AM YISRAEIL CHAI
Noam Katz featuring J.J. Keki
Ruach 5765

In Luganda, the native dialect of Uganda, every spoken word ends with a vowel sound. The Abayudaya have adopted this speech pattern in their pronunciation of Modern Hebrew. This song reflects that melding two cultures, the two languages interacting with each other to reveal one universal message - that the strength of God and the Jewish people will live on forever.

This melody is influenced by the music of the Abayudaya, the Jews of Uganda. Their unique pronunciation of Hebrew imitates their mother tongue, Luganda, in which most words end in a vowel sound. Thus the Hebrew word Am (people) is pronounced A-meh. This song reflects the melding of two cultures, with two languages coming together to reveal one unified message: the covenant between God and the Jewish people will live on forever.

- Cantor Alane Katzew
URJ Dept. of Worship, Music and Religious Living

Am Yisrael chai.
Od avinu chai.
The Jewish people lives! Our Sovereign yet lives!

© 2004 Noam Katz