Yoel Elitzur Revises His Iconic Lament After 20 Years Reflecting Northern Samaria Revival
Twenty years after composing the lament "Eicha Avda Zavat Chalav U'Dvash" in response to the Gaza disengagement, Israeli poet Yoel Elitzur has published six new stanzas inspired by recent developments and successes in northern Samaria. Elitzur originally wrote the lament mourning the painful evacuation of Gush Katif and northern Samaria, expressing sorrow over the immediate consequences of those events. However, he now sees a historic turnaround following unprecedented victories and blessings in the region over the past two years.
Elitzur credits Rabbi Yehonadav Drori, the rabbi of the Shiloh settlement, for encouraging him to revise the lament to reflect the current positive changes and divine acts. The new stanzas replace the last five of the original lament, which detailed destruction, betrayal, and despair after the disengagement. Elitzur hopes that soon the entire lament can be replaced by a new song celebrating redemption, inheritance, and renewal.
The original lament described the devastation of beloved lands, the betrayal among brethren, and the desecration of sacred places following the forced evacuations. It mourned the loss of communities such as Gush Katif and northern Samaria settlements, the destruction of synagogues, and the suffering of faithful defenders. The new verses celebrate the cancellation of the disengagement in northern Samaria, the rebuilding of communities, and the restoration of blessings in Judea and Samaria.
Elitzur emphasizes that the history demands a collective awakening and thanks God for the dramatic turnaround. He praises the steadfastness of the settlers who endured hardship and remained faithful for nearly two decades. The new poem honors the rebuilding of eighteen settlements in northern Samaria and anticipates many more, expressing hope that the people will no longer be ashamed but will proudly inherit their land forever.
Yoel Elitzur’s work reflects a shift from mourning loss to celebrating revival, symbolizing the resilience and renewed faith of the Jewish communities in the West Bank amid ongoing political and security challenges.
