Three Angels
March 5, 2016In March 2008, a terrorist entered the Merkaz Harav Yeshiva library in Jerusalem and murdered eight unarmed young students who sat there studying Torah. One of them was Yochai Lifshitz, Hy”d, whose grandmother wrote this poem for his yahrzeit. Written in Hebrew, it has been translated here for the first time.
R. Jose son of R. Judah said: Two ministering angels accompany man on the eve of the Sabbath from the synagogue to his home, one good and one evil. And when he arrives home and finds the lamp burning, the table laid and the couch covered with a spread, the good angel exclaims, ‘May it be even thus on another Sabbath,’ and the evil angel unwillingly responds ‘amen’. But if not, the evil angel exclaims, ‘May it be even thus on another Sabbath” and the good angel unwillingly responds, ‘amen’. (Tractate Shabbat 119b).
Three angels accompany
The father to his home on Shabbat
One good and one evil
And the third one –
How tall he is!
And they find the candles lit
And the table set
And a line of pain etched
On the mother’s forehead.
The third one sees
A portrait of himself
On the wall
That has not changed
Since the hour he was called to his Maker –
And his only chair
Is mute in its emptiness
And his kiddush cup on the shelf
Is alone and ashamed.
As the father sings to the angels
The third one cries
“Bless me my father
I must leave, the time has come”
And the mother keens
“Bless me my son
When will you come once again?”
But the third angel answers
“On the Shabbat we do not mourn
For our consolation is at hand…”
And the parents respond
“May it be so”
And the good and evil angels
Have no choice but to say
Amen.
Similar posts
-
Dear World: I Don't Care
November 2, 2023By Avi Lewis I don’t care that you sympathize with Hamas I know you wouldn’t tolerate any of ...
-
Stand With Israel!
October 17, 2023Stand with Israel. Don't stand with the extreme terror organization Hamas. This is a war about huma...
-
Israel Thanks You For Your Support
October 13, 2023Israel extends its heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you, dear friends and supporters, f...
-
How Israel Benefits the United States
October 5, 2023The relationship between Israel and the United States has been a cornerstone of American foreign po...
-
How Israel Helps Its Arab Neighbors
September 27, 2023Introduction Israel, a country known for its rich history and complex geopolitical landscape, ha...
-
The Amazing Country of Israel
September 15, 2023Introduction Nestled in the heart of the Middle East, Israel is a nation with a remarkable histo...
-
Israel Safeguards The World From Terror Attacks
August 23, 2023Introduction In an era where terrorism poses a significant threat to global security, Israel sta...
-
Israel Helps The World With Water Recycling
August 10, 2023Introduction In a world grappling with the challenges of water scarcity and resource management,...
