Tu B’Shvat is this week, and it’s an opportunity to review some songs about trees, flowers, and nature. Somehow, perhaps not surprisingly, many of the songs about nature, flowers, and trees are quiet, even melancholy.
Tu B’Shvat is also a chag (holiday) about Eretz Yisrael, particularly the seven species of Israel. So we’re also going to review some songs that express the beauty and uniqueness of Eretz Yisrael.
Both in modern Israeli music and chassidic music, we have songs about nature. But I’d like to begin with one of my favorite songs – a song that I’m not actually sure how to categorize. I wouldn’t call it classical “chassidic” nor Israeli music. Written and composed by Neomi Shemer, “Shirat HaAsavim” (Song Of The Weeds) is based on Rabbi Nachman of Breslov’s writings. The song is actually based on three different sayings of Rabbi Nachman from his books, Likutei Maharan, Sichot HaRan, and Likutei Halakhot.
“Da lecha,” you should know, “shekol ro’eh v’ro’eh,” that every shepherd, has his own special nigun (melody). You should know that every weed has its own unique poem. The poem of the weeds. The first verse speaks of the unique and special melody that each shepherd has. (Of course, a shepherd in Am Yisrael has a lot of importance. Moshe Rabbeinu was a shepherd.)
I find the last verse the most beautiful: How beautiful it is when you hear their song. It’s very good to daven, to pray with them, and worship Hashem with happiness. The heart becomes full of their singing and yearning – yearning for Eretz Yisrael. A big light then gets bigger and bigger from the holiness of Eretz Israel. And from the singing of the weeds, the heart creates its own niggun.
I can imagine Rabbi Nachman standing in the middle of the cold forests of Ukraine, yearning for and dreaming of Eretz Yisrael. The kedusha, the holiness of the land. Today it is just a matter of a 12-hour flight and buying good kosher Toblerone chocolate at the duty-free. But in the time of Rabbi Nachman, it was a lot more challenging to get to Eretz Yisrael. How lucky we are that we live in a generation where Israel is a strong, independent country and every Jew in the world can go and experience the kedusha of Eretz Yisrael.
The song has a beautiful melody which, in combination with these powerful words, creates an uplifting experience when listening. And what a great time Tu B’Shvat is to listen to this song to remind us about the beauty and holiness of Eretz Yisrael. My favorite performance of the song is the one by Shuly Nathan which I have on my music player. There’s also another beautiful version by Avraham Fried.
Moving on to the next song, when my older child was a baby, I used to sing “Pizmon Layakinton” to him often. Many times when he cried, it was my magic song to calm him down. I also used to open it on YouTube on my phone and let him listen. He really liked it. It also worked as a lullaby when I put him to sleep. I think it was his favorite song.
Written by Leah Goldberg and composed by Rivka Gvili, “Pizmon Layakinton” is considered more of a children’s song, or even a lullaby. The song was written in 1940 in Tel Aviv in honor of Tu B’Shvat 5700. It’s had many performances over the years by some of the greatest Israeli singers and is one of the best known and most popular Israeli songs which reminds so many Israelis of their childhood.
My favorite performance of the song is the one by Arik Einstein. The song starts with a relaxing piano intro, and a singer (which I’m not sure who it is) sings the first verse. Then, following a beautiful flute solo in the second verse, Einstein enters with his unique and special voice which takes the song to new heights. Perfect. There’s a reason why he is considered one of the best Israeli singers.
So what is the song about? “Yakinton” is a hyacinth. Night by night, the moon is looking at the flowers which just blossomed in the little garden. At the hyacinths. And the moon says to the clouds: Please give another drop, just another droplet to the gardens, so the yakinton, the hyacinth, will blossom.
The rain which tapped on my window, continues the second verse, sang a happy story to the flower in my garden. And the yakinton answered with happiness and joy. Tomorrow, concludes the third verse, we’ll all go out to the garden and we’ll see the white flower. In honor of the yakinton, my son will sing the pizmon (chorus), and there will be great happiness and joy in the garden.
Fun fact: Last week I decided to do a scientific experiment. While my older son was doing his homework, I suddenly opened YouTube and put the song on in the background. I wanted to see his reaction. Would he recognize it? Would he remember?
Long story short: My son gave me a weird look and said: “Abba, what is this weird, sad song? Why did you put it on?” Apparently he didn’t remember…
Next, written by Ishay Lapidot in 2002, “Aleh Katan Sheli” (My Little Leaf), which is performed by Avraham Fried, was actually Avraham Fried’s first Israeli single. The song has a slow beat, and piano and strings are the dominant sounds. It speaks about a very old tree which has seen winds and thunder, and addresses a little swaying leaf who has confidence and thinks he already knows everything.
Take with you something from me, the old tree. Take my advice, take my life experience. Please don’t underestimate it – it may be all I have. So please take my advice: Hold tight, my little leaf. Hold tight. Because it’s not always bright out there. So when a strong wind and a storm is coming, remember and draw strength. I’m with you. Everything is not always everything right or clear. Life is not a match; it is a test. Now, my little leaf, everything is calm, but a big cloud might get closer. Take with you my blessing, and always remember that half of the cup is full. And when the sun goes down at sunset, don’t worry! Tomorrow the sun will shine again.
Written by Ehud Manor and composed and performed by Ariel Zilber, “Brosh” (cypress) is another popular Israeli song. Manor grew up in Binyamina and got the inspiration for the song from a brosh tree that was in Binyamina when he grew up and survived hard winds and storms, until it was cut in order to build a basketball field.
“Hinei brosh levado mul esh vamayim,” here is a lonely cypress standing still in front of fire and water. “Hinei brosh levado ad hashamayim,” here’s a cypress, all by himself, reaching the skies. “Brosh levado, eitan,” a cypress by himself, firm. “Lu rak nitan v’elmad et darko shel etz echad,” if only I could learn the way of one tree.
Tu B’Shvat. Cypress tree. Bingo.
Fun fact: “Brosh” is not something you often talk about, so I had to look it up in the dictionary. So now I know what the meaning of the name of the popular Javascript framework for end-to-end testing I used to use at work, which is called Cypress Testing Frameworks for Javascript. Now I know what a cypress is.
Finally, one of my most favorite chassidic songs is “Eretz Asher Tamid” (A Land Forever) by Mendi Jerufi, from his album A Land Forever. This beautiful song is from a pasuk in Sefer Devarim. The song is very upbeat. It starts with electric guitar and drums, and has a rock style that is stirring and causes you to want to start dancing. I recommend that you find this song on YouTube and listen to it.
And don’t forget to eat some delicious fruits! Happy Tu B’Shvat!
