A sountrack to nostalgia

The first question before buying this sort of generic "culture example" compilation is: why?

Why would you choose a CD which displays nothing new of a culture, nor any example of artistic individuality? There is only one answer: nostalgia. And for nostalgia purposes, this album is pretty good. Listen to the songs and be transported to your youth movement days, or your Tzahal (Israeli Army) years. Feel the radiant heat of the Medura (campfire) as you listen to such classics as Hine Ma Tov, Or Yerushalayim Shel Zahav.

Another reason to choose this particular CD over the other comparable "folk" Israeli productions is that this one has all the classics, and the various artists and ensembles chosen to perform the numbers are invariably top drawer.

This is also a good CD for children in the diaspora if you want to give them an introduction to the basics of Israeli musical culture, and there is no better medium for education than music!

An excellent introduction to Folksongs from Israel

I purchased several CD's of folksongs from Israel before finding this one, which I really love. The songs are deeply joyful celebrations of life - they are melodic, well performed and better produced than other CD's of this kind. The singing is tasteful, the harmonies are superb and the sound quality is excellent. The songs themselves are timeless. I really feel a connection with the culture and history of Israel listening to these songs.

There are several songs that have "pop" arrangements - trumpets, electric guitars and snare drums - which do not serve the songs well. There are also a number of important folksongs from Israel that aren't included. You may find the simplicity and innocence of these songs corny, but I find them inspiring. There are a number of gems on this generous collection, so I recommend this CD as an excellent introduction to folksongs from Israel. Enjoy!

Wonderful folk music from Israel

I have previously listened to a few collections of Jewish popular music and this is by far one of the best. Unfortunately I do not understand the words and I believe that an English translation of the Hebrew text would be a really helpful thing. However, as a music lover, I deeply enjoyed the music and the spirit behind it. That is inescapable and is really moving. It is, in my opinion, the most powerful component of the listening experience. It feels like all the pain, suffering, hope and joy of thousands of years of history transpire through it...
Admittedly, not all songs are of the same musical value, but, all in all, the CD is a collection of remarkable music!
I warmly recomand it. You will love it. I do!
And I wish that all those bent on violence in the Middle East would just stop to listen and allow themselves to be transformed from the inside out.