Rabbi Susan Elizabeth Lippe

I've posted this poem before. Unfortunately, it never ceases to be relevant. "First They Came," by Pastor Martin Niemöller

First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me

First They Came - by Pastor Martin Niemöller - Holocaust Memorial Day Trust Download a copy of First They Came by Pastor Martin Niemöller First they came for the Communists And I did not speak out Because I was not a Communist Then they came for the Socialists And I did not speak out Because I was not a Socialist Then they came for the trade unionists And I […]

Thanks to Rabbi Neil Blumofe for reading me this poem, by Rachel Goldberg-Polin, Hersh's mom.

"One Tiny Seed"
There is a lullaby that says your mother will cry a thousand tears before you grow to be a man.
I have cried a million tears in the last 67 days.
We all have.
And I know that way over there
there’s another woman
who looks just like me
because we are all so very similar
and she has also been crying.
All those tears, a sea of tears
they all taste the same.
Can we take them
gather them up,
remove the salt
and pour them over our desert of despair
and plant one tiny seed.
A seed wrapped in fear,
trauma, pain,
war and hope
and see what grows?
Could it be
that this woman
so very like me
that she and I could be sitting together in 50 years
laughing without teeth
because we have drunk so much sweet tea together
and now we are so very old
and our faces are creased
like worn-out brown paper bags.
And our sons
have their own grandchildren
and our sons have long lives
One of them without an arm
But who needs two arms anyway?
Is it all a dream?
A fantasy? A prophecy?
One tiny seed.

'One Tiny Seed' — A hostage's mother penned a poem for 'a woman in Gaza' Rachel Goldberg, whose son Hersh Goldberg-Polin is being held by Hamas, delivered this poem before the UN.

Solemn Reminder: My love for Israelis doesn't shrink because my heart breaks for the people of Gaza. I pray for peace and safety, health and home for EVERYONE.
I also am trying help the folks in my own city/neighborhood.
Also, I believe that working together is the only way towards peace.



Yes, I focus most of my attention, love, and information sharing on/for my Israeli friends and family. Also, I share organizations that focus on partnership.
Please check out:

World Central Kitchen