1
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Nov. 29 Marked
as Peace Day
JERUSALEM (JTA) —
The 29th of November
marks the date when the
United Nations General
Assembly voted to establish
the state of Israel in 1947.
This year, however, Nov. 29
has gained two additional
meanings. In December
1977, a four-member UN
committee declared it "In-
ternational Day of Solidar-
ity With the Palestinian
People," as a means of
promoting the "legitimate
'ghts of the Palestinian
;ople and furthering the
Palestinian cause through-
out the world."
As a counter-effort, the
newly-established informa-
tion department of the
World Zionist Organization
proclaimed the same date
"Peace Day" in an attempt
to increase world Jewry's
awareness of the manner in
which the UN efforts are
circumventing both the
original meaning of Nov. 29
and the real Zionist yearn-
ing for peace.
The WZO has launched
an international informa-
tion campaign under the
slogan, "Peace is the Way
of Zionism," to try and
present Israel in its pro-
per light. The department
is centering its efforts on
the two focal points of
peace and Zionism in a
long line of activities
planned throughout the
world.
"We don't want to pro-
mote a clash with the UN
efforts for Palestine Day
head on," a WZO spokes-
man said. "Rather, we want
to utilize the subject of No-
vember 29 as a means of
stressing the diplomatic
processes, which, in the end
result, represent recogni-
tion of the Zionist move-
ment. Together with this,
we will expose the motiva-
tion which established
Palestine Day for what it
is."
Prize Ceremony
in New Location
WASHINGTON (JTA) —
Security considerations
have prompted the Norwe-
gian Nobel Committee to
shift the site of this year's
peace prize presentations
from the Oslo University
concert hall to a 13th Cen-
tury fortress.
The recipients, Premier
Menahem Begin of Israel
and President Anwar Sadat
of Egypt, will accept their
awards in ceremonies at
Akerhus Castle, built in
' 219 which overlooks Oslo's
,_aner
harbor. The medieval
_
stronghold is virtually im-
pregnable to gate crashers.
Revision Asked
NEW. YORK
The
American Jewish Commit-
tee, the American Jewish
Congress and the Anti-
Defamation League of Bnai ,
Brith have written a joint
letter to the U.S. Equal Em-
ployment Opportunity
Commission asking for re-
vised guidelines on reme-
dial and affirmative action
to eliminate job discrimina-
tion.
Friday, November 24, 1918 13
The Wall of Bitter Tears
Kotel Ma'aravi
Western Wall
Blocks of granite row on row
Built over 2,000 years ago
Here David played upon the harp
Here King Solomon sat in judgement
In this hallowed sacred land
Of Temple sanctified by the people's prayers
Relic now of times gone by -
Glory days of long ago.
Now it stands here worn and weary
Heavy laden with the sorrows
Piled upon it day by day
Here they come from all the corners
Torn and twisted with pain and sorrow
Engraved so deep upon their faces.
Thru the ages doth it stand here
Solid, constant, bare, foreboding
Symbol of a people's faith
As it looks down on its children
Swaying back and forth in rhythm
With the prayers that they bring here.
From the lands, from all the corners
Of the earth they do pilgrim
To this holy site, the wall of prayers
To pour out their hearts of sorrow
To the point of overflowing
Torment, anguish, torture bleeding
That have gathered in their being
From the time that they were smitten
Feet that stumble, torn and bleeding
Weighted with their heavy burdens
Tatooed numbers burnt into them
Like the cattle of the fields.
Now they come here moving forward
Forward to the Wall of Wailing
Seeking out a place of comfort
Just to touch this sacred emblem
For a shrine to give them solace
That has stood he•e'thru. the ages.
Oh great symbol of our glory
Look with kindness on your children
Listen to their ailing heart beat
From their torment as they speak out
Tortured bodies do they bring here.
Just to find in all their seeking
One just moment, just to rest here
And to pray in sweet contentment
Seeking out a healing prayer
-In this hallowed land of dreams.
Oh Israel hear thy people
As they sway here at the Wall
Listen to their mournful prayers
Prayers for the ONE and all
Give them succor, give them peace
Give them hope and then bestow
Love and kindness for the future
And gentle soothe their ever longing
Once again they are back home
In the land of their beginning.
In our history dark and somber
Came again a time of pain and bleeding
The sacred WALL taken from us
Stood a sentry with a bayonet
Pointed at our weary hearts
Blocked_ the road — the road to holy
There the WALL - no longer ours.
Then the sorrows grieving further
Piled upon them, higher, higher
Till the iniquity was shattered
By our soldiers of this land.
With their blood the path was opened
To the entrance of our lands
To the WALL of WAILING standing
With welcome hands outstretched
For the prayers that they bring here.
Before this mighty wall I stood
That I sought out in my main pilgrim
so revered and blessed was it
From the time of my first learning
Remnant of the Temple of Solomon
Sacred to a people's prayers.
Here the prayers are everlasting
As they bounce off the WALL
To ascend to God directly
From the souls who pray intensely
Swaying to and fro in rhythmic prayer.
All my life I had a yearning
In my heart the wish was burning
Year by year it grew and grew
Unabated, undilated to stand here
In this holy of the holies
Bringing special prayers from my heart
As I stepped to touch the WALL
Not a word could I just utter
Not a word came up from memory
I just stood and in awed reverie
Straight and rigid looking upward
Transformed into another being
That I did not know at all
My heart stood there beating wildly
As' I stood before my MAKER
As he judged me at the WALL
All my earthly feelings left me
In the sanctum of the holies
All the thoughts that now did shake me
All the histories of my people
Written on this sacred WALL
All the sorrow all the tumult
Our Father, Our King
Have mercy on us
Purify our hearts
Open up the gates of Heaven
to our prayers
Have mercy on us
Give us
a life of peace
a life of love
a life of understanding
Write us in the Book of Life
Have mercy on us
And on all the children of Israel
and on all the children of mankind
mercy.
Maurice Croll, M.D.
August, 1978
Gathered here throughout the ages
I could see upon the WALL
As I stood there, it was eerie
As I looked into the heavens
Then a shaft of light did find me
Beaming gently on my face
With the graces of the Lord
No earthly tune did play here
I just stood as in a trance
As my heart sang out in prayer
Prayer I could not say at all
Yet I stood here, here as in commune
As I reached toward the WALL
There I saw the dew drops glisten
Pushing forth from out the WALL
Giant tears of bitter, are they
Overwhelmed by all the sorrows
The Waling Wall cries out in union
With those prayers with them all.
Here they stood, my great forefathers
Praying here with all their souls
From among them which I knew not
Stood my fathers one and all.
Now I stood here in their footsteps
Praying as they did before
So my prayers going upward
Mingles in the heaven above.
Soon a trembling overtook me
As I looked up to the stars
Then I saw my father praying
In his ancient prayer shawl.
For a moment he did smile down
As my heart beat out with glee
Names "Reb Hillel" was my father •
Aptly named, a scholar he.
Was it just a mental fancy
Conjured up in my trance reverie
So it could be, flightful fancy
-
Yet it was very real to me.
-
Slowly, slowly, ever slowly
Did my body start to sway
In the rhythm of the prayers
That came singing up to speak.
•
Backward from the wall I stepped
With my heart beat now at ease
There I knew my prayers were coming
As they flowed out in a torrent
As my tears fell to the earthly
Land I loved these many years
"ERETZ YISRAEL".