Israel’s national anthem is “Hatikvah,” meaning “The Hope.”
Naftali Herz Imber wrote the Hebrew poem on which the anthem is based. The poem was first published in 1886 under the title “Tikvatenu,” or “Our Hope,” and its text was later revised. Samuel Cohen adapted the words to a melody associated with a European folk tune.
“Hatikvah” became connected with the Zionist movement before the establishment of Israel. It was adopted as Israel’s national anthem in 2004, after being used for decades as a national and Zionist symbol.
The anthem expresses the Jewish people’s hope of returning to the land of Israel and living there as a free nation. Its historical wording and melody have also prompted public discussion about representation, especially among Arab citizens of Israel.