Peace/Violence:
- How do you reconcile the violent line “Crush my enemies in anger and fury” with the subsequent line, “give peace as flowing as a river’s waters”?
- Often when we think about peace we think about pacifism. How do you feel about Dror Yikra’s approach to peace as an alternative type of peace/freedom?
- The author is linking violence with peace. How does this connect in your mind?
- Does this give any additional insight into Israel’s constant search for peace while always finding itself at war?
Shabbat:
- What does freedom have to do with Shabbat?
- Do you see a contradiction between the violence/peace issue discussed above, and the language associate with Shabbat in the song?
- Does this seem in keeping with your understanding of Judaism and Jewish history?
“Let the Desert Bloom”
- When he sings the words “Lord, let the dessert bloom like a mountain / myrtle, acacia, cypress and elm “, what desert is he referring to? Is it a specific place or a general state?
Comparing the music
- Click here to listen to other versions of the same song. Which version touches you more? Which version seems to you more appropriate to the intention of the words?
