Song of Defiance

Rabbi Benzion Milecki - Shabbat Mishpatim 5767

Body It is hard for us, living in this wonderful country, to even begin to understand the suffering of our people in the not too distant past. Lately, you have heard of the tremendous self-sacrifice endured by the Rebbetzen's grandparents as they ensured that their children would remain fully committed Jews in the darkest period of Soviet persecution.

Melody, "the pen of the heart", often reveals innermost emotions, and Bobbe Maryasha's husband, Elchonon used the medium of song to express his inner fire for Torah and Mitzvot. He and his friends composed a song that spoke of the hardships endured by observant Jews in Soviet Russia.

Reb Elchonon taught this song to his small children. "I can't write down the words for you," he said. "It is too dangerous. Instead, I want you to all commit the song to memory."

Reb Elchonon's children gained great strength from the song's message, and taught it to their friends. It is because of the manner in which they educated their children and the deep feelings that they implanted in them, that the Bobbe and Zeida produced not only 733 Jewish descendents, but 733 committed and observant Jews. And this at a time when as a result of the persecution and assimilation, most Jewish families were having fewer and less committed children.

The songs that we teach our children today may be different - they should most certainly be more cheerful. But the message of Jewish pride and resilience, the message of commitment to Torah, is perhaps more relevant today than it once was.

This is a free translation of the words of the song.

Sleep my child, my precious darling.
Close your eyes in peace.
And I will tell you in the meantime,
Who you are my child.
And I will tell you in the meantime,
Who you are my child.

Remember, child, you are a wanderer,
Among the people of the world.
Remember, child, you are a sufferer,
And that you are a Jew.
Remember, child, you are a sufferer,
And that you are a Jew.

Remember your G-d, your holy Torah,
Your Mother - never ever forget.
And if the sufferings are many,
Suffer proudly my child,
And if the sufferings are many,
Suffer proudly my child.

And if they mock and laugh at you
Saying - "Jew move on fast!"
Tell them you are not afraid,
Because you are a Jew.
Tell them You are not afraid,
Because You are a Jew

Remember your G-d, your holy Torah
Your Mother - never ever forget.
And if the sufferings are too many,
Suffer to the end.
And if the sufferings are too many,
Suffer to the end.
here