Yom Hazikaron

Almost 60,000 people have given their lives to protect the rights to life and liberty of the Jewish people since the end of the exile. The safest time in all of Jewish history has been the last 63 years. The price for that safety is paid in blood.

And the land grows still, the red eye of the sky  slowly dimming over smoking frontiers

As the nation arises, Torn at heart but breathing, To receive its miracle, the only miracle

As the ceremony draws near,  it will rise, standing erect in the moonlight in terror and joy

When across from it will step out a youth and a lass and slowly march toward the nation

Dressed in battle gear, dirty, Shoes heavy with grime, they ascend the path quietly

To change garb, to wipe their brow
They have not yet found time. Still bone weary from days and from nights in the field

Full of endless fatigue and unrested,
Yet the dew of their youth. Is still seen on their head

Thus they stand at attention, giving no sign of life or death 


Then a nation in tears and amazement
will ask: "Who are you?"

And they will answer quietly, "We Are the silver platter on which the Jewish state was given."


Thus they will say and fall back in shadows
And the rest will be told In the chronicles of Israel

 - Nathan Alterman

Masada shall not fall again.