Behind Every Name a Story: Miriam (Rot) Eshel - Whence Your Strength
Behind Every Name a Story is a project of the Museum's Registry of Holocaust Survivors. The BENAS Web project consists of essays describing survivors' experiences during the Holocaust
Miriam's husband, Jacob, has written many poems for her. This poem, created on the occasion of Miriam and Jacob's 50th wedding anniversary, celebrates Miriam's strength. In her own words:
I think that a poem (one of many) which my husband wrote for me on the occasion of our 50th wedding anniversary, very adequately sums up what I was trying to tell you. Here it is, freely translated into English.
Whence your strength
To rise from the ashes
And to life return again
Whence your strength
To go through hell
And God's image retain
Whence your strength
To survive all alone
And with pure soul remain
Whence your strength
To never forget
Yet start up again
You came out of distant lands
Born on the waves of sea
You came to our land
As whole as could be.
You left behind mother and father
Brothers and sisters and family
There they died with prayer on their lips
Because that was God's decree
You brought with you one little brother
Handsome and young in years
He alone survived together with you
But fell among the Fallen here
Thus, Miriam, old words came true
Seven times shall the righteous fall but rise
From loss and mourning and the goblet of tears
You found in yourself the unusual strength
To rebuild a new family tree
No wonder then that I repeat and ask
With ever rising admiration
Whence your strength
For a jubilee of years
To be my companion, to be at my side
Whence your strength
So to care for us all
Young and old alike
Whence your strength
With no rest or pause
To fill us all with so much love
With the jubilee trumpets sounding
I stand in prayer
Oh God, please preserve for ever and ever
The strength of Miriam