Rabbi Shlomo AvinerA slow line enters Gaza.
The brigade commander owns a factory.
The regiment commander is an engineer.
The company commander is a science teacher.
The platoon commander is in the standing army.
The company sergeant sells holy books.
The sergeant is something of a carpenter.
The squad commander is presently unemployed.
The private is a retiree.
But they’re all excellent soldiers
Marching in the tranquil night in a slow line
Entering enemy territory
Without fear or trembling
To fight for their nation
Like their parents did for them.
The brigade commander's back aches.
The regiment commander has high cholesterol.
The company commander has indigestion.
The platoon commander has foot sores.
The company sergeant has eye problems.
The sergeant has insomnia.
The squad commander has the itchies.
The private just doesn't look good.
But they’re all excellent soldiers.
Sneaking through the darkness in a slow line.
Entering enemy territory.
Forgetting that they are spoiled and sensitive.
Bombarded each day with drops, creams and tablets.
Suddenly they’re healthy.
The same people who fear medical shots and dentists.
Are suddenly brave.
They know longer fear anything.
They just do what needs to be done.
On behalf of the Jewish People.
Because what you’ve got to do, you’ve got to do.
They’re no longer thinking about themselves.
But about the national mission.
Because we’ve shown more than enough restraint
And now we will act in our self-defense.
And this is just the first round.
The brigade commander is a Leftist who opposes settlements.
The regiment commander is a settler who favors settlements.
The company commander votes for a centrist party.
The platoon commander is national religious –
Torn between two and a half parties.
The company sergeant is very Ultra-orthodox.
The sergeant is a socialist.
The squad commander has voted for everyone.
The private hasn't as yet decided.
But they’re all excellent soldiers.
Marching in silence, in the dark of night.
Under the smiling moon.
With tense fortitude for their people.
Those same persons
Who on politics and religion
Can never agree on a single thing
Suddenly become brothers in battle
Devoted to each other
With all their heart and soul.
Suddenly all agree
That the best thing we have
Is our state
And our Defense Forces.
And they’re all ready
To smite the enemy hard
Once and for all
To leave us in peace.
Translation: R. Blumberg
with my corrections
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