Group Activity
Listen to Shir LaShalom and read the lyrics in Hebrew or English. Summarize the main ideas of the song.
- What instruments or vocals can you hear in the recording?
- Write down five words that describe the recording.
- Which, in your opinion, is the most important line in the song?
Describe your initial impression on listening to the recording.
- What do you hear?
- What emotions does the recording inspire in you?
- What does it remind you of?
Choose a phrase from the song that you most relate to.
- Why did you choose this phrase? What does it mean to you?
Watch a video of Israeli soldiers singing Shir LaShalom. How does it make you feel to see soldiers singing a song about peace?
Discussion Questions
- Who wrote the song?
- Who first performed the song?
- When was it written?
The song is speaking on behalf of a group of people.
- Who are they?
- What is their message?
- Why do you think the lyrics of song are not liked by some Israelis?
- Which lyrics do you think are controversial? Why?
- Who do you think would like the lyrics?
- Whose political views do they represent?
- What event is associated with the song?
- In what way is it associated with the event?
- Who was Yitzhak Rabin? In what way was he connected to the peace movement?
This version of the song was performed by an IDF music troupe.
- What is the role of the IDF music troupes?
- Do you think these troupes are an important part of the army? Explain.
Creative Activity
- Draw a picture to accompany the song.
- Find another performance of this song and compare the two.
- Learn the song and teach it to your class or to another class in your school.
Primary sources in this lesson
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