For Jewish communities everywhere
Hebrew songs for Jews around the world — lyrics, translation and karaoke
Wherever you live — New York, London, Paris, Moscow, Buenos Aires, Melbourne — the Hebrew of Israel is one song away. Every song here comes with the full Hebrew text and nikud, a Latin transliteration you can read on day one, a line-by-line translation, and games built from that song's own words. Shir-ly was founded by an ulpan teacher and it is free to start.
The full library, with English translation
- ירושלים של זהבYerushalayim Shel Zahav — Jerusalem of GoldShuli Natan, 1967
- עם ישראל חיAm Yisrael Chai — The People of Israel LiveEyal Golan, 2023
- התקווהHatikvah — The HopeThe National Anthem of Israel, 1878
- עוד יותר טובOd Yoter Tov — Even BetterSasson Shaulov, 2023
- רולקס וקסקטRolex ve-Casquette — Rolex and CasquetteEden Ben Zaken, 2024
- כל עכבה לטובהKol Akava Letova — Every Delay Is for the BestBen Zion Chaim Tzur, 2024
- הרעותHare'ut — The ComradeshipThe Nahal Troupe, 1948
- ממעמקיםMimaamakim — From the DepthsThe Idan Raichel Project, 2005
- לבד על המיטהLevad Al HaMita — Alone on the BedOmer Adam, 2024
- הייתי בגן עדןHayiti BeGan Eden — I Was in the Garden of EdenSarit Hadad, 1999
- שמישהו יעצור אותיShemishehu Ya'atzor Oti — Someone Stop MeEden Hason, 2019
- אין לי ארץ אחרתEin Li Eretz Acheret — I Have No Other CountryGali Atari, 1986
- אחרי שנסעתAchrei Shenasat — After You LeftMatti Caspi, 1974
From the siddur to the radio
If you can follow a prayer book, you already know the alphabet and hundreds of roots. Modern Israeli Hebrew reuses them with simpler grammar: no cases, three everyday tenses, verbs built on predictable three-letter roots. Songs give you the missing pieces — pronunciation, rhythm and the words people actually use — and they stay in your memory in a way vocabulary lists never do.
Learn Mimaamakim and you have Psalm 130 in your mouth. Learn Hareut and you can take part in your community's Yom HaZikaron ceremony. Learn Ein Li Eretz Acheret and you understand an argument Israelis have been having for forty years.
Where to begin
- The Hebrew alphabet for beginners: 22 letters, their sounds and the nikud vowels
- Am Yisrael Chai: what it means, where it comes from, and why Israelis sing it
- Hatikvah: full lyrics, transliteration and what every line means
- Famous Jewish songs: what each one means and when Jews actually sing it
- Hebrew greetings: what Israelis actually say, morning to night
- Hebrew for the diaspora: from the words you already know to speaking Israeli Hebrew
In your language
Questions Jewish learners ask
- How can Jews in the diaspora learn Hebrew without moving to Israel?
- Through songs you already half-know. Shir-ly syncs Israeli songs word by word, shows nikud and Latin transliteration, translates every line into English, Russian, Spanish or French, and turns each song's own words into games. Fifteen minutes a day is enough.
- Is prayer-book Hebrew the same as Israeli Hebrew?
- The letters and most roots are shared, so liturgy gives you a real head start. Israeli Hebrew is the living version — same alphabet, simpler grammar, modern vocabulary — and songs are the fastest bridge between the two.
- Which songs should a beginner start with?
- Start with Hatikvah and Am Yisrael Chai, which you probably already recognise, then Yerushalayim Shel Zahav and Ein Li Eretz Acheret, then a modern hit like Levad Al HaMita for spoken Hebrew.
- Does it cost anything?
- The first song is completely open, and the rest of the library unlocks with your email address. There is no payment to learn.
- Can my kids or my community use it?
- Yes. Teachers, youth movements, synagogues and Hebrew schools use the karaoke lyrics on a screen and the games as a group activity. It was built by an ulpan teacher for exactly that.