# UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM

All Articles

## Behind Every Name a Story: Miriam (Rot) Eshel - Whence Your Strength

Behind Every Name a Story is a project of the Museum's Registry of Holocaust Survivors. The BENAS Web project consists of essays describing survivors' experiences during the Holocaust

Miriam's husband, Jacob, has written many poems for her. This poem, created on the occasion of Miriam and Jacob's 50th wedding anniversary, celebrates Miriam's strength. In her own words:

I think that a poem (one of many) which my husband wrote for me on the occasion of our 50th wedding anniversary, very adequately sums up what I was trying to tell you. Here it is, freely translated into English.

Whence your strength
To rise from the ashes
And to life return again

Whence your strength
To go through hell
And God's image retain

Whence your strength
To survive all alone
And with pure soul remain

Whence your strength
To never forget
Yet start up again

You came out of distant lands
Born on the waves of sea
You came to our land
As whole as could be.

You left behind mother and father
Brothers and sisters and family
There they died with prayer on their lips
Because that was God's decree

You brought with you one little brother
Handsome and young in years
He alone survived together with you
But fell among the Fallen here

Thus, Miriam, old words came true
Seven times shall the righteous fall but rise
From loss and mourning and the goblet of tears
You found in yourself the unusual strength
To rebuild a new family tree

No wonder then that I repeat and ask
With ever rising admiration

Whence your strength
For a jubilee of years
To be my companion, to be at my side

Whence your strength
So to care for us all
Young and old alike

Whence your strength
With no rest or pause
To fill us all with so much love

With the jubilee trumpets sounding
I stand in prayer
Oh God, please preserve for ever and ever
The strength of Miriam

No photos are available
No testimonies are available
No films are available
No songs are available