Our fathers now lived as a third generation
In Babylon’s lands as a subpopulation
But fifty-plus years since our forced emigration
Just how does one wake up a slumbering nation?
We ate of their foodstuffs until satiation
And underwent rapid acclimatization
Till Babylon’s not such a bad situation
Oh, how does one wake up a slumbering nation?
When Cyrus extended a great invitation
To build up the Temple for rededication
We chose to stay put in our present location
Ah, what should one do with a tranquilized nation?
The next king, three years since his own coronation
Invited the Jews to a grand celebration,
This sparked from our leadership much condemnation
But see how reacted this exiled nation!
We ate and we drank to our own degradation
And did not protest at the king’s presentation
Of ex-Temple vessels, a huge desecration
– Oh, where is your fire, you servile nation?
So Mordekhai, seeking his people’s salvation
Each day with the minister sought confrontation:
“I won’t bow down, Haman!” To cause escalation
“If that’s what it comes to, I’ll wake up this nation!”
The minister saw, and forget indignation
He wanted to kill him without hesitation.
But then changed his plan after some contemplation
“My one course of action’s to wipe out his nation!”
He knew this required some authorization
So went to the king with concealed jubilation
He chose then his words with extreme concentration
“You see, there exists a rebellious nation…”
The king signed and sealed his dire legislation
Condemning the Jews to complete annihilation.
The Jews cried aloud then, with great desperation
“HaShem Elokeinu! Remember your nation!”
“We have fallen victim to assimilation
We wrongly put faith in this administration
But now they’ve abandoned us all to damnation
It’s true that we’re scattered, but still we’re one nation!”
To Esther said Mordekhai: “Go to your station!
You must intervene in this grave situation!
Forget your own instincts of self-preservation
For you are the one who must rescue our nation!”
She said, “let us fast for three days preparation
And gather together in unification,
Then I shall go forth as our representation
And plead for the sake of my own, dearest nation.”
The queen set in motion the great confrontation
“My people and I have been sold to damnation!”
The king stood, and shouted with much animation
“Just who is the one who would wipe out your nation?”
(“It’s actually you, king, for your information!”
The queen would have said at the first invitation)
Her finger was pointed with this accusation:
“Your minister Haman would cut down my nation!”
So Haman was hung, and his plot met frustration
Indeed, the Megilla’s a great demonstration
Of how all events are of God’s orchestration
He’ll never destroy his unique, holy nation!
But even this saga of close annihilation
Could not spur the masses to choose liberation
Who fell back to sleep and embraced subjugation
– Oh! How does one wake up a slumbering nation!?
