The poet Yoram Tahar Lev passed away last night, 6/1/22, at the age of 83, leaving an entire country in mourning
Taharlev was born and raised in Kibbutz Yagur and wrote many songs on Mount Carmel near the kibbutz. He married the poet Nurit Zarchi, whom he met when they were both students at Tel Aviv University, and the two built their home on the kibbutz. Bigor also had their eldest daughter.
One of his favorite songs, especially among those who grew up in Haifa, is the song about Mount Carmel – the evergreen mountain. The song was written following Taharlev’s experiences at Kibbutz Yagur and the residence near Mount Carmel.
The evergreen mountain
“I opened my eyes, it was a tribal month then,
I saw one little bird above me
And the azure of the sky and a single cloud
And I saw –
The evergreen mountain.
In the childhood games Kelly the intoxicant
I chased butterflies, slid down the slope
And now I was looking for a hiding place for an innocent heart
– So I ran away.
To the evergreen mountain.
The green mountain all year round,
I’m still dreaming and asking
Breathe your spirits first,
Lie in the shadow of Carmel.
In the years of adolescence, in the years of love
We climbed for him, my hand inside her hand
We looked into the distance, towards the future
And we dreamed –
On the evergreen mountain.
We went to the army, big and embarrassed,
Out of the wars we returned as brothers
We brought on bad hands and friend
And we said goodbye –
Always in front of the green mountain.
The green mountain all year round…
And our children are already young,
Our parents – their hair has bleached for many days.
But we become young every morning, when we look
To our brothers –
To the evergreen mountain.
The green mountain all year round… “
Inalienable assets
Taharlev had a special connection with many composers, one of the most prominent of whom was Yair Rosenblum. Rosenblum and Taharlev co-wrote a number of poems that are considered an asset to Iron Flock in Hebrew poetry and part of the IDF and Zionist ethos. Prominent Israelis composed his songs. The late Nahum Heiman was the first to compose a chorus by Taharlev – “You and I the Spirit” which, he said, he wrote about while traveling by bus from Haifa to Tel Aviv.
The mythological kindergarten teacher in the kibbutz
Taharlev later wrote about his grandson and son’s visit to Kibbutz Yagur and their chance meeting with his former teacher. She was already more than 100 years old at the time. Taharlev himself also met her later, and inquired what memories she had of him as a child. The kindergarten teacher replied that he was probably a quiet child who did not disturb, so she does not remember him…
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The Haifa connection
In an exciting ceremony, Taharlev received the maqama written in his honor by journalist and songwriter Uri Sharon. Sharon’s maqama deals with a man and his songs, and is signed by the former mayor of Haifa, Yona Yahav, and the chairman of the Mount Carmel Committee, Shlomo Zuckerman. Taharlev received the maqama at the “Shacharit” event, organized by Matthias Golan. Years later he attended the Gimlaida event in the city, where he sang his songs and read the maqama to his ears again.
The soundtrack of our lives
Yesterday, Thursday 6/1/22, many in the State of Israel remembered the wonderful songs of Taharlev, from each of which rises and stands out the love of the land and the deep connection to it. Many were also surprised to find that they did not always know that behind the lyrics of one song or another that accompanied them all their lives, stands none other than this talented and special man, the late Yehoram Taharlev.
Taharlev left behind as mentioned, countless songs and hymns, the soundtrack of our lives, Israeli and so rooted. Among his songs: “The Ballad of Yoel Moshe Salomon”, “Noah”, “Get up and walk in the land”, “My flag,” I had a friend I had a brother “,” All your wonders are not over yet “,” Let the sun pass over me “,” In the orchard Near the trough “,” There is no way back “,” Ammunition Hill “,” There are girls “,” The evergreen mountain “and more and more
Of blessed memory.
