Sounds From My Earlier Years
One of the songs that stayed stuck from The Six Days War
Sharm El Sheich.
Yaffa Yarkoni was a voice that was always associated with Israel's independence in my mind. Every
Independence Day, light poles in the streets of Jerusalem were loaded with loudspeakers (horns), and
Yaffa Yarkoni's voice echoed (literaly) all over the city, all day and all night, as people
danced in the streets. It is a memory that cannot be put into words. It brings back the picture of the
Honor Guard at the Municipality Square, who stood for hours without moving, in memory of those who died
for the cause of independence. It brings back the first nite that we spent outside at Gan Haatsma'oot as a
boyscout. It brings back the taste of many different foods cooked on street corners for the occasion.
It brings back the pride of seeing my uncle Shlomo leading a military unit in the Independence Day
Parade the next day. But mainly I think it brings back the memories of how eight years old boys and
girls could stay in the streets all day and all night without their parents worry that someone will
hurt them, being able to celebrate an important occasion.
Here are some of those sounds:
Yaffa Yarkoni, Baab El Waad
Yaffa Yarkoni, Hagidoo Chevraya
Yaffa Yarkoni, Keetat Chablanim
Yaffa Yarkoni, Hayoo Zmaneem
Yaffa Yarkoni, Ha'amini Yom Yavo
Medley of Palmach songs
Any time our extended family had a chance to get together, Bar-Mitsva, Wedding, Holidays etc., The
festivities were led by a few family members who had the nak for singing and telling stories. Now, my
family came from Iraq in the mid 1930's, but they brought with them a lot of folklore. Aunt Berta was
"the" leader on those ocassions, but aunt Fahima, Grandma Lulu and others were never behind. Aunt Berta
lives in Ness-Tsiona, and we used to spend a few weeks every summer holiday there. Back in the 1950's I
remember ankle deep sand streets, A back yard that was full of fruit trees we used to climb and pick,
like Dates, Guava, Eskedunia, Peaches, Plums, Mango, Apple and others. I remember waking up in the
morning and riding on my Uncle Yitshak's mule wagon to the cow pasture, and helping him milk the cows
(more like drinking the profits). And the evenings were always full of eating and singing.
Here are some of the songs I remember them singing, performed by the original artist:
Songs by Nathem El Razali
Tal-aa Min Beit Abooha
Hayat, Baba Hayat
Samra, min Qawmi Eisa
Ay Shai'een fil'eed Ah'dy eelaiky
Kul el-Maliha fil-Chimar el'Aswadi
Aqulu Waqad Nahat Bqurbi Hamamatun
Ya Rahb el'Dair
Songs performed by my Aunt Berta and Company (family that is)
Fouq el-Nachal, Fouq
Aunt Berta and family, jamming
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