Captives Of Zion Poem by gershon hepner

CAPTIVES OF ZION


The captives of Zion are those who've been taken
as captives, by it captivated.
Desire for Zion they've never forsaken;
remembering it they become so elated
they think they are standing in Zion when they
are physically from it alas separated.
Captives to hope as well, each day they pray
to return to the place from which they have been gated.
It feels lonely without them just as they feel lonely
without it, and though God's help may be belated,
they feel sure it is waiting for them, and them only,
to be symbiotically emancipated.


This poem was written on the eve of the anniversary of my personal liberation from Camp Taft. It was inspired by an analysis of the Rabbi Yehuda Halevi's kina Tziyon Halo Tishali, analyzed by Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik z"l, edited by Rabbi Simon Posner. The Rav writes:


Zion, surely you will inquire after the well-being of your imprisoned ones. The paytan asks whether Zion is concerned with the well-being of her captives. It is noteworthy that they are described as the captives of Zion, not as the captives of the Romans or Babylonians. Indeed, the Jewish people are prisoners of the land. They love the land, are loyal to the land, and never want to be separated from the land. They are asirayikh, your captives. You, the land, have imprisoned them. No matter how difficult it will be for them, they will always try to return to you. Perhaps with a touch of irony, the paytan directs his question to the land: "Are you interested in the welfare of your captives? They are concerned with you. Are you concerned with them? "


As well as the well-being of those bound by longing. There is a different version of the text which reads asir tiqwah, bound by hope, which I believe is the correct version. Ta'awah means that the person has a desire to return to the land. asir tiqwah however, means that one can never surrender. No matter how bleak the situation and no matter how long the exile, one cannot give up hope. The prisoner of hope has faith that Zion will be rebuilt and that God will finally redeem Israel.

7/11/12 #10781