The Director of Ono Academic College’s School of Music, Maestro Yaron Gottfried, the conducted the Israel Symphony, Rishon LeZion performing the Chava Alberstein arrangement of the classic Israeli poem, “Is it True,” written by the queen of Israeli poetry, Leah Goldberg.

The poem’s translation is as follows:

Is It True (Ha’omnam) / Leah Goldberg

Is it true – will there ever be days with forgiveness and mercy?

And you will walk in the field, like a simple wanderer.

Your feet on the small leaves will be gently caressed,

Or the stings will be sweet, when you are stung by the rye’s broken stalks, 

Or the downpour will catch you as the raindrops pound,

On your shoulders, your breast, your neck, and your mind will be clear.

You will walk the wet field, and the silence fills you –

Like the light that lines a cloud. 

And you breathed in the furrows, a breath calm and even,

And you saw the sun in the reflection of the golden puddle,

And the things will be simple and alive, and it is permitted to touch them,  

And permitted, and permitted to love. 

You will walk in the field by yourself, never scorched by the heat,

Of the fires on the paths paved with horror and blood,

And in your heart you again will humbly surrender,

Like one blade of grass, like one of humanity.  

Yaron Gottfried

הקריה האקדמית אונו
Israel Symphony Rishon LeZion – הסימפונית הישראלית ראשון לציון
Shira Elissar
Elia Azarzar
לאה גולדברג      
Chava Alberstein – חוה אלברשטיין
Sarit Biran

Ono School of Music Director Conducts Rendition of Classic Israeli Poem “Is it True”

The Director of Ono Academic College’s School of Music, Maestro Yaron Gottfried, the conducted the Israel Symphony, Rishon LeZion performing the Chava Alberstein arrangement of the classic Israeli poem, “Is it True,” written by the queen of Israeli poetry, Leah Goldberg.

The poem’s translation is as follows:

Is It True (Ha’omnam) / Leah Goldberg

Is it true – will there ever be days with forgiveness and mercy?

And you will walk in the field, like a simple wanderer.

Your feet on the small leaves will be gently caressed,

Or the stings will be sweet, when you are stung by the rye’s broken stalks, 

Or the downpour will catch you as the raindrops pound,

On your shoulders, your breast, your neck, and your mind will be clear.

You will walk the wet field, and the silence fills you –

Like the light that lines a cloud. 

And you breathed in the furrows, a breath calm and even,

And you saw the sun in the reflection of the golden puddle,

And the things will be simple and alive, and it is permitted to touch them,  

And permitted, and permitted to love. 

You will walk in the field by yourself, never scorched by the heat,

Of the fires on the paths paved with horror and blood,

And in your heart you again will humbly surrender,

Like one blade of grass, like one of humanity.  

Yaron Gottfried

הקריה האקדמית אונו
Israel Symphony Rishon LeZion – הסימפונית הישראלית ראשון לציון
Shira Elissar
Elia Azarzar
לאה גולדברג      
Chava Alberstein – חוה אלברשטיין
Sarit Biran