Praying for the Peace of Jerusalem
by Stella Barbut
 
"Do not say 'peace' when I have not sent you.
Yet everybody is praying for the peace of Jerusalem!
Which Jerusalem?
International? Christian? Muslim?
Judenrein?
Which version of peace?
International? Christian? Muslim?
Jews tolerated?

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
Whose peace?
International? Christian? Muslim?
But boycott Israel!
Blood libel Israel?
Accuse her of war crimes!
Try her in international courts
For the terrible 'sin' of defending herself!
But pray! pray! pray! For the peace of Jerusalem!

"When they shall say peace, suddenly..."
"Jerusalem, a burdensome stone..." poised...
"To break in pieces.."
"Jerusalem, a cup of trembling "
A trembling cup held in trembling Jewish hands
While myriad other greedy, grasping hands
Try to snatch the "cup of trembling"
Out of the trembling Jewish hands!
When "Jerusalem, the burdensome stone"
Has broken in pieces and swept away
These other greedy, grasping hands,
The word will go out
Say Peace! Pray Peace for Jerusalem!
               
Feel the benediction of Peace
My Beloved! My Jerusalem!
Forever Beloved!

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

Macaroon
by Julie C. Judes 
www.juliesfineart.com
 
I need to eat another macaroon,
Yes, it's way, way, way too soon,
I know I should wait until a bit later,
When it's the tail end of the seder.

But I can taste it, soft and chewy,
Tasting even better than chop suey,
All through the reading of the Haggadah,
I think to myself, "I've gotta, I've gotta!"

No one knows what's under the table,
Stacked on a plate so I am able,
To sneak one quickly from my lap,
And stuff it into my waiting trap. 

Yes, the gefilte fish is delicious,
The roast chicken highly nutritious,
The matzah ball soup is very good,
And I eat and smile as I know I should.

But nothing compares to the cookies I crave,
Although I eat plenty, and I rave and I rave,
I need a macaroon and I need it now,
You tell Bubbie, and there'll be a big row!

For more information visit www.juliesfineart.com

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

"Do yourselves a favor and listen... In her music there is delicacy, tenderness, and attention to the inner voice, the one that always knows before we do." - Maariv NRG

Nomi is very polished…The energy on stage at the Duhal Amphitheatre…[southern Tel Aviv] can light up the entire Ramat Gan [city north of Tel Aviv]."- Shai Lahav, Maariv, Weekend Magazine

"...the audience is riveted with wonder for she sets a different standard, higher than anything else known to date."
-Roni Maimon, Besheva

Sunday Night, October 4th, 2009
El HaLev Center on the roof – 2 Poalei Tzedek (Pierre Koenig 37), Talpiot, Jerusalem

The show will feature songs from Nomi's new CD "Like A Rushing Spring", some of her popular hits and some songs we all know.
After the show -- A pull-out-the-stops dance!

The band:
Keyboards: Orit Dukler, Guitars: Daniella Boss, Drums: Michal Rahat, Bass: Hadas Trainin

Special Guests – Two Rising Stars:
1. Avital Macales - a leading member of the "Raise Your Spirits" Theatre Company and star of the movie "Sandcastles."
2.Yael Gil - A young singer and conductor who has graced Israel's stages for years, as a backvocalist for Nomi and more recently in various projects. Yael holds a BA in voice from the Rubin Academy of Music and is in the midst of a Masters program in conducting.

Nomi's daughters, Ilana and Hadas Teplow will join her in a moving 3-part rendition of Steve Dropkin's "Oseh Shalom".

Tickets: 50 NIS Pre-Sale, 55/65 NIS students at the door.
To order tickets call: Avigail: 050-6415054

--
נעמי טפלו/Nomi Teplow
www.myspace.com/nomiteplow
www.facebook.com/NomiTeplow.Music
www.youtube.com/nomisong

HaKotel Sheli (My Wall)
by Shifra Hoffman  

At this special time of the High Holidays, when multitudes of people come to the Kotel Ma'aravi, I thought it would be propitious to send this poem.  Although it was written more than two decades ago, I believe it is eternally timely and relevant.  
 
     I am drawn to you, my wall
     Not just from sense of duty
     Nor truth to tell, by beauty...
    
    For should one gaze at you
          With only naked eye
    And not with love... as I
 
    Perhaps they see no more than
             Weathered stone...
    Surviving...all alone!
 
    Yet, I perceive beyond your hewn
                 Facade
     The anguished cries to G-d
 
      Which centuries of prejudice and hate
      Have brought within your gate.
 
     I see ensconced within your
        Crevices and seams
     My people's prayers and dreams
   
     That tenderly, you cherish and
                Embrace
      And time cannot erase!
 
      Then I rejoice, and feel an inner
               Glow
      For just as you defy the foe
      Of every generation
      So will the  jewish nation
     
             Ever proudly stand
                   In our G-d given land!
-------------
(c)1985) hoffmanshifra@gmail.com

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

Yom Kippur
by Sarah Feld (c)

a worm
in the court of the King -
how dare i stand
in Your presence?
how dare i assume
that i may stand?

a look within
reveals unfinished efforts
deficient attempts.
how can i approach You
with such inadequacy?
i wanted to do more,
be more
by now –
if not now, when???

lacking lucid perspective
i hover pathetically
in the abyss
between perception
and bewilderment –
failing to comprehend.

commendable deeds,
so few, sporadic.
i desperately
need to know
what should I do now?
and after?

In essence,
on this erev Yom Kippur
I stand before you,
devastated;
without understanding
After many years
of seeking wisdom
I don’t know what to do
but bring my lowliness
before You
and beg for mercy.

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