The Day The Torah Was Molested - By Naomi
The Day The Torah Was Molested
© (2004) By Naomi
She stands in shul shabbos
After years of absence
Facing the open ark
Doors spread wide
Like angels wings
The people and the room
Slowly disappear
All that remain are the ark and the voices.
The ark and praying voices.
Suddenly She is a little
Standing in her grandfather’s yeshiva
Watching from the doorway of the women’s section
because she isn’t allowed in
The people in the yeshiva slowly disappear
All that remain are the ark and voices
The ark and screaming voices
The Torah watches in horror
The Torah hears in sorrow
the little s silent cries
As her grandfather takes her into
The bathroom and undresses.
As The bochorim (students)
Sneak her upstairs
And tear her soul to pieces
The Torah sees it all
Then the yeshiva is abandoned
Nothing remains but a mound of crushed wood
And piles of torn holy books
cascading down broken stairs
The Torah is shipped away
Her memories buried in its parchment
This week in the synagogue
Miles and years away
She sees the Torah again and Remembers
What it witnessed
She is so very angry
So badly hurt
I thought you were protective of your people
Why did you stand by silently
And watch what was done to me
I’ve been waiting for you,
The Torah answers
It was I
The same Torah who lives in this synagogue today
I was there in that Yeshiva
From the time you were born
and I saw it all.
As I am Truth
I swear you will not be forgotten
I will BEAR WITNESS.
Wrap yourself in me and I’ll hold you
© (2004) By Naomi
She stands in shul shabbos
After years of absence
Facing the open ark
Doors spread wide
Like angels wings
The people and the room
Slowly disappear
All that remain are the ark and the voices.
The ark and praying voices.
Suddenly She is a little
Standing in her grandfather’s yeshiva
Watching from the doorway of the women’s section
because she isn’t allowed in
The people in the yeshiva slowly disappear
All that remain are the ark and voices
The ark and screaming voices
The Torah watches in horror
The Torah hears in sorrow
the little s silent cries
As her grandfather takes her into
The bathroom and undresses.
As The bochorim (students)
Sneak her upstairs
And tear her soul to pieces
The Torah sees it all
Then the yeshiva is abandoned
Nothing remains but a mound of crushed wood
And piles of torn holy books
cascading down broken stairs
The Torah is shipped away
Her memories buried in its parchment
This week in the synagogue
Miles and years away
She sees the Torah again and Remembers
What it witnessed
She is so very angry
So badly hurt
I thought you were protective of your people
Why did you stand by silently
And watch what was done to me
I’ve been waiting for you,
The Torah answers
It was I
The same Torah who lives in this synagogue today
I was there in that Yeshiva
From the time you were born
and I saw it all.
As I am Truth
I swear you will not be forgotten
I will BEAR WITNESS.
Wrap yourself in me and I’ll hold you
posted by Jewish Survivors at Friday, January 21, 2005
9 Comments:
Naomi, this poem is very touching. Thanks for sharing.
This is such an important and powerful poem. Naomi thanks so much for sharing it. I definately can relate.
Line number 10 should read: Suddenly she is a little . Thanks for posting this. Naomi
Naomi,
you are a gifted and talented woman. Your words are powerful and important. I wish all survivors would begin to speak out as you have. The more voices that join together the more powerful the impact will be to insure that change WILL happen.
Thank you for sharing your poetry with us.
Naomi's moving poem reminds us of the power that artistic expression has in aiding healing. It is so difficult to reconnect to Torah when the Torah itself is linked to the abuser. Humans were created with the ability to use their creativity to transform their pain and this has spiritual significance.
A poerful work.
Naomi, keep the words coming and keep the voice loud and clear as you have in this poem. May healing envelope you and may you know the compassion you deserved then and still do now. I hope that all the silencers of the world will read and let in and behold.
Naomi, you put words to what I always felt. Thank you!
This is a very moving poem, thank you Naomi.
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