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Am Yisrael Chai

December 17, 2023

Am Yisrael Chai (Hebrew: עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי; lit. 'The people of Israel live') is a Jewish solidarity anthem and a widely used expression of Jewish peoplehood and an affirmation of the continuity of the Jewish people. The phrase gained popularity during the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry, when Jewish songwriter Shlomo Carlebach composed the song for the movement's 1965 solidarity rally in New York City.

The Forward has placed "Am Yisrael Chai" second only to Hatikvah, the national anthem of Israel, as "an anthem of the Jewish people".

History edit

 
Am Yisrael Chai graffiti in Tel Aviv

The earliest documented uses were in the aftermath of the liberation of concentration camps during the Holocaust. A recording by the BBC radio service's Patrick Walker captured a chaplain proclaiming "Am Yisrael chai!, the children of Israel still liveth" after singing Hatikvah at the conclusion of a Friday evening Shabbat prayer service led by British Army chaplain Rabbi Leslie Hardman at the recently-liberated Bergen-Belsen concentration camp on April 20, 1945.[1][2]

 
BBC recording from Bergen-Belsen concentration camp
BBC recording from 20 April 1945 of Jewish survivors of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp singing "Hatikvah", followed by the shout of "Am Yisrael chai!", only five days after their liberation by Allied forces.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

The front of the stage of a concert in Munich in 1945 or 1946 by the St. Ottilien Ex-Concentration Camp Orchestra displayed the words "Am Yisrael chai".[3]

Carlebach song edit

The phrase gained popular use in 1965, when Jewish songwriter Shlomo Carlebach composed "Am Yisrael Chai" as the solidarity anthem the Soviet Jewry movement at the request of Solomon Birnbaum, founder of the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry. Carlebach and Birnbaum knew each other, and their respective grandfathers had met at the First Zionist Congress in 1897 in Basel. By 1965, Carlebach was already popular for his melodies put to Hebrew prayers, and Birnbaum reached out to him in the hopes of composing a song ahead of a planned major SSSJ rally in front of the Soviet Mission to the United Nations in New York on April 4, 1965.[4]

While in Soviet-dominated Czechoslovakia, Carlebach wrote and first performed "Am Yisrael Chai" before a group of youth in Prague. On April 2, 1965, Carlebach phoned Birnbaum with news that the song was completed. Carlebach publicly performed the song for the first time at rally on April 4. The song became the centerpiece of the SSSJ's annual solidarity rally between 1972 and 1991.[4][5]

According to musicologist Tina Frühauf, Carlebach's lyrics evoke a sense of the Jewish nation, Jewish survival, and an affirmation of Jewish identity.[6] Birnbaum interpreted the song's dominant phrase to signify "a rebirth of Jewish life, including music" in the post-Holocaust world.[4]

It is the final song of Soul Doctor, a Broadway musical about Carlebach's life.[6]

Contemporary use edit

The song and its core phrase widely became a defiant expression and affirmation of Jewish continuity, especially during times of war and heightened antisemitism.[7] The song was sung on the second day of the Six Day War and at the end of the Yom Kippur War.[8]

It is often used by the Jewish diaspora to express support and solidarity with Israel, such as during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war.[8] Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu scribed the words "Am Yisrael Chai" in the guestbook of the Wannsee Villa in Berlin.[9] US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield uttered the phrase at an Israel solidarity rally during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war.[10]

On October 17, 2023, in the aftermath of the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, popular Hasidic Jewish singer Benny Friedman released a song called "Am Yisrael Chai" to capture the spirit of the Jewish people during the war.[11] Jewish a cappella groups Maccabeats, Y-Studs, and Six13 released Avinu SheBashamayim as a reaction to the attacks, ending with the words "Am Yisrael Chai."[12]

Composition edit

Hebrew[13] Transliteration English
עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי (repeat 3x)
עוֹד אָבִינוּ חַי (repeat 3x)‎ 		Am yisrael chai
od avinu chai 		The people of Israel live,
our Father still lives!

The song's lyrics are derived from Genesis 45:3, "Joseph said to his brothers, 'I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?'" (Hebrew: הַעוֹד אָבִי חַי)[14] Carlebach added the words "Am Yisrael Chai" (the nation of Israel lives) and, for the song's refrain, changed the words "is my father still alive" to "our father still lives" (Hebrew: עוֹד אָבִינוּ חַי)[15] in a possible reference to the Jewish tradition that "Jacob/Israel did not die." According to musicologist Tina Frühauf, Carlebach changed the reference from Joseph's father to God, "as the father of the children of Israel."[6]

Legacy edit

During the 2023 Israel-Hamas war, The Forward, a major Jewish news organization, placed "Am Yisrael Chai" second only to Hatikvah, the national anthem of Israel, as "an anthem of the Jewish people".[4] Judaic scholar Arnold Eisen has called "Am Yisrael Chai" the "civil religion" of American Jewry.[16]

In 2023, Ben-Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel, debuted a 50-meter-long mural titled Am Yisrael Chai that covers 4,000 years of Jewish history.[17]

