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wilhel1812's avatar

What does Hava Nagila mean?

Asked by wilhel1812 (2877points) August 20th, 2008

I like that song

Observing members: 0 Composing members: 0

17 Answers

gailcalled's avatar

The song only has meaning if you dance while singing; “Hora”:

http://www.forward.com/articles/12226/ (verbal explaination)\
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyRg1UIUkjI (visual)

seVen's avatar

don’t know, I know it’s something of Jewish peoples though.

gailcalled's avatar

@seVen; Don’t guess. If you don’t know, mum’s the word. It is not something of Jewish people, however, but a catchy Hebrew song that many Jews and non-Jews dance to at weddings and other joyous occasions – like ninth-grade Saturday School Youth Group..

wilhel1812's avatar

Thanks gailcalled! nice vid :)

gailcalled's avatar

@Wilhel:I hope that you can leap around the street without upsetting any Norwegians.

phred78's avatar

I thought it was one of Harry Potter’s spells ah ah ah

shilolo's avatar

@Gail. Here is a more upbeat version. Some might consider it blasphemy to turn this into a club song, but not me :-) Then again, I’ve also been a fan of Phish’s version of Avenu Malkenu (fastforward to 4:15 in this video).

Allie's avatar

I think I just died a little watching that first video. Those English lyrics were the worst ever. 3:47 of my life.. ka-put.

srmorgan's avatar

I am sorry but the definitive performance of Hava Nagila has to be this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nh7DU1HtbFQ&NR=1

It begins at 2:22 on the clip and runs for about 3 1/2 minutes. Watch the entire segment

ENJOY!!!

SRM

gailcalled's avatar

@SRM: Ridiculous but funny. I recognized a young and handsome Gregory Peck and ditto Tony Curtis and some other familiar faces.

And I did enjoy Shilolo’s Hava and Avenu…

wilhel1812's avatar

Haha that’s great! what movie is that from?

gailcalled's avatar

I am trying to remember. Perhaps Twelve O’Clock High- a movie about WWII – no time for research now…too much to do. (Why am I sitting here?)

srmorgan's avatar

Captain Newman MD.

Gregory Peck, Angie Dickinson, the great Vito Scotti

and two boys from Da Bronx, Bernie Schwartz and Walden Robert Cassotto, (Tony Curtis and Bobby Darin)..

SRM

gailcalled's avatar

She was Angie Dickinson? I didn’t recognize her. Bernie was best in Some Like it Hot, as SRM and I have decreed agreed.

dadodude93's avatar

Hava Nagila means “A revelation has come” in Hebrew. (I’m Jewish, I should know.)

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