Ruach - New Jewish Tunes by Transcontinental Music Publications

Words/Music by Rick Recht

For 2000 years, Jews yearned to be a free people in the land of Zion and Jerusalem. Rick Recht’s original lyrics express this hope, which became a reality with the founding of M’dinat Yisraeil, the State of Israel, in 1948. Israel is central to the emergence of our Jewish identity; it serves as the glue “that holds us together.”

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

VERSE 1

This is the hope, the hope is still real,
A Jewish home in Yisraeil.
This is the time, we stand as one.
If not now, when? We must be strong.
Our hearts turn to the East. Yeah!

CHORUS

This is the hope that holds us together,
Hatikvah, the hope that will last forever.
This is the hope that holds us together,
Hatikvah, the hope is still real.

VERSE 2

This is the hope, two thousand years
We pray for freedom, through pain and tears.
This is our faith, this is our voice,
This is our promise, this is our choice.
Our hearts turn to the East. Yeah!

CHORUS

BRIDGE

Hatikvah, the hope is real.
Hatikvah, our home Israel.

II.

Lih’yot am chofshi b’artzeinu
Eretz Tziyon virushalayim.

CHORUS

ENDING

This is our faith, this is our voice,
This is our choice, hatikvah, hatikvah.
This is the hope that holds us together,
Hatikvah, the hope is still real.
This is the hope, the hope is still real,
A Jewish home Yisraeil.