References edit

  1. ^ Doroudian, Milad (2014-09-14). "Am Yisrael Chai: The Story Behind The Bergen-Belsen Recording". Jewish Journal. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  2. ^ Soloveichik, Meir (May 2021). "The Nation of the Dry Bones". Commentary. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  3. ^ Bohus, Kata (2020). Our Courage – Jews in Europe 1945–48. De Gruyter Oldenbourg. p. 207. ISBN 978-3110649208. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d Rosenblatt, Gary (2023-11-03). "'Am Yisrael Chai' has become an anthem for the Jewish people — but where did it come from?". The Forward. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  5. ^ Bensoussan, Barbara (2011-12-28). "Rallying Cry". Mishpacha. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  6. ^ a b c Frühauf, Tina (12 June 2018). Experiencing Jewish Music in America: A Listener's Companion. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 90. ISBN 978-1442258396. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  7. ^ "Am Yisrael Chai". Jewish English Lexicon. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  8. ^ a b "Jewish Diaspora expresses solidarity with Israel amidst attacks". Jerusalem Post. 2023-10-07. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  9. ^ Brackman, Levi (2009-01-09). "Meaning of Am Yisrael Chai". Ynet News. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  10. ^ Magid, Jacob (2023-10-12). "Biden's UN envoy at Israel solidarity rally: 'Never again' is now. Am Yisrael Chai'". Times of Israel. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  11. ^ "Benny Friedman Releases 'Am Yisrael Chai'". Collive. 2023-10-17. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  12. ^ Zaltzman, Lior (2023-10-27). "The Maccabeats, Y-Studs and Six13 Band Together for a Song About Israel". Kveller. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  13. ^ "Am Yisrael Chai". Zemirot Database. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  14. ^ "Genesis 45". Sefaria. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  15. ^ "The revolution is not over, says Neshama Carlebach". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Times of Israel. 2013-10-23. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  16. ^ Eisen, Arnold (June 2019). "Boomers, Millennials and the Shape of American Judaism". Contemporary Jewry. 39 (2): 345. JSTOR 45217163. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  17. ^ "Mural titled 'Am Yisrael Chai' unveiled at Ben-Gurion Airport". Jerusalem Post. 2023-06-20. Retrieved 9 October 2023.

