Pass On, Pass On

Pass On Pass On…
by Izi Kharik

Pass on, pass on, you mournful grandfathers
with frightened beards covered with snow.
One last disaster one last woe.
You remained last witnesses –
Pass on, pass on you mournful grandfathers!

Woe and grief in your whole village
crushed in suffering and want.
For every starving bite of bread
so long ago you smiled and begged.-
Woe and grief in your whole village.

And now you appear terrified, bedraggled
with trembling knees that shake.
Who knows, who knows what will be
if these sons will remain in Jewish faith? –
You cannot stop the trembling of your knees.

And we are the ones who still call you
grandfathers
And know it will not be for very long
We rise up like first blare
like trumpet sound of coming joys,
we the ones who still call you grandfathers.

It’s good to look into mournful eyes.
when sorrow alienates you from the rest…
We -yes you and you- it is our fate
never to bow down again
Pass on, pass on you mournful eyes!-