38. Enni Enni Tirttu Dinam (The Fifth of Iyyar)

A Malayalam Zionist song celebrating the declaration of Israeli independence on the fifth day of the Hebrew month of Iyyar May 14 1948 when the British rulers departed from Palestine at the end of the Mandate. It praises the Jewish youth who "took up" the independence which was handed over by   "the brutal Englishmen." Set to a popular cinema tune of the day, "Enni enni parkum manam," from the Tamil film "Valukayi" ("Life") composed by R. Sudarsanam. It was performed during yearly Independence Day celebrations in Chendamangalam in the early 1950s. The first verse is repeated as a chorus.

Text

Counting, counting, counting the days.
The Fifth of Iyyar has arrived!
Let us celebrate this day
With dancing and joyful songs.
Let us celebrate with joy

The country of Israel,
The nation of Israel,
The flag of Israel,
May it rise into the air,
Quickly rise into the air.

Counting, counting, counting the days.
The Fifth of Lyyar has arrived!

From our minds this happy day
Never will be erased.
Any Jew who fails to enjoy it-
Does this Jew belong to our caste?
Can he really be a Jew?

Counting, counting, counting the days.
The Fifth of Iyyar has arrived!

Those who behaved like animals,
The brutal Englishmen,
Handed over independence
And the youth took it up,
And the youth took it up.
May they all be blessed,
May the youth be blessed
May they be forever blessed