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“We Shall Outlive Them!”

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"We Shall Outlive Them!"

The Jews, singing and dancing ecstatically, were swept by the flood of their emotions and danced on and on. They would pay dearly later, but for that moment they had defied their oppressors.

Topics:

Chosen People, Jewish Survival, Antisemitism, Holocaust

Throughout the centuries, we have had many oppressors and tormentors. Nations who sought to destroy us rose to prominence and fell into oblivion.

But by you and I being here today, by each of us living our lives as Jews, as the Jewish people, we defy all those who seek to destroy us.

Our being here today is a living testimony to the song of our exile and, ultimately, the song of our redemption: “We shall outlive them!”

By Chana Weisberg

Chana Weisberg is the editor of TheJewishWoman.org. She lectures internationally on issues relating to women, relationships, meaning, self-esteem and the Jewish soul. She is the author of six books. Her latest book, Shabbat Delights, is a two-volume series on the weekly Torah portion.

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16 Comments

Melina Bentes Brazil July 2, 2015

I'm jewish and I'm always touched by things related to the Holocaust. I grew up learning by this terrible things we had to pass through at those times just because of who we were,and my father was the one who never let this get away from my mind. He teached me that I must be proud of who I am. Even having converted when as a kid,we are both very connected to our people and our religion,he's Jewish,and he alawys supported me when I started to become more religious,and when I told him I was going to make aliah to join in the IDF as a Lone Soldier. I will do this for him,to protect him,and my entire family,to protect my people,and to never let things like this happen again,I would do anything to protect our people and our Jewish nation,and I want to make him proud by showing him that there's nothing that can be between me and my people or me and my religion. Being Jewish is the thing I'm most proud about myself,and this is never going to change! May G-d bless and protect us all. Reply

Dr. Harry Hamburger Miami, Fl March 30, 2011

Dancing after the fighting I forgot to mention earlier, that the dancing, music, and Song of the Sea come after the Egyptians were swallowed up in pursuit of Moses and the Israelites. G-d helps those who help themselves, even if it means lifting only one of your fingers, you have to try. When someone surrounds your land, or comes to your home to kill you, you do not dance and sing in defiance. You do not ignore them, go back to the synagogue, and then carry on with your business as usual. Rather you repent, pray, fast, and then fight. After the victory with G-d's help, then you dance and sing to Him! We must never allow ourselves to be put in a situation similar to Germany again, and do whatever is necessary to defend ourselves, and then sing a song of victory! Reply

Anonymous USA March 22, 2011

Farginna- exchange between MsAmitai/anonymous Farginna to me means to not let any anomosity settle between myself and someone I find oppressive or abusive. I never ask the price or cost, because it is what it is. However, that does NOT mean I will allow the person to continue to do to me or others what they wish to do. I act without vengeance, but at the perfect moment and with the grace of Hashem, in the perfect way.

I act only when inspired by the light but have a cognitive awareness of what someone does that is not right. I keep my silence and in that silence, prior to action, it is the greatest mitzvah because I can control myself, until the Great One inspires me to action. Reply

Anonymous August 5, 2009

To Ms. Amitai
I wish to G-d Almighty that I had not married a non-Jew, but I did. He drank and smoked and taught the kids to do the same. I'm fighting EVERY DAY to get my kids back on track, and I pray EVERY DAY that they quit smoking and drinking. I've taken it upon myself to say 50 chapters of Psalm each day. Psalm, and getting the heck out of that house are your only means of survival.
My non-Jewish husband died 7 1/2 years after I won a legal separation from him.
You need to learn to love your father, but from a distance. My dad was Jewish and wasn't thrilled when I started keeping Shabbos and covering my hair, but he eventually got over it. YOU have to get over the fact that your dad may never be the dad you want or need. Make a life for yourself, but don't forget to love your dad all the same. Reply

Ms. Ezza Amitai August 5, 2009

Ani Maamin When will there be a time when the oppressors fall away completely?

My father is Non-Jewish, and the more observant I become, the more hateful his actions towards me. It is very frightening and bereaving when the oppressor is one of your own family. How I wish my mother had married Jewish; EVERYTHING would have turned out differently. My father hates my mother and me so much, because our lives are devoted to G-d. Must the price of serving and loving Him always be so high?

G-d bless all the souls who have paid with suffering, and with their very lives, to bring G-d's beautiful wisdom safely through time to us now, thank G-d.

