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Deborah S. Laufer's avatar

Ibn Gabirol is known for his exceptional lyrical poetry. Written mostly in Hebrew, they are unique in how they gain meter and imagery from Arabic, as well. His most well known poem is an extremely kabbalistic piyyut (liturgical poem) Keter Malchut - כתר מרכות (Kingdom’s Crown) often included in Yom Kippur machzorim / prayer books. This song “Atah Nimtzah” takes all the words from the third stanza of the poem.

The full poem can be found here: https://benyehuda.org/read/7116

כתר מלכות / שלמה אבן גבירול - פרויקט בן־יהודה

Here are the words to the third stanza:

אַתָּה נִמְצָא ­­– וְלֹא יַשִּׂיגְךָ שֵׁמַע אֹזֶן וְלֹא רְאוּת עָיִן / וְלֹא יִשְׁלֹט בְּךָ אֵיךְ וְלָמָּה וְאָיִן.

אַתָּה נִמְצָא – אֲבַל לְעַצְמֶךָ / וְאֵין לְאַחֵר עִמֶּךָ.

אַתָּה נִמְצָא ­– וּבְטֶרֶם הֱיוֹת כָּל‑זְמָן הָיִיתָ / וּבְלִי מָקוֹם חָנִיתָ.

אַתָּה נִמְצָא ­– וְסוֹדְךָ נֶעְלָם וּמִי יַשִּׂיגֶנּוּ? / עָמוֹק עָמוֹק מִי יִמְצְאֶנּוּ?

Here is a very rough google translation

You will be found - and the hearing of the ear and the sight of the eye will not overtake you / and neither the where nor why nor the eye will rule over you.

You are found - but for yourself / and there is no one else with you.

You are found - and before being for all time you were / and without a place to anchor.

You are found - and your secret is gone and who will find it? / Deep deep who will we find?

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Deborah S. Laufer's avatar

What a heartbreaking and harrowing experience. Thanks for bringing it to our attention. It is so important. Your publication goes far to counter hurtful coverage provided by the Washington Post that over a picture of mourning families from the the Druze Village of Majdal Shams, declares that Israel is seeking revenge.

Do you know of English subtitles to this exquisite song or a translation of the poem on which it is based? It would be much appreciated.

Mazal Tov on the birth of your new grand baby. May the joy she adds to your life grow exponentially.

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Ian Schorr's avatar

I’m commenting on the first part of the interview, as I just finished listening to the 2nd part.

Painful and powerful, both for the pain and the power of this woman.

I would suggest that ASAP the FULL interview be sent out as a link. There are those, mostly in galut, who cannot fully comprehend the human tragedies this one story represents.

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Deborah S. Laufer's avatar

I like this suggestion of the entire interview as a single unit. The impact should not be diluted. Additionally, it isn’t too long and it is well paced. Given how long the family suffered - and continues to do so - one should try to absorb the pain.

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S. Levin's avatar

M'za'azea: suggest - nervewracking.

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Deborah S. Laufer's avatar

Terrifying?

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