A Good Eye and a Good Heart
Who is like unto you among the nations, O Israel
A nation with a good eye and a good heart
Protecting its non-Jews as fiercely as she does her Jews
Even going beyond her borders
~ to protect Syria’s community of Druze*
Just as she did from 1977 to ‘91
to airlift the Beta Israel from war-torn Ethiopia**
Had Israel not rescued them,
~ the Beta would have been ‘gamma, gone and done’
I too participated in that miracle
teaching three Beta men Ivrit ***
Ever grateful to Israel for saving their lives
for helping them recover traditions so sweet
__________________________________________________
*Members of the Druze community in Israel have been vital
contributors to Israel ever since statehood. Israel, therefore,
is protecting Druze in southern Syria from attacks on them
by the new 'revolutionary government' (= terrorists) there.
**Ethiopia fought an 'endless war' against Eritrea in the last
quarter of the 20th century. Eritrea was backed by the for-
mer Soviet Union, and inflicted heavy losses on Ethiopia.
Many Jews there lost their families, homes, etc., including
the men whom I was privileged to teach.
***'Ivrit' means 'Hebrew' in the Hebrew Language.
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