Ofra Haza @Shmil The Cat Club – Sukkot 1983

A special program aired on Sept 26, 1983 for the holiday of Sukkot, filmed in a cabin in the gardens of Tel Aviv. Host: Shmil The Cat (Natan Datner). Guest: Ofra Haza with her songs „Chai” („Alive”), „Etz Ha’Rimon” („The Pomegranate Tree”), „Shlomit Bonah Sukkah” („Shlomit Is Building A Sukkah”) (a song by Naomi Shemer). 0:00 Chai – Alive Lyrics (English translation): Listen my brothers, I'm still alive And both my eyes are still drawn to the light A lot of thorny grass, but there are flowers too And countless years ahead of me I ask and pray I'm glad the hope is not yet lost The chant passes on Like an unending fountain I ask and pray I'm glad the hope is not yet lost Alive, alive, alive, yes, I'm still alive This is the song that my granddad sang to my dad and today it’s my turn I'm still alive, alive, alive, Israel’s people are alive This is the song that my granddad sang to my dad and today it’s my turn My days are rumbling (alive, alive) As do my nights (alive, alive) And in my skies, the pillar of fire still stands I will sing and won't stop (alive, alive) I spread my hands (alive, alive) To all my friends across the sea I ask and pray I'm glad the hope is not yet lost Alive, alive, alive, yes, I'm still alive This is the song that my granddad sang to my dad and today it’s my turn I'm still alive, alive, alive, Israel’s people are alive This is the song that my granddad sang to my dad and today it’s my turn Listen my brothers, I'm still alive And both my eyes are still drawn to the light So cheers to all my guests And to my sons who wish to return I ask (I ask) And I pray (pray) I'm glad the hope is not yet lost Alive, alive, alive, yes, I'm still alive This is the song that my granddad sang to my dad and today it’s my turn I'm still alive, alive, alive, Israel’s people are alive This is the song that my granddad sang to my dad and today it’s my turn Alive, alive, alive I'm still alive, alive, alive! 3:34 Etz Ha’Rimon – The Pomegranate Tree Lyrics (English translation): The pomegranate tree gave out its scent From the Dead Sea to Jericho Return, my barrier, your regiment from wandering Sit down, my innocent one, your lover has come The treasures of Ofir and tzri of Gil'ad* And Egyptian carriages for you, daughter From a thousand songs I shall make you a shield From the Nile to the Jordan You are the most beautiful of brides You are the most magnificent of them all Both your eyes are like two doves And your voice is soft like a bell For you the trumpets blast, for you the bouquets For you all the signs of the heroes What are thousands of soldiers to me When my heart is dying of love? Put down the bow, return the arrow The pomegranate returned to the top of the tree To you and for your success is expected Come bride, for the night has fallen *Ofir = A land from which gold etc. was brought to Israel by workers of king Solomon; tzri = a resin from which a long time ago people used to make a medicine which calmed the heart and soul. The speaker is speaking to the land of Israel. 6:15 Shlomit Bonah Sukkah – Shlomit Is Building A Sukkah* Lyrics (English translation): Shlomit is building a sukkah Full of light and greenery That's why she's so busy today But it's not simply a sukkah Full of light and greenery Shlomit is building a sukkah of peace She won’t forget to lay out The lulav and the myrtle leaves, A branch of green willow A pomegranate within its leaves And all the fruits of autumn With the fragrance of orange groves And when Shlomit says: „Look! It's already finished!” Suddenly something wondrous will happen All the neighbours will come It’ll be a swarm And there’ll be room for everyone Then, through the roof of branches, With a bright glow As though it were a diamond, The twinkle of a star will shine Shalom, wondrous sukkah How fine and pleasing it is That Shlomit built a sukkah of peace *A sukkah (lit. „booth”) is a temporary hut constructed for use during the week-long Jewish festival of Sukkot. It’s topped with branches and often well decorated with autumnal, harvest or Judaic themes. **The lulav is the closed frond of the date palm tree. It’s one of the Four Species used during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.