Finding Courage Through the Ages On April 19th, 1943, the eve of Passover, the Jews of the Warsaw Ghetto rose up against the German army. Written by Hirsh Glik and set to the music of Soviet composer Dmitry Pokrass, “Zog Nit Keynmol” (Never Say) was inspired by the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. It was the official hymn of the Vilna Partisan Fighters and is often referred to as “Partisan Song” or “Hymn of the Partisans.” On this Passover, let us draw inspiration and strength from their courageous fight.
Zog Nit Keynmol (Never Say) Hirsh Glik
Zog nit keyn mol az du geyst dem letsn veg, Khotsh himlen blayene farshteln bloye teg; Kumen vet nokh undzer oysgebenkte sho, S'vet a poyk ton undzer trot – mir zenen do! Fun grinem palmen-land biz vaytn land fun shney, Mir kumen on mit undzer payn, mit undzer vey, Un vu gefaln s'iz a shprots fun undzer blut, Shprotsn vet dort undzer gvure undzer mut. S'vet di morgn-zun bagildn undz dem haynt, Un der nekhtn vet farshvindn mitn faynt, Nor oyb farzamen vet di zun un der kayor- Vi a parol zol geyn dos lid fun dor tsu dor. Dos lid geshribn iz mit blut un nit mit blay, S'iz nit keyn lidl fun a foygl af der fray, Dos hot a folk tsvishn falndike vent Dos lid gezungen mit naganes in di hent. To zog nit keyn mol az du geyst dem letsn veg, Khotsh himlen blayene farshteln bloye teg; Kumen vet nokh undzer oysgebenkte sho, S'vet a poyk ton undzer trot – mir zenen do!
Never say this is the final road for you, Though leadened skies may cover over days of blue. As the hour that we longed for is so near, Our step beats out the message – we are here! From lands so green with palms to lands all white with snow, We shall be coming with our anguish and our woe, And where a spurt of our blood fell on the earth, There our courage and our spirit have rebirth. The early morning sun will brighten our day, And yesterday with our foe will fade away But if the sun delays and in the east remains – This song as password generations must maintain. This song was written with our blood and not with lead, It’s not a little tune that birds sing overhead. This song a people sang amid collapsing walls, With grenades in hand they heeded to the call. Therefore never say this is the final road for you, Though leadened skies may cover over days of blue. As the hour that we longed for is so near, Our step beats out the message – we are here!
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