Is Hatikvah officially Israels national anthem, or not, and what is the connection with Shir Hamaalot?
Hatikvah was voted over Shir Hama’alot as the anthem in the World Zionist Congress in 1933, after 36 years when both were popular and sung separately or together, at different venues. Therefore, they were also sung in many Jewish circles, together. In Israel it was adopted as the Israel National Anthem de facto – but not de jure until November 2004! This is a Hadracha Guide to Hatikvah. I am attaching an article from early 2005 about the 2004 Hatikvah law, in pdf format; Please also see: http://www.jafi.org.il/education/jerusalem/chapters/chapter11.html http://www.knesset.gov.il/holidays/eng/independence_day.htm [recording of Hatikvah].
