Wanted: Your Jewish / Israeli Poetry!

The Israel Beat Jewish Music Podcast will once again feature listener submitted poetry for the 3 Weeks period. Please email your poems of Jewish and / or Israeli content to bbresky@israelnationalradio.com with the subject line: Poetry Submission. If we like it, you will have the opportunity to read your poem live on the air. "The Beat with Ben Bresky" airs live every Tuesday at 5pm Israel time on Israel National Radio and is available as a podcast. For archives click here: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Radio/Author.aspx/1180

Poetry Submission: Svietka Ora - Fallen Kingdom

Fallen Kingdom
by Svietka Ora
http://www.heder21.org

After signing of a “war” treaty Oct.16,1993

Sitting alone
On top a Judean mountain,
Looking down and beyond,
Feeling like an ancient queen,
Loving the kingdom-
She is about to loose.
Looking up
To the calmness of the sky,
Touching the stars as they stare back,
Bleeding like an ancient warrior,
Loving the country-
He just lost in the battle.
Standing un-sturdy
In the dune sands of a dream,
Grabbing the winds of a loss,
Crying like an ancient people;
Loving the land
They sold to the butcher,
Pound by pound-
Never to nurture it again.

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He Has Giveth (Yom Ha’Zikaron)
by Svietka Ora
http://www.heder21.org

He gave you fluffy clouds
     As reminder of my hugs.
He gave you big trees
      To conceal yourself from the enemy.
He gave you cold streams to bath in
      After a knight’s long march.
He gave you rain
      To mix in with your tears.
He gave you smiles of children
      To remember in combat.

He gave you the moon and the stars
      To guide you in your battle.
He gave you the smell of earth
      As a reminder of your roots.
He gave you a power of choice
      As in which unit you shall serve.
He gave you a nation
      To belong to and fight for.
He gave you a country
      To die for.
I am not Him!
I can only give you
Yellow flowers
For your grave.

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If you would like to submit your poetry of Jewish and / or Israeli content, email bbresky@israelnationalradio.com

Tzfat Klezmer Festival 2009

The annual Tzfat Klezmer Festival will be held this year August 10th - August 12th 2009. Although I don't have a complete schedule yet, I just recieved the program for the Beirav Synaogue performances which will include, as usual Israel National Radio's own Binyamin Shmuel Nakonechny.

Songs andf stories of Shlomo Calebach - Beirav in Gan Ha'ir Park

Monday: Aaron Razel, Rabbi Eyal Ya'akobovitch, Binyamin Steinberg
Tuesday: Yehudah Katz of Reva L'Sheva, Shlomo Katz, Meir Glazer
Wednesday: Chaim Dovid, Ben-Zion Solomon, Binyamin Nakonechny

Also performing will be Udi Davidi, Adi Ran, and of course, countless klezmer musicians from around the world.

For more info visit www.beirav.org
http://www.safed.co.il/klezmer-festival-safed.html
And our photo essay from a previous year: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/107187