This upbeat song was written by Rabbi David Paskin for the “Schechter Sings for Israel at 60” project of the Solomon Schechter movement of Conservative Judaism in America. Schechter students around the country performed this song at their Yom Ha’atzmaut celebrations for Israel’s 60th birthday. Titled “Kumi Ori,” (“Arise, Shine”) the Hebrew chorus is an excerpt from a prophecy in Isaiah chapter 60. The inspirational song celebrates the miracle of the return of the Jewish people to its ancestral homeland, the beauty of the land, and the country’s resilience in the face of challenges. The backdrop of the video shows pictures of Israel’s beautiful landscapes and iconic historical and religious sites, as well as footage of the students on their school trips to Israel. Rabbi David Paskin is an accomplished spiritual leader, singer-songwriter, entertainer, Jewish futurist, social activist, and award-winning Jewish educator.Â