We Are Back Home

Blood flowed from her breast
“Mother” I cried as I gave her the last caress.
“Swear” she implored “You will return.”
I will. Nothing will stop me. My OATH shall ever burn.

Then the Roman pulled me from my Mother’s arm
And shackled me to the exile ship. Ripped off my Tefillin from my forearm.
As the slave ship sailed I saw her on the ground,
My Mother – the Romans raped and bound
My Father on top of Mount Zion fought to the death
“Jerusalem and the Land are Ours” was his last breath.

My sister is among the sex slaves
I will never see her again once I cross these ocean waves.
Oh! My G-d! Why? How? I am alone.
For my Holy Temple, my Torah, my Sages, my Family I shall forever mourn.
Oh! My G-d! How shall I go on?
There is no more light, no more sun.

Oh, Mother! I swear I shall come home
No matter the deserts, the rivers, the cities, the countries I must roam.
Chained to the exile ship
The Romans split my skin and bone with the whip.
“Don’t forget the prayers, the Torah and its way”
I repeated on my lips. “I am so weary. Yet I shall not go astray.”

My brothers, they scattered around the globe
Rome. Africa. India. Europe. Our Tallit is our binding robe.
Where are my brothers? When will I embrace them again?
I am broken. I am blind. I am insane.
Where are you, brother? Yemen? Morrocco? Spain? Japan? Portugal? Americas? Where?
My torment I cannot bear.

One decade. One Jubilee. One century. Another. And another. And another. One thousand years.
“Yes, Mother. I did not forget my OATH. Have no fears.
I shall return. I shall return.”

Another century. Another and another.
Crusades. Inquisition. Pogroms.
THEN! THEN! The Prayer for Zion penetrated the catacombs.

With my child in my hand, and my wife at my  side
We returned to plant, to rebuild, to make the forsaken and lamenting city again dance with groom and bride.

One century. Then another. And another.
2000 years in all – the Land is filling up with my Jewish sister and brother.

Then came Kristallnacht – FIRE
and GAS! EVIL swept and cremated ONE THIRD of my FAMILY with Holocaust pyres.

Today Nov 29, 1947, the exile will start to end.
Today May 14, 1948, the Jewish back will never again bend.
Sons and Daughters so young
answered the call when our Fate in the balance hung.

So brave. So heroic.
The OATH TO RETURN was on their tongue.
Defending the DREAM
to be HOME.
With their blood, limbs, and souls they did redeem.

And G-d cried.
His Children, their OATH – They did not lie.
THROUGH FIRE and WATER
THROUGH TANK and MORTAR
WE returned to Zion
To Roar To Roar as the Jewish Lion.

I kept my word, Mother. I am home. I am home.
Zionism broke the evil decrees of Rome.
We are HOME!

Oh! My G-D! You never abandoned me
And We shall never abandon THEE!