Words and Songs

Dear Friends,

This Passover week, with much happening in our world, I wanted to share a few creative pieces that I’ve found particularly moving and meaningful. For Passover, I have included links to two songs that have added to my enjoyment of the holiday. And, this week with such focus on the Derek Chauvin trial, I’ve included a poem by Yehudah Amichai that I have always appreciated.

On Passover
I hope that you are having a wonderful Passover and have found time to enjoy family and friends this holiday season. I have two links that I want to share with new videos made for this Passover. I enjoyed both tremendously and hope that you do, too.
Cartoon Musical Video (song written by one of my classmates and colleagues): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWX997XmmfY
Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra Musical Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sseu0wJLP0Y
Enjoy the last few days of the holiday!

On the Derek Chauvin Trial
Like many, I have been following Derek Chavin’s trial for the murder of George Floyd. I originally was drawn to the trial out of deep concern about the incident and attempt to better understand the motivation such a senseless, brutal killing. What has struck me the most, though, is the witness testimony and how deeply the attack impacted each of the bystanders. George Floyd lost his life that day, but each of the witnesses lost a part of themselves. The witness testimony reminded me of one of my favorite poems by Yehudah Amichai, uncrowned poet laureate of Israel. I have included the poem below.

Have a peaceful Shabbat and joyful end to Passover.

Rabbi Debbie Cohen


The Diameter of the Bomb
The diameter of the bomb was thirty centimeters
and the diameter of its effective
range – about seven meters.
And in it four dead and eleven wounded.
And around them in a greater circle
of pain and time are scattered
two hospitals and one cemetery.
But the young woman who was
buried where she came from
over a hundred kilometres away
enlarges the circle greatly.
And the lone man who weeps over her death
in a far corner of a distant country
includes the whole world in the circle.
And I won’t speak at all about the crying of orphans
that reaches to the seat of God
and from there onward, making
the circle without end and without God.

(Translated from the Hebrew by Yehuda Amichai and Ted Hughes.)