"Medina Ktana" means "Small Country" in Hebrew.
The song was performed by the band Kaveret (for more details, click here), on their third album released in 1975, named Tsafuf BaOzen.
You can listen to the song on this YouTube link, or watch a live performance below.
This song narrates the tale of a small, isolated country that began its journey with very little – just a few friends, some tears, two houses, two horses, and three trees. To protect itself from the challenges of the world, like wars and disasters, it hides its address in a hidden box to stay out of trouble.
Although the song contains numerous allusions to Israel, it never explicitly names the country.
Several elements in the lyrics make this song really Israeli, such as the feeling of having nowhere else to go (especially evident in the last stanza), the pain of building a country from scratch (illustrated by tears), and the light-hearted, humorous tone to describe a difficult journey to build a country "we" will never abandon.
Kaveret is renowned for crafting cheerful, celebratory, and optimistic songs, although there are occasional exceptions.
Danny Sanderson and Yoni Rechter, the song's composers, are two of the most influential Israeli musicians, having written and composed some of the biggest hits in recent decades.
Last stanza:
One day, if it's worth it, maybe we'll leave,
As long as we stand,
I don't feel the need,
We'll live, we'll die, and then we'll see...
During times of heightened tension in Israel, such as protests (2023 Israeli judicial reform), wars, or internal conflicts, this song often resonates deeply with the Israeli people, serving as a poignant reminder that they have no other homeland to turn to. It underscores the imperative of safeguarding and cherishing Israel as their sole residence.
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