Am Yisrael Chai - The People of Israel Live

Am Yisrael Chai translates in English to mean "The People of Israel Live". It is a widely used cry of defiance, expressing the pride and solidarity of the Jewish people, especially during times of war and heightened antisemitism. My latest papercut, drawn and cut by hand from a single sheet of Textura Recycled Bright White Card, has the popular phrase in Hebrew in the centre of the piece. It is embellished with a Star of David, a dove, pomegranates and flowers. Buildings similar to those found in the Old City of Jerusalem can be seen at the bottom of the piece.

The phrase Am Yisrael Chai gained popularity during the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry, when rabbi and songwriter Shlomo Carlebach, who was already popular for his melodies put to Hebrew prayers, composed the song for the movement's 1965 solidarity rally in New York City.
The song's lyrics are derived from a story in the Book of Genesis in which Joseph, having revealed himself to his brothers, asks if their father is still alive (Hebrew: הַעוֹד אָבִי חַי). Carlebach added the words Am Yisrael Chai and, for the song's refrain, changed the words "is my father still alive" to "our father still lives" (Hebrew: עוֹד אָבִינוּ חַי).

One of the earliest references to Am Yisrael Chai was at the Second World Jewish Conference in 1933, summoned to fight Hitler's new Nazi regime through economic boycott. Rabbi Stephen Samuel Wise, the reform rabbi and Zionist leader, ended the final address by declaring to the crowd:

"We are prepared to defend ourselves against the will of Hitler Germany to destroy. We must defend ourselves because we are a people which lives and wishes to live. My last word that I wish to speak to you is this - our people lives - Am Yisrael chai!"
On 20th April 1945, five days after the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp was liberated, British Army chaplain Rabbi Leslie Hardman led a Friday evening Shabbat service for a few hundred survivors at the camp. Knowing the service was being recorded by the BBC radio service, he proclaimed Am Yisrael Chai, "The people of Israel live" at the conclusion of the service, after singing Hatikvah, now the national anthem of the State of Israel.

Am Yisrael Chai was sung during the Six Day War and at the end of the Yom Kippur War. In 1983 Ofra Haza, the Israeli singer, songwriter and actress, represented Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Chai" ("Alive"). The words Am Yisrael Chai were part of the chorus. In 2009, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu inscribed the words Am Yisrael Chai in the guestbook of the Wannsee Villa in Berlin.

After an Israeli court rendered a guilty verdict for John Demjanjuk in 1986, two songs were sung outside the courthouse: Ani Ma'amin, "I believe", which was sung in concentration camps, and Am Yisrael Chai.

Today Am Yisrael Chai is often used by Jewish people around the world to express support and solidarity with Israel, especially now during the Israel-Hamas war.

If you would like to order my Am Yisrael Chai papercut, just leave me a comment or use the email me button on the right hand side, below my social media buttons. Please be sure to note which colour backing paper you would like. The papercut costs $75 + postage and packing. It fits into a square 23x23cm frame (or a larger frame with a mount). You will receive this papercut UNFRAMED.

* This post has been shared on The Good. The Random. The Fun., Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday) and Farmhouse Friday.