Lament over the Jews of Kremzir

Joseph Lipman Ashkenazi

1648

So since we are in the midst of writing a song,
We will write also about the destruction of the holy community of Kremzir,
Even though this happened five years before,
In the year 1643, on the 9th of Tammuz, its beautiful form was destroyed.
The terrible hour occurred on Erev Shabbes
Sixteen souls were murdered, many wounded,
Many imprisoned, their health broken,
The beloved community was burned to the ground.
Torstenson the Swede, Captain General,
Made hearts miserable everywhere,
Women fell to their deaths in the mikveh,
Our holy rabbis and teachers Rav Mordechai and Rav Yitzhak Cohen were killed at the same moment.
I cannot stop my grief,
We can wash our faces in tears,
Many became wanderers, not knowing where to turn,
Apart from to the almighty Lord.
Oh God! See how we were forced,
The holy martyrs murdered with abnormal deaths,
Beaten, wounded, put in chains,
Let there be an end to this; it is vital.
Look, beloved fathers, concern yourselves with the fate of your children,
Your faithful and righteous are suffering greatly,
Comfort us; we have already been struck twice,
Therefore forgive the others for their sins.
Come one and all, with Moshe Rabbenu, to beg God,
That we will never again come to disgrace and humiliation,
Let not the blood of martyrs cover the earth,
Until He takes revenge before our very eyes.
He will break all those that stood against us,
With His clothes of revenge He will exact vengeance,
He will give them a drink from the cup of sorrows,
But your sins He will forgive, He will promise.
Cease from crying, rise up from the ground,
Grieve not; it will soon be better,
Elijah the prophet is coming, riding upon flaming horses,
He will deal with our enemies severely.
He will waken the Messiah, Your beloved servant,
Wipe out the name of Amalek and enemies,
Take revenge on our enemies without sword or stick,
Then he will punish them at his discretion.
Consolations and good news will we see,
All those that hope and trust in God,
To Jerusalem men and women will bring peace offerings,
In the Temple that the Holy One, blessed be He, will build Himself.
We will pronounce amen with our whole mouth,
For one brings a gift to our dispersed brothers,
All our sorrows and pain will be forgotten,
Sackcloth will we wear no longer, only great happiness.
Amen.

Translated by
Rebecca
Wolpe
.

Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 5.

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