SIR MOSES MONTEFIORE
When Sir Montefiore was 80 years old
White angels came to his home
They stood over his bed, saying:
"The Holy One, Blessed Be He,
wants you to come to Him."
Montefiore answered exactly this way:
"Forgive me, gentlemen, but I'm truly busy.
Our brothers throughout the world have many troubles.
There's a pogrom in Russia, how can I not go to them?
For who, if not me, will help everyone here?
Chorus
He went up into his carriage, saying "diyo!"* to the horses
And placed a secret gift here, a donation there,
Here a pinch on the cheek or a loving caress.
And all the Jews felt happiness and pride.
All honor to the Sar*!
When Sir Montefiore was 90
They told him,
"Arise, they're asking for you up above."
He asked them, "Tell me, how can I?
How will the blood libel in Damascus be called off?
Someone must go to the despicable Pasha to say:
"Shame on you! How is such a thing allowed!
And if someone must put some bakshish* into his hand
A large present, but one that no one will notice?
Who, if not I, will give this to the Turk?
He went up into his carriage...
And when Sir Montefiore was 100
He said: "Enough already, my soul is satisfied.
Millions of liras, franks and bishlik* have been spent
But for the Jews, this is never enough."
They said to him, "Your honor, just come and look
Another room must be built for Rachel's Tomb
The Western Wall must be raised up
And more Jews must be brought to Nevei She'ananim
And who, if not you, my beloved master?"
He went up into his carriage....
And when the Sar was a hundred and one more year,
The angels gave him a final kiss
And so, he closed his eyes requesting
Only that he have a Jerusalem stone under his head.
Wrapped in a silk tallit, resting in his coffin
Sar Moshe completed his final journey
But there are still people ready to swear
That sometimes at night, when it's dark all around
They saw Sar Montefiore beside his carriage.
He went up into his carriage...
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