It's been a year. Well, a secular year, but how am I supposed to mark a year to the day on Simchat Torah? Many many many events today, in-person and virtual. I don't know details for any of the events, because I'm not going. Because. Because.
But a week ago, I got a link to a new song from Koolulam, a group that I like, and I ended up watching the video in the bomb shelter with the kids during the recent Iran rockets. And it's exactly the sort of song I expected from Koolulam: poignant and uplifting and all that stuff, and it breaks my heart anyway.
So I watched it again today. Because.
Lyrics are at this link, and here's a translation:
"Start From the Beginning" (Original Naomi Shemer Title: "The Party is Over")
And sometimes
The celebration ends:
Lights out.
The trumpet says
Goodbye to the violins.
The middle watch meets the third--
Get up tomorrow morning and start from the beginning.
Get up tomorrow morning with a new song in your heart.
Sing it strong, sing it in pain.
Hear flutes in the free breeze,
And start from the beginning.
From the beginning,
Always create your world in the morning:
The earth, the grass and all of the lights.
Then from the dust, in the image of people--
Get up tomorrow morning and start from the beginning.
Get up tomorrow morning...
Also for you,
The celebration ends.
And at midnight,
The way home
Is hard for you to find.
From the darkness we ask,
Get up tomorrow morning and start from the beginning.
Get up tomorrow morning...
