We came to the synagogue to pray,
At home, it seems, sleep no longer stays.
To the capital of Flanders we have come—
Antwerp, Antwerp, where there is no war.
Soldiers met us at every gate,
Where many mitzvot I could still fulfill,
And spend Yom Kippur in repentance,
Fasting and praying in hope and longing.
Why do I need soldiers at every gate?
My protection is the Lord Himself, Tzevaot,
And the heavenly host of angels with me—
I need not stand behind a soldier’s back.
Yet all of Antwerp is filled with the soldier,
A combat soldier, a soldier with a gun,
He has come to guard the Jewish people—
Why? When the Heavenly One Himself keeps watch?
12.09.2026
The Hague, Abarbanel
Jom Kipoer 5787. Antwerpen like in a War
© Copyright: Ариель Абарбанель, 2026
Свидетельство о публикации №126092300218
Свидетельство о публикации №126092300218
Рецензии