| 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 father’s 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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