The truest voices of this intricate country are not those found in the headlines.
This Substack is about making these voices heard beyond Israel’s borders. It’s about making parts of Israel, its deepest parts, accessible to you. Through Israeli music, and through voices you aren’t likely to hear elsewhere.
It began with the music. Often I’d listen to a song and say, “The whole world needs to hear this!” So I’d translate it. I didn’t quite know why, and I didn’t know what I’d do with the translation. For quite some time, a lot of them just sat in my Drive. But then I began creating lyric videos. And as I began to post them, I realized it wasn’t simply about sharing something enjoyable.
It was about conveying the soul of this country. For if you want to understand what is happening here, you must, as the great Israeli musician Ehud Banai says sings, “Pay attention to the songs.”
And now, with Israel embattled on all the fronts, I feel the words of these songs are not only moving, but essential. I’d go so far as to say that Israel’s musicians are our modern-day prophets— not in the sense of hearing a divine voice from above (though maybe they do- what do I know?), but the words they sing express our collective voice from within.
The Israeli soundtrack expresses our fears, our pain, and our tears, and yet, the songs also remind us, in a way we can hear, that this is not the whole story.
As I began sharing this music, I realized there were other voices that deserved attention too—voices often ignored in mainstream media. Voices of hope and connecting, relaying what I believe is the true voice of the majority who cherish what this country embodies. In an era marked by dissonance, these voices offer assonance, uniting us beneath our differences.
These are the voices I attempt to “carry over” to you. Real voices, voices that don’t wash over anything, yet always offer at least a glimpse of light.
Finally, a note on the lyric translations, which I term "creative translations": My intent when translating songs is to craft new lyrics that "fit" inside the music- so that one might sing alongside the Hebrew, or if so talented, pick up a guitar and sing the song themselves. This means rhythm, meter, and rhyme are almost always given more weight than the exact wording, yet I always attempt to preserve the spirit of the message.
And a few words about me: I love words, and I love Israel. From as long as I can remember myself I knew I was deeply connected to this place I’d never been, and dreamed of coming. Finally, at age 27, I left the country in which I was raised (the U.S.A.), to come home. I am a writer, editor, and a professional translator. I’ve translated Rabbi Dov Singer’s “Prepare My Prayer” as well as a whole bunch of other things. I completed an M.A. in Literary Translation at Bar Ilan University, and a workshop I took there on Poetry Translation opened up a world for me I didn’t know I’d love until I did it.
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How You Can Support Translating Israel:
Subscribe for Free: Please check out my posts and, if you enjoy them, become a free subscriber. Your comments and engagement will greatly help with the algorithm.
Become a Paid Subscriber: If you truly love what I’m doing, or maybe if you just love me (hi mom!), consider becoming a paid subscriber to support my work.
Sponsor a Translation: Another wonderful way to support this project is by sponsoring a translation. Together we’ll pick the right song, and I will create a translation dedicated to someone important in your life.
How Sponsorship Works:
Choose a Song with Me: You’ll tell me some Hebrew songs you love, or you're unsure, I can recommend something based on the message you want to convey.
Dedication: Decide on the dedication—whether it's for a loved one, in memory of someone special, or to celebrate an occasion.
Translation and Presentation: I will craft a creative and heartfelt translation, and share it with my audience, highlighting your dedication.
Engage and Share: Enjoy the translation and share it with your community. Your support will be acknowledged, and you’ll have a unique piece to cherish.
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Join us
This is a space for anyone and everyone who wants to connect to Israel more deeply. Right now it’s all free, although I would LOVE it if you feel moved to support this work with a paid subsciption.
I have some ideas up my sleeve about what I might add for subscribers only, but I’m not quite there yet. Help me build this! If you have any ideas of thigns you’d like to see, let me know!
