From Lisa Katz,
Your Guide to Judaism.
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A. Israel's National Anthem is called "HaTikvah", which means "The Hope" in Hebrew. It speaks of the hope of the Jewish people for a land of their own where they can know freedom, security and peace.

The words of HaTikvah were written by Naphtali Herz Imber, an English poet originally from Bohemia. The melody was written by Samuel Cohen, an immigrant from Moldavia, and was based on a musical theme found in Bedrich Smetana’s "Moldau."

Translated Words
As long as the Jewish spirit is yearning deep in the heart,
With eyes turned toward the East, looking toward Zion,
Then our hope - the two-thousand-year-old hope - will not be lost:
To be a free people in our land,
The land of Zion and Jerusalem.

Transliterated Words
Kol ode balevav P'nimah
Nefesh Yehudi homiyah
Ulfa'atey mizrach kadimah
Ayin l'tzion tzofiyah.
Ode lo avdah tikvatenu
Hatikvah bat shnot alpayim:
L'hiyot am chofshi b'artzenu
Eretz Tzion v'Yerushalayim.

Favorite Online Versions of HaTikvah

• Hatikva by Francky Perez & Broadway
• Hatikva by Shiri Maimon
• Women of Israeli Army
• Traditional Hatikva with Photos and Transliteration