Watermelon It is summer officially now. The school year ends, it is hot and humid, and all I can think about is either an air-conditioned place or anything to do with water - the pool, the shower, simply drinking cold water, and the best of all - the beach at sunset eating watermelon and feta cheese (or any other kind of hard, salty cheese). I know it sounds “different” to the non-Mediterranean mouth, but the combination of the cold sweet watermelon and the salty cheese makes unbelievable miracles in your mouth and soul - you must try it.

matkot Some Israeli won’t call it a summer until they play the ultimate beach game of the Israeli culture, called “matkot” (מַטְקוֹת) - this is a non-competitive game named after the racquet, the matka. The word may come from the word maka (Hebrew) or madka (Arabic), both meaning a knock or a blow and referring to the somewhat aggressive rendezvous between the ball and the matka that creates a significant sound on the beach.

Another thing that makes the summer more bearable is summer songs. One that I particularly remember from my childhood is called: “lixvod hakayits” meaning “in honor of the kayits” (לִכְבוֹד הַקַּיִץ). This song was written and composed by Dany Senderson and sung by a band called “gazoz” (גָּזוֹז). The name of the band is refreshing by itself as it means “soda-pop” - sparkling water with some added flavor that was popular before the cola and its companions arrived at the Holy Land. The song tells about someone who arrives at the beach early in the morning enjoying an empty beach, the waves on the water and the silence that make him feel as if a dream comes true. He ends up an hour later with 1000 people eating ice-cream bars (’artik, אַרְטִיק), playing matkot and breaking his dream. I think it summarizes much of the Israeli summer experience. I found a naïve, funny video of this song and thought it would be nice to share it with you.

Lixvod Hakayits לִכְבוֹד הַקַּיִץ

Music and Lyric: Dany Senderson מִילִים וְלַחַן: דָנִי סֶנְדֶרְסוֹן

In honor of the summer that has arrived I wrote a song.
I don’t sweat yet, but I cannot hide
My passion to the season that ends the cold
And in its honor with a pencil I wrote a song:
לִכְבוֹד הַקַּיִץ שֶׁהִגִּיעַ כָּתַבְתִּי שִׁיר. 
אָמְנָם אֲנִי עוֹד לֹא מֵזִיעַ, אֲבָל אֵינִי מַסְתִּיר אֶת תְּשׁוּקָתִי אֶל הָעוֹנָה שֶׁשָּׂמָה קֵץ לַקֹּר.וְלִכְבוֹדָהּ עִם עִפָּרוֹן כָּתַבְתִּי שִׁיר מִזְמוֹר:
 
With a swimming suit I went once to the beach on a springy day.
A cotton blanket, newspaper at hand, and sun around me there.
I found some sand vacant of people and cattle,
And lay down in between the water and the land.
עִם בֶּגֶד יָם יָצָאתִי פַּעַם אֵל חוֹף בְּיוֹם אָבִיב
שְׂמִיכָה מִבַּד, עִתּוֹן בַּיָּד וְשֶׁמֶשׁ מִסָּבִיב. מָצָאתִי חוֹל פָּנוּי מִכָּל אָדָם וּבְהֵמָה,
וְאֶת עַצְמִי פַרְקַדְתִי בֵּין יָם לְיַבָּשָׁה.
Waves on the water
And silence of the sky.
A spring dream comes true
And feels me inside.
גַּלִּים עַל פְּנֵי הַמַּיִם
.וְשֶׁקֶט שֶׁל שָׁמַיִם
חֲלוֹם אָבִיב עוֹלֶה,
וְאוֹתִי הוּא מְמַלֵּא.

The Hebrew Corner פִּנַּת הָעִבְרִית

Translation Transcription  
Watermelon ‘avati’ax

 אֲבַטִּיחַ
Ice-cream bar ‘artik

 אַרְטִיק

Swimming suit Begged yam

 בֶּגֶד יָם
Salty cheese Gvina meluxa

 גְּבִנָּה מְלוּחָה
Sand Xol

 חוֹל
Sea Yam

 יָם
  Matkot

 מַטְקוֹת
Season ‘ona

 עוֹנָה

Summer Kayits

 קַיִץ
Sun shemesh

 שֶׁמֶשׁ

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