The text for the anthem was first written in 1878 by Naftali Herz Imber a Polish poet. Soon after, Shmuel Cohen, a young musician living on an early kibbutz in Ottoman-ruled Palestine adapted the music from European folk melodies. The popular anthem was used along with the creation of the State of Israel in 1948 and was officially accepted by a vote of the Knesset in 2004.
Whitley's arrangement in the original key of D minor adds an optional series of variations as a bonus. In addition, the Hebrew, English translation, and English transliteration are included which can be reproduced for audiences to sing along. - the publisher