Dear Rabbi of Berlin,
The original lyrics of Tikvatenu, written by Naphtali Hertz Imber in 1877, did not include “lihyot am chofshi be’aretzeinu…”
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The test was later revised to “lihyot am chofshi” by settlers of Rishon Letzion. HaRav Kook objected to the revision, and advised his followers to sing “lihyot am kodshi” (to live as a holy nation) instead of the secular dream of living as a free nation.