Joseph Friedlander, comp. The Standard Book of Jewish Verse. 1917. | | During the Crusades (They seized our holy congregations) | By Ezra Ben Tanhum |
| THEY seized our holy congregations, | |
And sent among them fire, murder! | |
The heroes all, Thy true adorers, | |
Together met in convocation. | |
They spared no more their offspring, | 5 |
Thy faith alone they honored. | |
The great and small, together | |
With mothers babes, were slaughtered | |
Like offerings at the festive season. | |
They shouted out, Remove your horrors, | 10 |
Not them, but death we freely follow! | |
And from the homes resounded wailing; | |
And in the streets the sword made havoc. | |
O give me death! the son entreated; | |
This filled the fathers heart with gladness, | 15 |
As though he went to joyous nuptials. | |
The loving hand had hushed all sorrows, | |
And from distress it brought deliverance; | |
It led the friend to blissful slumber. | | | |
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