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Home  »  The Standard Book of Jewish Verse  »  The Everlasting Jew

Joseph Friedlander, comp. The Standard Book of Jewish Verse. 1917.

By Henry B. Sommer

The Everlasting Jew

LIFT up thy head, O Israel, gird thine armor on anew,

There’s a rainbow in the heavens, there is work for thee to do.

Hear not the jibing stranger, heed not the envious crew,

The only real aristocrat is the everlasting Jew!

Thou hast pride of ancient lineage, canst boast of blood that’s blue,

Thine ancestors were princes, e’en when this old world was new—

Ere Greece and Tyre and Babylon had disappeared from view—

Thou wast still the sole aristocrat, the everlasting Jew!

Although a scattered people, e’en though thy numbers few,

Thy star is still ascending to rejuvenate anew

Thy ancient place and heritage to prove the mission true

That the only real aristocrat is the everlasting Jew!