External links edit

December 17, 2023
yisrael, chai, hebrew, people, israel, live, jewish, solidarity, anthem, widely, used, expression, jewish, peoplehood, affirmation, continuity, jewish, people, phrase, gained, popularity, during, student, struggle, soviet, jewry, when, jewish, songwriter, shlo. Am Yisrael Chai Hebrew ע ם י ש ר א ל ח י lit The people of Israel live is a Jewish solidarity anthem and a widely used expression of Jewish peoplehood and an affirmation of the continuity of the Jewish people The phrase gained popularity during the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry when Jewish songwriter Shlomo Carlebach composed the song for the movement s 1965 solidarity rally in New York City The Forward has placed Am Yisrael Chai second only to Hatikvah the national anthem of Israel as an anthem of the Jewish people Contents 1 History 1 1 Carlebach song 1 2 Contemporary use 2 Composition 3 Legacy 4 References 5 External linksHistory edit nbsp Am Yisrael Chai graffiti in Tel AvivThe earliest documented uses were in the aftermath of the liberation of concentration camps during the Holocaust A recording by the BBC radio service s Patrick Walker captured a chaplain proclaiming Am Yisrael chai the children of Israel still liveth after singing Hatikvah at the conclusion of a Friday evening Shabbat prayer service led by British Army chaplain Rabbi Leslie Hardman at the recently liberated Bergen Belsen concentration camp on April 20 1945 1 2 nbsp BBC recording from Bergen Belsen concentration camp source source track BBC recording from 20 April 1945 of Jewish survivors of the Bergen Belsen concentration camp singing Hatikvah followed by the shout of Am Yisrael chai only five days after their liberation by Allied forces Problems playing this file See media help The front of the stage of a concert in Munich in 1945 or 1946 by the St Ottilien Ex Concentration Camp Orchestra displayed the words Am Yisrael chai 3 Carlebach song edit The phrase gained popular use in 1965 when Jewish songwriter Shlomo Carlebach composed Am Yisrael Chai as the solidarity anthem the Soviet Jewry movement at the request of Solomon Birnbaum founder of the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry Carlebach and Birnbaum knew each other and their respective grandfathers had met at the First Zionist Congress in 1897 in Basel By 1965 Carlebach was already popular for his melodies put to Hebrew prayers and Birnbaum reached out to him in the hopes of composing a song ahead of a planned major SSSJ rally in front of the Soviet Mission to the United Nations in New York on April 4 1965 4 While in Soviet dominated Czechoslovakia Carlebach wrote and first performed Am Yisrael Chai before a group of youth in Prague On April 2 1965 Carlebach phoned Birnbaum with news that the song was completed Carlebach publicly performed the song for the first time at rally on April 4 The song became the centerpiece of the SSSJ s annual solidarity rally between 1972 and 1991 4 5 According to musicologist Tina Fruhauf Carlebach s lyrics evoke a sense of the Jewish nation Jewish survival and an affirmation of Jewish identity 6 Birnbaum interpreted the song s dominant phrase to signify a rebirth of Jewish life including music in the post Holocaust world 4 It is the final song of Soul Doctor a Broadway musical about Carlebach s life 6 Contemporary use edit The song and its core phrase widely became a defiant expression and affirmation of Jewish continuity especially during times of war and heightened antisemitism 7 The song was sung on the second day of the Six Day War and at the end of the Yom Kippur War 8 It is often used by the Jewish diaspora to express support and solidarity with Israel such as during the 2023 Israel Hamas war 8 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu scribed the words Am Yisrael Chai in the guestbook of the Wannsee Villa in Berlin 9 US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas Greenfield uttered the phrase at an Israel solidarity rally during the 2023 Israel Hamas war 10 On October 17 2023 in the aftermath of the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel popular Hasidic Jewish singer Benny Friedman released a song called Am Yisrael Chai to capture the spirit of the Jewish people during the war 11 Jewish a cappella groups Maccabeats Y Studs and Six13 released Avinu SheBashamayim as a reaction to the attacks ending with the words Am Yisrael Chai 12 Composition editHebrew 13 Transliteration Englishע ם י ש ר א ל ח י repeat 3x עו ד א ב ינו ח י repeat 3x Am yisrael chai od avinu chai The people of Israel live our Father still lives The song s lyrics are derived from Genesis 45 3 Joseph said to his brothers I am Joseph Is my father still alive Hebrew ה עו ד א ב י ח י 14 Carlebach added the words Am Yisrael Chai the nation of Israel lives and for the song s refrain changed the words is my father still alive to our father still lives Hebrew עו ד א ב ינו ח י 15 in a possible reference to the Jewish tradition that Jacob Israel did not die According to musicologist Tina Fruhauf Carlebach changed the reference from Joseph s father to God as the father of the children of Israel 6 Legacy editDuring the 2023 Israel Hamas war The Forward a major Jewish news organization placed Am Yisrael Chai second only to Hatikvah the national anthem of Israel as an anthem of the Jewish people 4 Judaic scholar Arnold Eisen has called Am Yisrael Chai the civil religion of American Jewry 16 In 2023 Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv Israel debuted a 50 meter long mural titled Am Yisrael Chai that covers 4 000 years of Jewish history 17 References edit Doroudian Milad 2014 09 14 Am Yisrael Chai The Story Behind The Bergen Belsen Recording Jewish Journal Retrieved 20 November 2023 Soloveichik Meir May 2021 The Nation of the Dry Bones Commentary Retrieved 20 November 2023 Bohus Kata 2020 Our Courage Jews in Europe 1945 48 De Gruyter Oldenbourg p 207 ISBN 978 3110649208 Retrieved 20 November 2023 a b c d Rosenblatt Gary 2023 11 03 Am Yisrael Chai has become an anthem for the Jewish people but where did it come from The Forward Retrieved 19 November 2023 Bensoussan Barbara 2011 12 28 Rallying Cry Mishpacha Retrieved 9 October 2023 a b c Fruhauf Tina 12 June 2018 Experiencing Jewish Music in America A Listener s Companion Rowman amp Littlefield p 90 ISBN 978 1442258396 Retrieved 9 October 2023 Am Yisrael Chai Jewish English Lexicon Retrieved 18 October 2023 a b Jewish Diaspora expresses solidarity with Israel amidst attacks Jerusalem Post 2023 10 07 Retrieved 9 October 2023 Brackman Levi 2009 01 09 Meaning of Am Yisrael Chai Ynet News Retrieved 18 October 2023 Magid Jacob 2023 10 12 Biden s UN envoy at Israel solidarity rally Never again is now Am Yisrael Chai Times of Israel Retrieved 18 October 2023 Benny Friedman Releases Am Yisrael Chai Collive 2023 10 17 Retrieved 20 November 2023 Zaltzman Lior 2023 10 27 The Maccabeats Y Studs and Six13 Band Together for a Song About Israel Kveller Retrieved 4 December 2023 Am Yisrael Chai Zemirot Database Retrieved 20 November 2023 Genesis 45 Sefaria Retrieved 20 November 2023 The revolution is not over says Neshama Carlebach Jewish Telegraphic Agency Times of Israel 2013 10 23 Retrieved 9 October 2023 Eisen Arnold June 2019 Boomers Millennials and the Shape of American Judaism Contemporary Jewry 39 2 345 JSTOR 45217163 Retrieved 18 October 2023 Mural titled Am Yisrael Chai unveiled at Ben Gurion Airport Jerusalem Post 2023 06 20 Retrieved 9 October 2023 External links editEntry in the Jewish English Lexicon dictionary Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Am Yisrael Chai amp oldid 1190302500, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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