ON THE WATER by Yisrael Beider My brothers have reached…
““ON THE WATER by Yisrael Beider My brothers have reached the far shore, Landed on solid ground. I alone remain on the water, mid way, My ship heavily burdened. I was late, thought I could hurry and reach the other side. But then, night fell. And who knows how long until day. The ground where I stand is like the froth on the water. I see a little star, A sparkling from far away. My brothers are sending greetings to me. Their flame burns there on the other side. This poem, originally in Yiddish, was found among newspaper clippings that Yonteleh Beider had saved. It was written by his brother and probably published around 1939 in Podlaiyisher Tzeitung (the Podlayisher Newspaper), in Mezerich, Poland, where he was living at the time. The Podlayisher Tzeitung published many Yiddish poems by Yisrael Beider (In 'The Heavens Are Empty: Discovering the Lost Town of Trochenbrod, by Avrom Bendavid-Val')””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A solitary journey on troubled waters reflects longing, hope, and faith amidst hardship.
In simple terms: Enduring hardship with hope.
Key Takeaway
Hold onto hope in adversity.
Themes
faith
hope
loneliness
journey
poetry
Mood
melancholic
hopeful
Type
Poetry:1
Poems Yisrael:1
Yiddish Poems:1
Yisrael Beider:1
Poem Originally:1
Published Yiddish:1
When to use this quote
- war‑time displacement
- personal loss
- spiritual reflection
Key Concepts
spiritual perseverance
cultural memory
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the star symbolize?
- How does faith sustain you?
A Different Perspective
Historical context may be obscure to modern readers.