Page 2
Poem for the Bibas Family: Am Yisrael Chai
by Inna Rozentsvit
This poem, by JIAAC member Inna Rozentsvit, was written as a response to a heartfelt letter Inna had received from an Israeli colleague following the mournful return from Hamas captivity of the bodies of Shiri Bibas and her two children, Ariel and Kfir. The letter described the profound national mourning for the Bibas family – Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir – who were victims of the horrors of October 7, 2023, and of further violence suffered during their time in captivity. The poem seeks to honor their memory with dignity and compassion while capturing the collective grief and solidarity demonstrated by the Israeli people during the funeral procession, which traveled from Rishon LeZion to the Gaza envelope.
The title, which incorporates the powerful phrase “Am Yisrael Chai” (The People of Israel Live), affirms the resilience and continuity of the Jewish community which, even in the darkest moments of grief, remains unbroken. This phrase carries deep cultural and historical significance, conveying the endurance of the Jewish people through centuries of hardship.
The poem balances profound sorrow with an affirmation of community strength, the “unbroken spirit” and the collective embrace of Yarden, who returned home to face the unbearable loss of his entire family.
This work serves not only as a tribute to the Bibas family, but also as a reflection of how shared grief can unite people in compassion and solidarity, embodying the belief that “to love is to belong,” even in the midst of tragedy.
The highways fill with silent grievers,
Flags wave in solemn breeze,
Shiri, a mother and her copper-haired children
Journey to their final peace.
Their names like whispers on the wind:
Ariel and Kfir, innocent and bright,
Their story etched in our memory,
A flame that burns against the night.
From Rishon LeZion to Gaza’s edge,
A procession moves with heavy tread,
A thousand hands reach out in comfort,
Thousands of tears for them are shed.
In this moment, we are one family,
Bound by sorrow, joined in grace,
Standing shoulder to shoulder,
Love defeats what hate would embrace.
Little Kfir, just nine months breathing,
His brother’s hand in his, so small,
Their laughter is now a sacred memory,
Their spirits soaring above us all.
For Yarden, returning to emptiness,
We hold space for grief so vast,
The nation forms a circle around him,
A living shield that will outlast.
We have yet to fully mourn our losses,
Yet to heal wounds still raw and deep,
But in this shared remembrance,
Promises – of peace – we keep.
May their memory be a blessing,
A light to guide our way,
יהי זכרם ברוך… and blessed
In our hearts they will always stay.
And though we bow our heads in grief now,
Our spirits remain unbroken, strong,
For in remembering the Bibas family,
We affirm: to love is to belong.
