We recently received this moving poem from Florida educator Bracha Goffer:
Our Partisan Heroes
Holding On To Traditions
What gave them strength to resist?
Preserving pride, self-worth
Resolving not to surrender
To the last breath on earth
How did they safeguard their spirit?
What kept their spark, their drive?
Heads held high amidst evil
How did they last…stay alive?
Lost all loved and dear-ones
Robbed of all they possessed
They marched to their death…to the ovens…
But faith was never repressed…
Clinging to customs, traditions
Their soul they would not betray
Bodies tormented, shattered
Hearts in silence did pray
*
Unspeakable courage and daring
Ignited revolt with a passion
They joined underground forces
To strike at Nazi oppression
These were our Partisan heroes
Defiant, would not succumb
Resisting surrender, submission
Inspired decades to come
The remnants of staggering slaughter
Climbed-out of ashes and sand
An ancient vision pulled Homeward
To build their beloved Homeland
-Bracha Goffer
Bracha is a poet, composer, and educator, as well as an expert in Gematria and Hebrew. She teaches an ongoing Torah class every Tuesday night in Aventura, highlighting “Women spirituality and significance of Israel”.
