MEMORIAL by Shoshana Kurzweil

  Look up to the heavens, listen to the cries.

 Echoes of the mourners reaching to the skies. 

"Where was God that morning? Did he go and hide?

 When the smoke ascended and little children died." 

Hear the common question in every language "Why?"

 This is our memorial to never be denied.  

Where was God when the little children died?

 Where was God when the terror came inside?

 Where was God when the murder was denied?

 Where was God? Did he go and hide?

 Look up to the heavens, listen to the cries

Older voices mourning. Each one asking "Why?"

 "Where was God that morning,

 When the helpless babies died?"

 Jewish boys in Egypt, slain by Pharoah's pride.

  Once a year we question in every language "Why?"

 This is our memorial to never be denied.

 Look up to the heavens, listen to the cries

 Another tragic slaughter. You can hear the mother's cries.

 "Where was God that morning,

 When those little children died?"

 Baby boys of Israel, slain by Herod's pride.

 But why are there no questions? In not one language "Why?"

 Where is our memorial that cannot be denied?

 Where was God when the little children died?

 Where was God when the terror came inside?

 Where was God when the murder was denied?

 God was there and His arms were open wide.

 He was there to welcome all the children,

 He was there to wipe away their tears,

 He was there to lead them into heaven,

 He's been there through all the many years.

But, In every generation, that sees the hope arise-

 There has been a holocaust, where multitudes have died.

 Before the births of Moses, and Jesus- babies died.

Before the birth of Israel, we heard the awful cries.

 So we've built a great memorial, raised it to the skies.

 It cannot give us answers, cannot tell us why.

 But keeps alive a memory- of angels who have died.

 Each year we raise the memory, with tears in our eyes,

 This is our memorial, to never be denied.