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the renaissance, which is thus neither life eternal nor life of the hour in the here and
now.

*Translator’s Note:
The Hebrew terms, “Chayei Sha-ah” (העש ייח ) and “Chayei Olam” (םלוע ייח ) have been
translated as “life of the hour” and “life eternal” respectively. A rendering of “life in
the here and now” and “life everlasting” or “life forever” is also possible. In the

Hebrew, these terms also imply the contrast and the tension between the finite and
the infinite. The concept of “Chayei Olam” is also cognate with the term “Tikkun Olam”
(םלוע ןוקית ), to mend, to transform, to perfect the world. In Jewish tradition this is the
Divine purpose of human existence.

**emphasis in the original.

***”sacrificial lamb”: A metaphorical reference to a person or animal sacrificed (killed
or discounted in some way) for the common good. The term is derived from the Biblical
tradition where a lamb is brought to the temple to atone for certain sins. (Leviticus 5:
5-6. The concept is also associated with the binding of Isaac – Abraham’s readiness to
sacrifice his son, Isaac, at God’s behest (Genesis 22.}

Shaul Tchernichovsky, 1875 – 1943 At the foot of Mt. Sinai, in the absence of
Moses, the Israelites are prepared to
I Believe worship a golden calf – symbolic of the
(1894, Odessa) material and idolatry,
Arik Einstein, 1939 –
Laugh, laugh at all my dreams!
What I dream shall yet come true! You and I
Laugh at my belief in man; You and I we’ll change the world
At my belief in you. You and I – and all will follow

Others have said it before me
Freedom still my soul demands But it doesn’t matter
Unbartered for a calf of gold.* You and I, we’ll change the world!
For still I do believe in man

And in his spirit, strong and bold. You and I we’ll try from the beginning
It’ll be tough on us, it doesn’t matter
And in the future I still believe It not so terrible!
Though it be distant, come it will Others have said it before me
But it doesn’t matter
When nations shall each other bless, You and I, we’ll change the world!

And peace at last the earth shall fill.

(Translated from the Hebrew)
Compiled by Michael Livni,
*”calf of gold” refers to the story of the Kibbutz Lotan
golden calf, Exodus 32: 1-6.

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