Leil Chanaya ... ליל חניה

Leil Chanaya ("Night Camp" (of an army)) - the song is taken from a poem of Natan Alterman (not all verses of the poem are included in the song), expressing his impressions from a short army service he did during Israel's 1948 independence war. He published it in his poems book "Ir HaYona" (Dove's City) in 1957.
The poem was composed in 1973 by Yair Rosenblum for the Israel Song Festival of that year. Did not win but became a very respected and even revered as time passed by. In 2001 a good dance was made by Gadi Bitton that conveys at times the dramatic nature of the lyrics and melody.
Clip taken at Camp Hilulim 2019 that was held that year in New York City (@The 92Y), organized by Karen Kaplan and was the last of Camp Hilulim.
Following is a very lengthy description of events written above. Only to whom it might be of interest:
Lyrics: 1957
At the beginning of Israel's 1948 independence war Natan Alterman was exempt from army service due to age. However, his close friend, Itzchak Sadeh, who was a division commander in the newly minted Israeli army (and the legendary commander of pre independence Palmach), berated him that he writes about war without really knowing what it means to be in one. So Alterman volunteered to serve in the army. Itzchak Sadeh, wanting to protect Alterman, assigned him to a mortar unit as they are behind the frontlines. After a training period, Alterman took part in a planned attack by the Israeli army on Egyptian army positions in the south. The attack that day failed and the Israeli army retreated with casualties. Several enemy shells exploded nearby the rear positions where Alterman was. That evening an order came, from prime minister David Ben Gurion, to send Alterman back to Tel Aviv and make sure he stays there. Ben Gurion did not want Alterman, who by then was already dubbed "The national poet", to get killed in a battle. Several years later Alterman wrote this poem, Leil Chanaya, and published it in his book Ir HaYona (Dove's City), 1957. Although there are few hints in the poem alluding to the battle he took part in, the poem generally describes any army camp in preparation for a war.
Composition: 1973
In those early years Israel had an annual song competition around the time of Independence day. Since 1973 was the 25th year from independence, the organizers requested only songs talking about the country to be submitted. Yair Rosenblum, in an interview, said the following:
He was sitting at home one day when the phone rang and on the line was no other than Yehoram Gaon, a leading, most famous, singer at the time. Yair Rosenblum was excited to get a call from him. Yehoram Gaon Asked Rosenblum if by chance he has a new song for him. Yair Rosenblum had nothing. However, as he mentioned, "you do not say no to Yehoram Gaon". So Yair Rosenblum said "Yes, I have a new song that'll be good for you". Yehoram Gaon asked: "What's the name of it?". Yair Rosenblum grabbed the first song book within reach, which was Alterman's Ir HaYona, opened it at a random page and said "It's called Leil Chanaya". Yehoram Gaon said "Great, tomorrow morning I'll be at your place to try it.
Yair Rosenblum, as mentioned, had nothing prepared. He sat down to compose the poem and found it a very difficult task. There was no chorus section, lines did not rhyme, words difficult to understand (Alterman's high level language) and more. he worked on it all night until at morning time he was finally satisfied with the composition he came up with.
And Yehoram Gaon did not show up... according to Rosenblum he did not even call again.
Competition and beyond:
Rosenblum submitted the song to the committee screening songs for the competition and when it was accepted called three young and relatively unknown singers, Yardena Arazi, Chanan Yovel, Efrayim Shamir and gave them the song. Yair Rosenblum told the singers that this song will not win since it's too complicated to grasp at first hearing. But, he added, as years pass by it will be the song that is recognized more than any other participating song. He was right in that the song did not win. However, did not have to wait long for recognition. In the months that followed the competition radio hosts took liking to it and played it. Then, five short months after the competition, the October 1973 Yom Kippur war broke out. Wherever the singers went to perform, the soldiers asked for this song as they identified themselves with the poignant lyrics. Since then it gained recognition and respect and is played at many official events and others.
Dance and other dances from same festival:
In 2001 a good dance was made to this song by Gadi Bitton. Played to this days. Several other songs from that same festival got good dances that are done to these days. Among them are:
Continues in a comment due to length limit...

[@shaffavi]

...Continuing from the description:
Other songs from same 1973 song festival with good dances are:
- Pitom Kam Adam (Shir BaBoker BaBoker), won second place, singer: Shlomo Artzi, dance by Dudu Barzilay & Yaron ben simchon. 1999. Singer in the dance version: Sassi Keshet.
- Yaale VeYavo - Sung by Gidi Gov. Dance by Avi Levi. 1998. Singer in the dance version: again - Sassi Keshet.
- Shir Klulot - sung by Izhar Kohen. Dance by Gadi Bitton. 1997. Singer in the dance version: Sassi Keshet again...
Why Sassi Keshet? In 1996 Sassi Keshet produced an album devoted to songs from the Israel Song Festivals of all years. It was very well accepted and most probably the trigger to the making of the three dances mentioned above and the use of his singing in the dances. Leil Chanaya is also included in his 1996 album but not used in the dance.
Tirtza Atar
Alterman's family had another song at the festival called: "Shir LeErev Chag", written by Tirtza Atar who was Alterman's only child. In this song she laments that although it is an evening of celebration she can not be happy because he is not with her. What she is referring to happened three years earlier, at the festival of 1970, when her song Ahavtia (I Loved Her) won first place (sung by a young soldier in navy uniforms, Shlomo Artzi). She so much wanted her father, whom she was closed to and followed in his steps, to be there and be proud of her success but her father, Natan Alterman, died one month earlier. That same year, 1970, another song of hers won first place at the Tokyo international song competition. It was Ani Cholem Al Neomi (Dance name: Neomi/Naomi). In 1977 Tirtza Atar fell to her death in what media described as suicide (she had previous attempts) and family as accident.
Camp Hilulim:
Started in November 2001 in the Catskills area north of NYC, two short month after 9/11. It was a well needed getaway from the city where smoke was still billowing from ground zero. In 2012 Hurricane Sandy hit the region just before the camp and it was initially canceled but then decision changed and it was held. In 2019 it was not supposed to be held because a venue was not found but in the end Karen Kaplan organized it in the city. Few moths later Covid hit and the camp did not resume since.
Ok, I never wrote such a long 'description' and probably never will. It's the song and connection to present events. I think I covered most of the stories associated with this song and dance and if you think I missed something or made mistakes please comment. Thx.