Imagine being in cold and grey Europe and being told that somewhere, there is a sun-drenched land where everything our people have hoped for will come true. Imagine being weary of persecution, of never being left alone and knowing that there is a land where Jews will again be their own Maccabees.
Shaul Tchernichovsky wrote the song “They say there is a land” in Germany in 1923, before making aliyah to Israel. Its message is still very relevant today.
In Israel Tu B’Shvat is almost here, the trees will begin to bloom while elsewhere it will still be grey and cold. There are still Jews who have never even seen Israel. There are still Jews who need to be reminded that each and every one of us is responsible for being a Maccabee – those few who stood against the many, against all odds and through hard work, perseverance and faith, regained sovereignty in the sun-drenched land of Zion.
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אומרים ישנה ארץ
ארץ שכורת שמש איה אותה ארץ איפה אותה שמש אומרים ישנה ארץ עמודיה שבעה שבעה כוכבי לכת צצים על כל גבעה איפה אותה ארץ כוכבי אותה גבעה מי ינחנו דרך יגיד לי הנתיבה כבר עברנו כמה מדברות וימים כבר הלכנו כמה כוחותינו תמים כיצד זה תעינו טרם הונח לנו אותה ארץ שמש אותה לא מצאנו ארץ בה יתקיים אשר כל איש קיווה נכנס כל הנכנס פגע בו עקיבא שלום לך עקיבא שלום לך רבי איפה הם הקדושים איפה המכבי עונה לו עקיבא אומר לו הרבי כל ישראל קדושים אתה המכבי אומרים ישנה ארץ ארץ רוות שמש איה אותה ארץ איפה אותה שמש |
They say there is a land
A sun drenched land
Where is that land?
Where is that sun? They say there is a land
It’s pillars are seven
Seven planets
Springing up on every hill
Where is that land?
Where are the stars of that hill?
Who will guide us there?
Who will tell me the way?
We’ve already passed a number of
Deserts and oceans
We’ve already walked many
Our strength is dwindling
How have we lost our way That we’ve not yet been left alone
That land of sun
That we have not yet found
The land where shall come to pass
What every man has hoped for
Everyone who enters
Will meet Akiva
“Hello to you” Akiva
“Hello to you Rabbi” Where are the holy people?
Where are the Maccabees?
Akiva answers him,
The Rabbi answers him,
All of [the Nation of] Israel is holy.
YOU are the Maccabee They say there is a land
A sun drenched land
Where is that land?
Where is that sun?
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