Shema Yisroel

Legend tells that Rabbi Yosef Shlomo Kahaneman Zatsl (1886-1969), The Ponovize rov, once was encountered by a church denial of the existence of Jewish children in their place.

He began calling out: Shema Yisroel and instinctively children raised their hands to cover their eyes and startet calling out:  Mama! Mama!

He sought to take care of many orphans and tried to rescue them from the clutches of secular Zionist organizations, especially the Yaldei Theran ("Children of Tehran") - children who escaped from Nazi Europe by walking across Europe to Tehran .

Shema Yisroel by Yaakov Shwekey

He raised his hand to wave goodbye
Saw the pain in mother´s eyes
who left her little precious boy of four

In a citadel of ashen stone
that preached a faith unlike his own
Perhaps he just may yet survive this war

In the shadow stood a man in black
My child he said, you must not look back
Yet one image lingered, the tears on her face
And mother´s words from their last embrace

Shema, Shema Yisroel
Know that there is but one G-d above
When you feel pain, when you rejoice
know how he longs to hear your voice
Hashem Elokeinu, Hashem Echad

Deep within the iron gate
Far from the stench of war and hate
he knew not of a world gone insane

You must believe us, he was told
Our faith alone can save your soul
Please let us heal your wounds and ease your pain

He tried not to forget his past, his home
But he was so very young and all alone
While visions of his shtetl, once vivid and clear
began to fade, and all but disappeared

Shema, Shema Yisroel
Know that there is but one G-d above
When you feel pain, when you rejoice
know how he longs to hear your voice
Hashem Elokeinu, Hashem Echad

The winds of war had finally passed
one man took on a sacred task
to bring the scattered jewish children home

He travelled far, from place to place
A quest to reignite the faith
of those sent into hiding long ago

He entered the fortress grey and cold
Your kind is not among us, he was told

Hashem above, he whispered, please don´t let me fail
As he began to sing
Shema Yisroel

Shema, Shema Yisroel
Know that there is but one G-d above
When you feel pain, when you rejoice
know how he longs to hear your voice
Hashem Elokeinu, Hashem Echad

Shema, Shema Yisroel
Know that there is but one G-d above
When you feel pain, when you rejoice
know how he longs to hear your voice
Hashem Elokeinu, Hashem Elokeinu, Hashem Echad


Shema, Shema Yisroel
Know that there is but one G-d above
When you feel pain, when you rejoice
know how he longs to hear your voice
Hashem Elokeinu, Hashem Echad

Please say,
Shema, Shema Yisroel
Know that there is but, but one G-d above
When you feel pain, when you rejoice
know how he longs to hear our voice
Hashem Elokeinu, Hashem Echad
Hashem Elokeinu, Hashem Echad