Pressman Academy was pleased to host Dr. Astrit Baltsan from Israel this week in a special performance about the creation of Ha-tikvah, Israel’s national anthem.
Dr. Balstan is a musicologist and concert pianist and undertook an eight-year journey to research the story of the national anthem – a journey that resulted in a book, Hatikva – Past, Present, Future, and this show, Hatikva – A Hymn Is Born. The story of “Hatikva,” says Baltsan, is the story of the Zionist movement, the story of the Jewish people, a story of political intrigue and national awakenings, a story of irony and endlessly unfolding tales. It begins with Naphtali Herz Imber, who in 1878, aged just 22, wrote a poem called “Tikvateinu,” our hope, expressing the hope of the Jewish people to return to the land of its forefathers, a poem that would later become the Zionist and then the Israeli national anthem.
Students in grades 5-8 participated in the performance. This special program is part of our educational approach to teaching Israel. Pressman prides itself on its nuanced approach to Israel education.
For more information about this show and Dr. Balstan, click here.
