Birkhas Kohanim at the River Danube1 min read
A poetic tribute to the 20,000 victims of the Danube River massacre of December 1944 – January 1945. Yehi zichram baruch. Hashem yinkom damam.
They leave their shoes
At the River Danube
And the gates of an Altar
called Auschwitz
The Chazzan’s Voice
It echoes
Along the banks
Of a raging river
It sings softly, urgently
“R’tzei”
That’s the sign
They must ascend
They mustn’t delay
“Koh sevarchun es b’nei Yisrael”
Six Million priests
Draped in yellowed cloth
Marked with barbed-wire stripes
Step toward the Kohen’s platform
To “duchen” one last time
Barefoot on the riverbank
Hallowed ground
They chant the prayer with eyes ablaze
The age-old tune carried by the mournful wind
Through the deathly silence
“Yevorechecha”
The world stands still
“Hashem”
The heavens shudder
“V’yishmerecha”
The guns release their wrath
Bodies swept away
Those Kohanim yet stand
Barefoot at “R’tzei”
Hands ever raised
Eyes ever ablaze
Compelled from within
To face a murderous congregation
And recite Birkhas Kohanim
Their shoes remain
Just where they left them
As does their blessing
As does their gift
Our generation’s “Modim”
Is built on the shoulders of
Their final “R’tzei”
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R’ Yaakov Klein is the founder of the Lost Princess Initiative, an author, musician, and lecturer devoted to sharing the inner light of Torah through his books, music, and lectures.