The Palmach Anthem
The anthem was the first thing to be formed, and became known as the 'Palmach anthem'.
The anthem was the first thing to be formed, and became known as the 'Palmach anthem'. Zrubavel Gilad, a recruit from Company A, which started its basic training shortly after the Hagana HQ decided to establish the 'Striking Forces,' tells the story of how the anthem was conceived. On the morning of the party for the completion of the '200-hour program' basic training, the training commander gave Zrubavel Gilad the task of writing a song for the party that evening, and released him for the day. Gilad refused to be released and promised to write it while on guard duty. The 'Palmach song' was sung during the party, and later published on the front page of Palmach magazine 5th issue (Av – Elul Tashav.) The song had the Russian melody of a familiar Red army song, which reflected the 'Commando Unit' concept that characterized the early days of the Palmach.
Though the storm may rage around us
Forward all with head held high
Ever ready to fulfill a command
Our Palmach flag in the sky.
North and South, Metulla-Negev
From the sea to desert sands
Every man strides forward boldly
Each with weapons in his hands.
Eagles course the skies above us
Wildly winds our mountain path
Meeting with our foe in battle
We will crush him in our wrath.
We are always in the forefront
In fiery nights and through the stormy days
Ever ready to fulfill a command
The Palmach flag in the sky.
Words: Zrubavel Gilad
Melody: David Zahavi
These words contain all the ideological elements of the recruited unit concept that is supposed to take charge before any other Yishuv force, as well as excel in its physical and spiritual skills and act under the full subordination of the Hagana commands. The song as a whole describes the military operation of the unit and leaves the labor part of it out. This makes sense if we recall the date the song was composed, that is, only a few months after the Palmach was founded and a year before the 'labor and training agreement' was set.
However, the song settled in, and in 1943, while the Working Youth and other youth movements considered joining their training with the Palmach, composer David Zehavi, a member of kibbutz Na'an and a veteran of the Working Youth, composed a Jewish tune for it. The new melody was published under the heading 'Song of the Units' in the Working Youth newspaper, "Bama'alah," 12th issue (292), on June 25th 1943. For confidentiality reasons, the name 'Palmach' was left out of the song, and instead of the words – "We are, we are the Palmach!" It said – "We, who walk in procession!"
In Palmach magazine number 24-25 (November-December 1944), it was reprinted as 'Song of the Units' with Zehavi's melody but a slightly different version. Aside from emphasizing the underground disguise 'We… who walk in procession!" one world was replaced in the third verse: "Every good man – to arms / women – on the watch!"
This same verse appeared once again on the cover of Palmach magazine No. 1 51-52 (April-May 1947), and only on those two occasions, did the women receive an (almost) equal status in the anthem. In consequent publications of the anthem, the first version appears with the explicit name – Palmach! )The same goes for the collection of poems 'Outside our tent' from late 1946; the 'From our backpack' collection from May 1948; in Palmach magazine No. 75 (24.10.48); and in the special Palmach magazine edition published on December 1949, on occasion of the third Palmach assembly after its dismantling).
Though the storm may rage around us
Forward all with head held high
Ever ready to fulfill a command
Our Palmach flag in the sky.
North and South, Metulla-Negev
From the sea to desert sands
Every man strides forward boldly
Each with weapons in his hands.
Eagles course the skies above us
Wildly winds our mountain path
Meeting with our foe in battle
We will crush him in our wrath.
We are always in the forefront
In fiery nights and through the stormy days
Ever ready to fulfill a command
The Palmach flag in the sky.
Words: Zrubavel Gilad
Melody: David Zahavi
These words contain all the ideological elements of the recruited unit concept that is supposed to take charge before any other Yishuv force, as well as excel in its physical and spiritual skills and act under the full subordination of the Hagana commands. The song as a whole describes the military operation of the unit and leaves the labor part of it out. This makes sense if we recall the date the song was composed, that is, only a few months after the Palmach was founded and a year before the 'labor and training agreement' was set.
However, the song settled in, and in 1943, while the Working Youth and other youth movements considered joining their training with the Palmach, composer David Zehavi, a member of kibbutz Na'an and a veteran of the Working Youth, composed a Jewish tune for it. The new melody was published under the heading 'Song of the Units' in the Working Youth newspaper, "Bama'alah," 12th issue (292), on June 25th 1943. For confidentiality reasons, the name 'Palmach' was left out of the song, and instead of the words – "We are, we are the Palmach!" It said – "We, who walk in procession!"
In Palmach magazine number 24-25 (November-December 1944), it was reprinted as 'Song of the Units' with Zehavi's melody but a slightly different version. Aside from emphasizing the underground disguise 'We… who walk in procession!" one world was replaced in the third verse: "Every good man – to arms / women – on the watch!"
This same verse appeared once again on the cover of Palmach magazine No. 1 51-52 (April-May 1947), and only on those two occasions, did the women receive an (almost) equal status in the anthem. In consequent publications of the anthem, the first version appears with the explicit name – Palmach! )The same goes for the collection of poems 'Outside our tent' from late 1946; the 'From our backpack' collection from May 1948; in Palmach magazine No. 75 (24.10.48); and in the special Palmach magazine edition published on December 1949, on occasion of the third Palmach assembly after its dismantling).