Rabbi Marc D. Rudolph

Today I want to share a poem with you by Israeli poet Natanel Ellinson. It was published in a weekly newsletter I receive from Israel called “Shabbat Shalom”. I discovered this newsletter on a visit to Israel in 2017, where a hard copy for the week was waiting for me on my seat at a synagogue I attended one Shabbat morning. I stuck it in my tallis bag and saved it for later. When I returned to the states, I looked at it closer and discovered I could receive it by email every week. Now it is part of my regular reading each Shabbat afternoon.

The poem is entitled “The Rescue of Noa Argamani”. Noa was kidnapped on October 7 during the Nova music festival as part of the Hamas attack and massacre in Israel. In March, 2024 Noa’s mother Liora, who was suffering from late-stage brain cancer, made a public plea to President Joe Biden to help secure Noa’s release. On June 8, 2024, after 8 months of captivity, Noa was rescued by the Israel Defense Forces from her Hamas captors in Central Gaza. She was able to see her mother, who died three weeks after Noa’s rescue.

The poet juxtaposes the rescue on Noa with the scene in this week’s Torah portion where Joseph reveals himself to his brothers. To gain a better appreciation of this poem, please read Genesis 45: 1-15. It also helps to have familiarity with the story of Joseph, sold into slavery by his jealous brothers.

The Rescue of Noa Argamani

So told the soldier who rescued her
“I was sitting by her side in the helicopter, I hugged her,
“And the first question she asked me was
“Is my mother still alive?”
We told her “Yes” and she asked again
“Are you certain?”
We answered “Yes, for this we came —
“To return you home.”

Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph
“Is my father still alive?”…….
He fell upon Benjamin his brother and cried.
He kissed all of his brothers and he cried on them
And afterwards his brothers spoke with him.

Ther journey of Joseph began with the hatred of brothers
Continued with him being taken into captivity
With brothers descending to Egypt to their brother
With a painful meeting among the brothers
And finally, the first question
After Joseph revealed himself to his brothers
“Is my father still alive?”
As if to say,
“We have but one father
“Why have we betrayed one another?”
Then hugs
Then weeping
And afterwards, renewed talk between the brothers:
And afterwards his brothers spoke with him.

"Is my father still alive?"
Asked Joseph.
"Is my mother still alive?"
Asked Noa.
As we are reminded
Of our shared parentage
Of our extended family. 
And behold.
Father lives.
Mother lives. 
Israel lives.