Israel

Declaration of Independence of the State of Israel

Hatikvah
Israel's National Anthem is called 'Hatikvah', which means 'The Hope' in Hebrew. It speaks of the hope of the Jewish people for a land of their own where they can know freedom, security and peace.

The origins of Hatikvah predate its use as the Israeli national anthem. The lyrics of Hatikvah were written by Naphtali Herz Imber, an English poet originally from Bohemia, in his 1878 poem, 'Tikavatenu' ('Our Hope') was comprised nine stanzas. The melody was written by Samuel Cohen in the 1800s, an immigrant from Moldavia, and was probably based on a Romanian folk song he heard during his childhood, and also somewhat resembles a musical theme found in Smetana’s 'Moldau'.

At the first Zionist congress of 1897, Hatikvah was adopted as the anthem of Zionism. The lyrics (primarily of the chorus) underwent a few changes between that time and the creation of the Jewish state of Israel some 50 years later, primarily a change where the song once spoke of a hope to return Zion, it now speaks of a hope to live as a free nation there.

In the Jewish heart		Kol od balevav p'nimah
A Jewish spirit still sings,		Nefesh Yehudi homiyah
And the eyes look east		Ulfa'atey mizrach kadimah
Toward Zion		Ayin l'tzion tzofiyah
Our hope is not lost,		Od lo avdah tikvatenu
Our hope of two thousand years,		Hatikvah bat shnot alpayim
To be a free nation in our land,		L'hiyot am chofshi b'artzenu
In the land of Zion and Jerusalem.		Eretz Tzion v'Yerushalayim.

When we sing the Hatikva, we do much more than just sing a nice melody. We are making a promise that we will never forget the undying Jewish hope for independence and that we will do all within our power to help the State of Israel prosper.

Listen to Barbra Streisand sing Hatikvah
View sheet music for Hatikvah here

The Israeli Flag

The flag of the State of Israel is based on the design of the Jewish prayer shawl (tallit ), with a blue Shield of David (Magen David).

This design was first displayed in Rishon-LeZion in 1885 and was also used at the First Zionist Congress in 1897. It was inspired by the tallit (the prayer shawl with blue stripes worn by Jews during prayer) as a symbol. The Star of David is a common symbol of the People of Israel from Biblical times. The flag was adopted officially on 28 October 1948 (25 Tishrei 5709) by the Speaker of the Provisional Council of State.

The Menorah
The official emblem of the State of Israel is a candelabrum (menorah), whose shape is said to be derived from the seven-branched moriah, a plant known since antiquity. The olive branches on either side represent Israel's yearning for peace.

The stylized image of the menorah below was adopted as the emblem of Israel by the decision of The Provisional Council of State on 11 Shevat 5709 (10 February 1949).

The 7-branched moriah, a plant known since antiquity.

The Menorah through the Ages:
The Goldan Menorah (a seven-branched candelabrum) was a major ritual object in King Solomon's Temple in ancient Jerusalem. Through the ages it has served as a symbol of Jewish heritage and tradition in countless places and in a variety of forms.


On the Arch of Titus, Rome	On a Hasmonean coin from the 1st century BCE	In the mosaic floor of a 7th century synagogue in Jericho	The menorah near the Knesset

Declaration of Independence of the State of Israel
The Jewish People's Council gathered at the Tel Aviv Museum on 14 May 1948 (5 Iyar 5708) and approved the proclamation below, declaring the establishment of the State of Israel. The 5th day of Iyar in the Hebrew calendar is celebrated as Israel's Independence Day.

Read the Declaration of Independence of the State of Israel in English
Read the text in Hebrew

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