activity: Understanding Hatikva (25-30 mins)

• Read background information about Hatikva.

• Listen to the audio recording of Hatikva

• Ask chanichim to share what emotions arise when hearing Hatikva.

• Watch the video recording of Hatikva on the light rail.

  • Ask chanichim if they see or feel something different from looking at the faces and reactions of the people on the light rail.

• Read the English of Hatikva [RESOURCE 4].

• Ask chanichim why Israel’s anthem is called “Hatikva.”

  • What is the hope expressed in the anthem?

  • Why have Jews always considered Israel to be our “home.”

  • Has the “hope” been realized? 

  • What have the Jewish people done to realize our “hope” of living in our homeland?

  • Is the mood of Hatikva the same as the other anthems?

• Read and distribute quote by David Arnow.

  • How does the State of Israel embody hope?

  • What makes you hopeful?

3. Create a Hope Poster (20 mins)

• Use “Posters of Hope” as inspiration.

  • The team at "Asoofa," an Israeli design store, initiated the "Posters of Hope" project.  It drew inspiration from historical war posters that motivated soldiers.  Their goal was to create posters with positive messages of hope and unity.  The posters were designed by Israeli illustrators and feature lines from Israeli songs.  The posters were initially displayed in public spaces in Tel Aviv, and they have since been sold online and in stores. The proceeds from the sale of the posters are donated to the families of Israeli soldiers who were captured or killed in action. The project received a positive public reaction, seen as a beautiful and inspiring reminder of the nation's strength and resilience.

  • Allocate time to create individual “Posters of Hope.”

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