Leader of the labor party Shimon Peres (2L) and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (2R) seen during the 80th birthday celebration to Shimon Peres in the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem on September 21, 2003. Photo by Avi Ohayon/GPO/Flash90
Lee Diamond – The end of an era ?
The media in Israel can be so insensitive
Shimon Peres is still struggling for his life
And the media summarizes his life
As if it was the end of an era.
The greats are gone they tell us.
Peres is the last of the brave.
The last of the authors of the dream
Let us stop for a moment
And keep Shimon alive with us
For as long as we can
Lets see if his and the dreams of his era came true
At least some of them
They dreamed of a normal Jewish state
They dreamed of a new Jew.
They dreamed of a nation of strength
They dreamed of a Hebrew culture
They dreamed of creative Jews
Jews who were no longer self conscious of being different
They dreamed of a patriotic youth
Aware of their nation
And willing to serve it with passion
Willing to fight its wars and to search for wars end!
To smile in the face of adversity and to danceb at moments
Of peace .
It’s not the end of an era at all
It’s the fulfillment of the dreams
Of our dreamers, our founders, our patriots
Our great leaders.
Our youth live in their image
They are full of beauty
They are normal Jews
They are idealistic
They are modest
They too dream of a peace
And in Hebrew
And we forget sometimes that they are patriots
Never faltering in their conviction
To carry us in their shoulders.
Shimon: these are the heroes of Israel
It’s not the end if an era
It’s just the beginning.
Be proud and heal
Mr. President
