Israel, dear as life to thee ~

Israel, dear as life to thee,
from that majestic hill.
With words from Torah’s melody,
music, then and still.

It casts its meanings
for our soul, and only we can tell
what thing there is that possesses us
and brings its magic spell.

Beloved country to muse upon
from ancient days of old.
And those who gave their lives to thee,
brave and ever bold.

We possess this ancient land.
Its breath we hold so dear.
We are the very soul of it.
It is what we revere.

And when we wander far from it,
we see it in our dreams.
And mark the place where scholars stood,
holy and serene.

That holy place, that G-dly face.
It is both yours and mine.
Where the honor of our people stand
for now and the rest of time.