By the waters of Babylon
all my hope was gone.
In front of me was the hell of exile at the setting sun
as the river of sorrow flowed on
As I looked on the blood filled way
losing the meaning of night and day
my mouth lost its power to pray
as I wept remembering my Temple in ruins, it lay
At that moment I knew the darkness of my Soul;
Shadows of memory enwrapped my inner cold,
there was no future to be foretold
all my Hope, to be stalled
By the waters of despair,
in sackcloth I ripped out my hair.
There was nothing left for me to care
even a dream or two I could not spare.
The blue river became dark and gray,
there, no more songs to play;
the weathered faces were Still, with nothing to say
for our Hope, They, the haters of G-d did slay.
By the waters of sorrow
I laid to sleep, dreaming of tomorrow
as the the bodies of my loved ones were eaten by the vulture and the crow.
But I will rise again and return to Zion upright and strong from head to toe
By the waters of exile
I trekked twenty centuries and endless mile
wandering the land of numerous gentile
who shackled me as an enemy, a demon, a hostile
The first time I stood by the Rivers of Zion
to return and jump in.
I recalled my Oath, “If I forget thee O Jerusalem, let my right hand lose it power”
I was tired, old, weak, broken but to hopelessness I would never cower
Now, by the Tomb of my King, David, I now stand like an everlasting Tower.
Rabbi Avi Schwartz is an individual who has made contributions in various fields. He is the son of Motke Eish HaGarzen, also known as Motke the Axeman, a legendary figure in the Palmach. Motke Eish HaGarzen led a group of 21 Palmach Warriors who successfully conquered Har Tzion (Mount Zion), rescuing 1,700 Jewish men, women, and children from the Jordanian onslaught in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City.
Rabbi Schwartz himself is a Black Hat Rabbi and activist, dedicated to upholding Jewish traditions and values. Alongside his religious pursuits, he has also found success as a filmmaker and writer, with his works featured on platforms such as Red Coral Universe Apple TV, Tubi of Fox Corporation, and Netflix.
Notably, Rabbi Schwartz's movie "The Quest" has received high praise from none other than Pat Boone, a Music and Hollywood Icon. Boone, known for his illustrious career as a singer, actor, and television personality, has publicly commended Rabbi Schwartz's film, acknowledging its quality and significance. This endorsement from Pat Boone further solidifies the impact and recognition of Rabbi Schwartz's work within the entertainment industry.
Beyond his artistic endeavors, Rabbi Schwartz has been at the forefront of the battle against the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. He has developed two groundbreaking apps, "Fight BDS" and "BDS Myth Busters," aimed at countering BDS propaganda and raising awareness about the realities of the movement. The notable Hollywood icon and anti-BDS activist, Roseanne Barr, sponsors the app "BDS Myth Busters."
Additionally, Rabbi Schwartz holds the position of Vice President of Digital Marketing and serves as the Director of Energycite, a revolutionary technology in energy conservation. His involvement in this field highlights his commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.
Furthermore, Rabbi Schwartz has established the Torah Teen Palmach Center, a transformative initiative that trains teenagers to become future leaders in the spirit of the Palmach. Through this center, he imparts invaluable leadership skills and instills the values of courage, determination, and resilience in the next generation.