Israeli Professor Sings ‘The Last Farmer in the Honey Valley’ In the Valley itself As an Ode to Malta
An Israeli professor with a deep love for a graceful Malta with an ode to our country, sang perfectly ‘The Last Farmer in the Honey Valley’ while standing in the Mosta valley itself.
This is the thirteenth time that Professor Aharon Geva Kleinberger has visited Malta, his first time being back in 1966 when he was only three years old.
In the video, Kleinberger, from the University of Haifa in Israel, is standing in the Honey Valley, the beautiful valley that divides the town of Mosta in half.
He sings perfectly the classic song about the loss of rural practices and agriculture in Malta, after learning the Maltese language over the years and being a fluent speaker.
Lovin Malta met with Professor Kleinberger to hear more about his efforts and his love for the country.
Asked why he loves the island so much, Kleinberger said, “I love Malta because of its people. In addition, the Maltese people preserve very old features of the Semitic languages. As a speaker of Hebrew, which is also a Semitic language, and as a professor of Arabic dialects and Semitic languages, I can appreciate the joint comparative linguistic and cultural environment. ”
“It simply came to our notice then. I love the Maltese people because they are honest and gentle and I am also attached to their suffering during the Second World War. I am now in a sabbatical year from my university and since Malta is in the depths of my heart – I am here, ”he said.
Kleinberger was well aware that the song was an ode to the valley in which he recorded the video, and he personally urged Malta to protect these areas.
“Malta wants to protect this beautiful valley which is linked to its roots and heritage. It has a wonderful nature that needs to be protected as described in the song, ”he said.
“Also, the ‘last farmer’ is a significant symbol for the loss of agricultural life not only in Malta but also all over the world. Farmers are a mirror to simple life in its positive sense as they preserve obsolete human values that are becoming obsolete, ”he explained.
Kleinberger also had a message for the people of Malta, urging that the loss of the Maltese language should be at the forefront of interest.
“I think that a project must be carried out in Malta that combines songs with specific places in Malta and Gozo so that the young generation can deepen its historical knowledge, language, customs and folklore,” he said.
“All this must be done through the emotions and documentation of the elderly. Proverbs die all over the world and contain valuable wisdom. ”
“The Maltese language is unique in its nature and without it, all the roots of the nation can, unfortunately, be lost as if they never existed under the skies of the Mediterranean sea.”
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