Jerusalem of Gold
Jerusalem of Gold, or as it is known in Hebrew: Yerushalayim Shel Zahav' "ירושלים של זהב", is a popular Israeli song written and sung by Naomi Shemer in 1967.
The first two verses of this song were written and sung by Naomi Shemer at the Israeli Music Festival on May 15, 1967, shortly before the Six Day War. Only 3 weeks later, the Israel Defense Forces captured the eastern part of Jerusalem and the Old City from the Jordanians (who had annexed it during the Israeli War of Independence of 1948). At that time, Shemer wrote the third and final verse. When the old city was captured, shofars indeed blew from Temple Mount, which is part of what inspired Shemer to write the line about shofars sounding from the mountain top. Shemer said she had thought of the 2,000 years the Jews were absent from Israel, and not the 19 years since the declaration of Israeli independance.
The song was popularly sung by Shuli Natan and was once considered by the Knesset as a possible replacement to Hatikva, Israel's national anthem.
This song has been translated loosely into many languages. It was also chosen as the "Song of the Year" in Israel in 1967. Later that year, the Israeli Knesset introduced a bill to make Yerushalayim Shel Zahav the official national anthem of Israel, instead of Hatikvah. It was never passed.
During the Six Day War, this song was the battle cry and morale booster of the Israeli troops. Shemer even sang it for them before the war and festival. They were among the first people in the world to hear it.
Lyrics
Hebrew Lyrics
אויר הרים צלול כיין וריח אורנים נישא ברוח הערביים עם קול פעמונים ובתרדמת אילן ואבן שבוייה בחלומה העיר אשר בדד יושבת ובליבה חומה
ירושלים של זהב ושל נחושת ושל אור הלא לכל שירייך אני כינור
איכה יבשו בורות המים, כיכר השוק ריקה ואין פוקד את הר הבית בעיר העתיקה ובמערות אשר בסלע מייללות רוחות ואין יורד אל ים המלח בדרך יריחו
ירושלים של זהב...
אך בבואי היום לשיר לך ולך לקשור כתרים קטונתי מצעיר בנייך ומאחרון המשוררים כי שמך צורב את השפתיים כנשיקת שרף אם אשכחך ירושלים אשר כולה זהב
ירושלים של זהב...
חזרנו אל בורות המים, לשוק ולכיכר שופר קורא בהר הבית בעיר העתיקה ובמערות אשר בסלע אלפי שמשות זורחות נשוב נרד אל ים המלח בדרך יריחו
ירושלים של זהב...
Hebrew Transliteration with English Translation
Original Lyrics written in 1967
Hebrew Lyrics
Avir harim tsalul kayayin Vere'ach oranim Nisa beruach ha'arbayim Im kol pa'amonim Uvtardemat ilan va'even Shvuyah bachaloma Ha'ir asher badad yoshevet Uvliba choma
Refrain: Yerushalayim shel zahav Veshel nechoshet veshel or Halo lechol shirayich ani kinor (2x)
Eicha yavshu borot hamayim Kikar hashuk reika Ve'ein poked et Har Habayit Ba'ir ha'atika Uvam'arot asher basela Meyalelot ruchot Ve'ein yored el Yam Hamelach Baderech Yericho
Refrain
Ach bevo'i hayom lashir lach Velach likshor ketarim Katonti mitze'ir banayich Ume'acharon hameshorerim Ki shmech tsorev et hasfatayim K'neshikat saraf Im eshkachech Yerushalayim Asher kula zahav
Refrain
Lyrics added to the song after Israel recaptured East Jerusalem from [[Jordan in the Six Day War in 1967:
Chazarnu el borot hamayim Lashuk velakikar Shofar korei beHar Habayit Ba'ir ha'atika Uvam'arot asher basela Alfei shmashot zorchot Veshuv nered el Yam Hamelach Baderech Yericho
Refrain
English Translation
The air of the mountains is as clear as wine And the fragrance of the pine trees Is lifted upon the evening breeze With the ringing of the bells
And in the deep sleep of the tree and the stone Held captive in a dream The city which sits alone And in her heart, a wall
Refrain: Jerusalem of gold And of copper and of light For all of your songs I am the harp
How the water cisterns have dried up The city square is empty Nobody goes up to the Temple Mount In the Old City
And in the caves of the rocks Winds howl And no one goes down to the Dead Sea Upon the Jericho Road
Refrain
Although I come to sing to you today And to tie crowns upon you I am less than the youngest of your sons And the last of the sweet singers
For your name singes the lips Like the kiss of the serpent If I forget thee, oh Jerusalem She is completely golden
Refrain
Additional lyrics
Added to the song after Israel recaptured East Jerusalem from Jordan in the Six Day War in 1967:
We have returned to the water cisterns To the marketplace and the square A shofar calls out on the Temple Mount In the Old City
And in the caves in the rocks A thousand suns shine forth And again we will go down to the Dead Sea Upon the Jericho Road
Refrain
External links
- Website dedicated to the song (in English)
- Yerushalayim of Gold (English translation)