Año ‘ntero pan y aceitunas
para ir a Palestina.
Yo nunca no me vo ‘nfaciar
de lavorar la tierra
Ande Golden me aderesí
para ir a Palestina.
Chicos y grandes mos vamos a ir
para lavorar la tierra.
El vapor se va alejando,
los mis ojos van llorando.
Sete años asperí
para ir a Palestina.
Siete años asperí
para que me den la visa,
otros siete vo a sperar
para ir a Palestina.
From Arboleras vol. 3, Sephardic songs from the 20th century, 2000
The copla on the Emigration to Palestine (La emigración a Palestina) is one of the coplas composed in the 20th century, reflecting the historical situations in the Sephardic communities. Driven by their Zionist ideals, the Izmirlis endure hardships waiting for Golden, the envoy of the Jewish Agency in Smyrna, to obtain, after seven years (and another seven, as in the texts of the copla) hoping to secure, after seven years — and another seven, as the copla recounts — the much-coveted visa to emigrate to Palestine and work its land.
This website was created by Orit Perlman with the collaboration and blessings of Dr. Susana Weich-Shahak in 2025