We shall outlive them. We have Torah! We have G-d! Reply

Kevin Gilad Benyamin Smith Lawrenceville, NJ, USA July 22, 2009

I chose to become a Jew. One of the reasons was because I felt compelled to be part of a people who refused to be extinguished. We HAVE outlived them, and that has made "them" furious for 3000 years. Reply

Ellyn Ocala, FL July 22, 2009

Never Forget This was so moving for me. I am Jewish and became very emotional over this. I do every time I see things like this. I do not know if I had family that was taken during this horrific time. But I feel everything. Our bonds are so strong and will to survive. This must always be. The world will see that they must love the Jews. We are everlasting. Reply

Richard BonneyLake, United States July 21, 2009

Just A dream I remember a dream after my seizures that were somewhat similar. Although it wasn't Jewish males singing,which I hope G-d could help rest their souls.It was Young Jewish women and their mothers and grandmothers humming in a huge house.As I remember and this was about May 2003 so it was awhile ago .I remember a young Jewish girl waving out the window at me as the glow of light began to get brighter and consume everything inside .I still carry that one simple essence of memory,that fraction of meaning that talks to the Oneness.For you is the only way life lives on. Reply

Mrs. Chana Weisberg July 21, 2009

Link to Ani Maamin Song Thank you for all your positive comments.

Here is the link to the beautiful song. Reply

Judy Resnick Far Rockaway, NY July 21, 2009

Thank You to Non-Jew Thank you to Anonymous from Atlanta, Georgia for your kind words as a non-Jew with respect and love for the Jewish people. Certainly Black people in America went through oppression and savage mistreatment at the hands of the KKK and other haters (lynchings, bombings and similar atrocities). The powerful Civil Rights anthem, "We Shall Overcome" is very close in meaning to the European Jewish song, "We Shall Outlive Them." G-d bless and please always keep your good wishes for the Jewish people. Reply

Anonymous Atlanta, Georgia July 21, 2009

Non-Jew view on your post. Dear Natasha,

I am black, but have a great love and respect for God's chosen people. I have followed the Seventh Day Adventist teachings for about 14 years, so I understand the opposition to the keeping the Shabbath from following the Seventh Adventist manner. According to what I have read in the Bible, all who bless the Jewish People are blessed and all who curse them likewise will unless they truly repent be cursed. I am not acquainted with corporate America, but I do know that the God that gave man knowledge to form corporate America is a Perfect and Powerful God, and He has shown me that no good deed unpaid. My advise to you is to ask Him to make your purpose at that job clear. Weeping my endure of a night, but joy cometh in the morning. Remember He is the God that gave David the faith to slay Goliath. You might be that David that will change the corporate lunches to a well celebrated Kosher lunching. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob choose and blessed you.. Reply

DALevit Signal Hill, CA/USA July 20, 2009

We Have Outlived them And we will be here after them. Thank you for the very touching story. Well produced and inspiring. Except, now I'll have this lump in my throat and tears in my eyes all night long. Reply

Dr. Harry Hamburger Miami, Fl. July 20, 2009

We Shall outlive them. Thank you Chana for inspiring me with this song and making me cry. Where can I get the music for the entire song so we can sing it at our Synagogue? Reply

Kayo Tokyo, Japan July 19, 2009

We Will We were, We are, and We will outlive them. Reply

Natana Pesya Kulakofski Worcester, MA USA July 19, 2009

We Shall Outlive Them! B"H
Every time a Jew does a mitzvah, he proves to himself and to the world that we shall outlive them, all those who try to try to physically destroy us or who try to spiritually destroy us by slyly, deceptively encouraging us not to keep Shabbos or kashrus. Corporate America is a prime example of this subtle coaxing. For example, you can advance and make a lot of badly-needed money for your family if you work on Shabbos. There are company lunches at which you have to exist on Lays potato chips and black coffee or sometimes just the coffee. It's all very subtly aimed towards making the workplace Judenrein, Jew-free. I know. I've been there, and I've starved and had to keep my low-paying, entry-level job because I couldn't work till 5 every Friday in order to be home on time for Shabbos.
We shall outlive them! Reply

Kayo Tokyo, Japan July 19, 2009

We Shall We Shall Outlive them. Reply

"We Shall Outlive Them!"

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