Thinking about the attack by Hamas on Israel, Saturday, I went into my files and pulled out a poem written about a visit to the Armory at Latrun during my 2006 pilgrimage to Israel. The photo below is of an Israeli soldier at the Wall of Names Memorial of fallen soldiers.
AT THE ARMORY ON THE SABBATH DAY
Latrun, Israel—2006
We visit the
Museum of the Armory in Latrun
observe
Merkava Tanks, the best in the world
solid and
serious—
built to
encase Israeli soldiers
in a womb of
steel
built to show
the enemy who’s boss
and we see
names, row after row of names
etched on a
long dark wall
exactly 4,498
of them—
the names of
soldiers, mostly young
killed in
Israel’s wars
Our guide
points to one, newly engraved
It is his
friend, Oz
who died a
few months ago
Oz, who
fought at his side
in the war
against Hezbollah and Lebanon
the war we
watched on our American TVs in June
I talk with
three young soldiers holding M15s
ask if I may
photograph them
They politely
decline—
It is the
Sabbath
One of them
has carefully
knotted tzitzit[1]
protruding
from his olive drabs
Maude Carolan
Pych
[1] Tzitzit
are the specially knotted fringes, attached to the four corners of the tallit
(prayer shawl), worn by observant Jews.
"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee."
Psalm 122:6 KJV
by Maude Carolan Pych
is available online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, CBD, etc.
maudecarolanpych.net
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