Tuesday, May 6th, 2008...10:14 am
Teaching the Taiwanese the Hebrew Israeli national anthem at the Taiwan Holocaust museum
This was one surreal afternoon I wasn’t excepting.
Turns out the small Holocaust museum in Tainan County’s Bao An is doing a ceremony to celebrate 60 years for Israel’s independence and so they invited me to help them out. I didn’t really imagine I’d turn into a Hebrew teacher anywhere in Taiwan, teaching Taiwanese how to sing the Israeli national anthem, but that’s what they wanted me to help them with.
What does it look like? I’m glad you asked, since I need to have another look myself to make sure it was for real.
Let’s start with something simple, like “Hevenu Shalom Alechem” (”We bring peace upon you”).
Okay, now to the more complicated part - the Israeli national anthem. A bit poetic with complicated words that may not be used in everyday language. Here’s how it was in the learning process:
And for the final result, everybody please stand up :
Hebrew, English and Chinese Hatikva Israeli national anthem, prepared by pastor Alex :
If for some strange reason, you wish to attend -
May 24th Saturday, from 10-12am Picture and Museum guild (free entry)
12:00-1:30pm Shabath meal
2:00-4:00pm “PRAY FOR ISRAEL, SHALOM JERUSALEM”
The basement hall, the classroom and one of the lovely students.
Completely surreal.
Excellent. You may do Taiwan a great favor if you can show Taiwan govt. how to use their PR money wisely in USA as Israel has done in the past. Taiwan spent tons of dollars each year on lobbying in Washington with very little results due to lack of know-how or hiring the wrong lobbyists perhaps.
Please find a way to teach them how to learn or copy Israel’s success in that area.
K Liu - I personally think Israeli lobby is not doing all that well in the US. I honestly don’t understand why everybody in Taiwan keeps telling me the US is Israel’s best friend. If there is something that’s half successful it’s the Jewish community associations that are independent of Israeli influences.
It’s an interesting question - There are so many Taiwanese abroad, as much if not more than there are Jewish folks. Are they working for their homeland wherever they are? do they have strong feelings regards what’s happening in this region?