Yesterday was fear, but today is serenity
The Torah Image by iStock
Kaila Schusterman, age 13, is a student at Torah Day School of Atlanta. Image by Courtesy of Kaila Schusterman
Editor’s Note: The Forward’s Youth Writing Contest is asking middle and high school students to submit essays, short stories and poems on the topic “What It Means To Be Free.” We’re still accepting entries at essays@forward.com — you can find the entry guidelines here.The deadline is Friday, May 1.
Today, we’re proud to publish this poem by 13-year-old Kaila Schusterman from Torah Day School of Atlanta. We’ll be publishing more exciting new voices soon. You can find some of them here.
Long ago
In a place cold and harsh
Jewish boys huddled together underground
Drawing on each other’s strength
And
The ever burning light of Torah
They hid because they were persecuted
The KGB walked around
In their shiny boots
Sniffing out wrongdoers
The boys hid and learnt with their teachers
Torah and Talmud
Gemora and Gematria
If they were caught,
It was prison for them
Or death
Why?
Because they were practicing their religion
And speaking to G-d
Now,
Nearly 100 years later
I am my great-grandfather’s granddaughter
And I live in America
Where religion is embraced
I go to a Jewish school
With Jewish friends
And Jewish teachers
And Jewish studies
And Jewish culture
I live in a Jewish home
With Jewish parents
And Jewish siblings
And Jewish food
And Jewish tradition
And I do it all
Without the fear of persecution
Freedom means to not be tied down
Constrained
It means to be able
To spread your wings
And fly
I am not held back
From doing what I love best
My family and I
Do not celebrate Pesach
In a dark cellar
Hushed and rushed
We celebrate in our beautifully decked dining room
And sing the songs
Our family has been singing for centuries
A century ago
They were sung
Quietly and sadly
But we sing them with joy!
And pride
Because freedom is being allowed
To express yourself
And serve G-d
Without the fear
Of persecution
I don’t live in Fear’s ugly shadow
Like my ancestors did
I bask in Serenity’s shade
And enjoy
My
Jewish life
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