Hava Nagila

I stumbled upon a documentary titled "Hava Nagila (The Movie)". All that mindless browsing on the Husband's part finally led to something.

I saw the title and instantly broke into song. Hava Nagila, hava nagila ve-nismekha! The documentary was about the origins of this famous Jewish folk song sung in Hebrew. It instantly took me back to my childhood when I would sing this song without knowing its true meaning.

My Dad and Harry Belafonte had a huge role to play in my musical education. Many a night were spent with dad singing "Come back Liza" to me in his lovely baritone, putting me to sleep. I didn't need  a lullaby, I had Belafonte at Carnegie Hall. I cannot believe I was singing Hava Nagila at age 7 amidst my normal Indian existence. 

Unaware that Hava Nagila was a song about celebration and inspiration and "davka" (in spite of). In spite of the holocaust the Jews will live on, in spite of  all the pain and suffering, they will rejoice and in spite of the humiliation, they will be happy. I was deeply moved by this documentary. The song may be a cliche for some or even dated, but for me, it was indicative of a time when I was happy. Of a time when Dad brought lovely trinkets from all his travels. When the dinner table was filled with amazing stories of different countries, music and movies.

Hava Nagila was instrumental in the Jewish assimilation in America. It reflected the prosperity and suburbia of 50's and 60's America. It seems to have pervaded into Desi Suburbia too! Here is the version I grew up listening: Harry Belanfonte at Carnegie Hall.

Its a common joke in the Goprolu household that I am  IMDb. I never realized how wonderful it was to dispense all this trivia until my husband mentioned that I was his "go-to" person.

I feel warm and fuzzy right now and its not even Christmas or should I say Hanukkah!