Prayer for the Fighters and Soldiers of Israel
by Edward Francisco Villa

Know that you are not alone
While on the battle field
When under the threat of death
Even if you are held captive
Know that your fate lies with your G-d and your people
For He is your Strength
Hope and Comfort.
Remember every morning
Your creator
and at night
His Faithfulness
Mighty and Strong
Courageous and Loyal
until the very end
That He is your Father
that will love you and keep you until the end.
Read and meditate
on His Torah
Your Promise given unto you
Read the Psalms 
of His beloved David
whom He forgave and always loved
Remember G-d's Laws
Given unto you by His Servant Moshe
Who interceded on your behalf and only saw the land...
Even when the enemies of Israel rejoice and jeer
you have The Almighty who loves you  dear...
When the world clamors for you to give up on your promise of life on The Land
You have your Father in Heaven that knows and does not keep His Love from you.
When a comrade falls
never forget his love for you and his people
Remember him in all the good he has done for you and do for him
valantly and courageously
in remembrance of his memory.
The Eternal of Yakkov is always with you
In Brotherhood shall you dwell
always remember  in faith and trust
your G-d who shall never relent in His love nor forget you,
Sons and Daughters of Israel
Know that you have one another
and that in your Father you shall always live.

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To submit your poem of Jewish and/or Israeli content email bbresky@israelnationalradio.com with the subject line: Poetry Submission.

I am Ethiopian with Jewish descent on my mother's side. I live in Norway. I am lecturer at various universities in Norway in the field of ethnic minorities. I wrote the attached poem which glorifies the Israeli heroes. I was motivated to write this poem as a tribute to Israeli heroes and my grand father who lived most of his life as a fugitive in Ethiopia and one of war heroes during the Ethio-Italian war (1935-1940). Many of the characters I used in the poem shows the harsh situations my Jewish ancestors have gone through and their resilience and heroism in the face of adversity. 
 
Leoul Mekonen
Bete Israel from Oslo
Norway

Tiger: The bold and the beautiful
by Leoul Mekonen

A message came to me in a deep sleep
I dreamt of a Zodiac animal
With mystical features and qualities
That has penetrated deep into my soul.

Then I remembered, the book of Wisdom
My forefathers’ treasure, the Talmud
That says a dream is like an unread letter
It must be interpreted!

Yes, I dreamt!

A living symbol of strength,
A magnificent creature,
Dressed in a yellow gold-coat
Full of power and vigour

Yes I dreamt, I saw!

The symbol of power and beauty
Yellow-coat striped in black
Beneath his embroidered ferocity
He is polite, calm and frank.

Concealing his tracks with his paws
Through dark and dense forest
The Tiger enters his stride with grace
In armour of knowledge and faith

Prowling in a world full of dangers
Peril, evil, malice and hazards
Suspiciousness is his trusted compass
To detect pitfalls and traps

Oh! Tiger, Tiger!

You are prudent and alert
Graceful yet noble in the jungle
One of a kind in an enigmatic forest
A courageous and gallant rebel

Oh! What a talent and beauty?
A magnetic personality
Wise men are attracted to you
Like bees to honey

Yes I dreamt and I saw Tiger!

What a noble creature?
Animal of regal quality
Symbol of life and death
An emblem of dignity

Yes, I dreamt!

Tiger is like a man of action,
Love for adventure is his passion
He aims high and pursues goals
Defying defeat and temptation

Yes, Tiger is a man of action!
The Sinai Commando on a mission
Who spots the enemy and ambushes alone
Under stars and a changing moon

Tiger is a decorated warrior
Adorned with an innate camouflage
He surprises those who cross his path
And encages them with undying courage

Oh Tiger!

What a magnificent creature
With a great leaping agility
Alert in the grassland or in the snow
For the sake of territorial integrity

What a grace? What a noble?
Tactical fighter in a jungle
Tracing his enemy and avenging alone
Overpowering from any angle

I believe in the Asian Lore!

Tiger lives between two worlds
Among the living and the dead
He visits graves to assure peace
For fallen heroes who have passed.

Tiger is often misunderstood!

He is not only a hunter
Tactician killer, matador
But also a vessel of libido
A flirtatious, sensual lover

Oh!

What a power and beauty?
Tiger is strikingly mystical
His agony emanates from his nature
So solitary, proud and territorial

Tiger is a person of multiple charms
Attractive, honoured and blessed
But solitude is the price he pays
For his loner attitude and pride

Tiger is a curious scientist
In his territory and habitat
His thirst for knowledge insatiable
His quest for insight is constant

Oh, Tiger

Who would refuse to accept?
Who would reject your philosophy?
The one that gives you honour
And your majestic identity

I have finally gotten the message, Tiger!

Why you face trials graciously
For you have long known the very fact
That there is no adversity without life
And no life without adversity!

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To submit your poem of Jewish and/or Israeli content email bbresky@israelnationalradio.com with the subject line: Poetry Submission.

Maoz Tzur
by Ian Heiss

Mighty Rock I sing your praise,
G-d my sure salvation.
Once again the Temple raise,
May we offer thanks as a nation.
As one we will be healed and freed,
From those who practice evil as a deed,
And joyously, an offering bring,
In our celebration.

Pharaoh did oppress my soul;
Forced labor in brick and mortar.
From those with hearts as black as coal,
We were given no quarter.
Then your right hand and wondrous signs
Crushed the Pharaoh's grand designs.
Your outstretched hand, seized his army,
And buried them beneath the sea.

To the Temple Mount you led me,
But I strayed and did forget thee.
Exiled to strange Babylon,
Jerusalem we wept upon.
G-d judged them, their king and priest,
As their host sat down to their feast,
Our Shepard led us back again,
To serve once more as upright men.

Then the evil Haman sought,
To hang me on his gallows,
Yet it was himself he caught,
And hung by he who hallows.
With his sons Haman was hung
Songs of praise to Mordechai were sung.
The Persian King gave signet ring,
That the Israelite could sing,

We broke off the Grecian Chain,
In the Maccabean fight.
What little oil that remained,
Increased to light the holy light.
It burned eight days instead of one,
It's light outshone the Grecian Sun
We endure still by G-d our trust.
While their men sleep in the dust.

Lord please shine your holy light,
And bring us Salvation.
For each suffering martyr,
Judge each guilty nation.
Long we wept a river,
Now your Jews deliver.
From heaven,Your seven Sages send,
Without hesitation.

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To submit your poem of Jewish and/or Israeli content email bbresky@israelnationalradio.com with the subject line: Poetry Submission.

Arutz 7's Hebrew web site has a great series of videos for Chanukah featuring modern cool Israeli musicians. Groovy, funky treatments of Sivivon Sov Sov Sov, and Al HaNissim are a great alterative to children's choirs. These songs are also in rotation on Israel National Radio's English langague live stream. 

To watch the videos click here: http://www.inn.co.il/TV/Cat.ashx/6

Here is the video listing:

* Mi Yimalel - Elan Damri & Alon Yaffe
* Banu Choshech Legaresh - A Groyse Metsie
* Maoz Tzur - Adi Ran
* Sivivon Sov Sov Sov - Para Aduma
* Maoz Tzur Breslov nigun - Chilik Frank
* Ner Li Ner Li - Yair Gadasi
* Yevanim Yevanim - Yehuda Glantz
* Al HaNIssim - Udi Davidi