I met a man last Sunday; he was on his way back home
From a wedding in Chicago, and was traveling alone
He said he came from Vilna, a survivor I could tell.
And I helped him with his suitcase-
He could not walk very well.
A steward gave us coffee as we settled on the plane.
I asked him why he bothers – at his age there'd be no blame.
"No simcha is a burden, although I miss my dear late wife".
And then he shared with me the story that has changed my view of life.
He danced round and round in circles as if the world had done no wrong.
From evening until morning, filling up the shul with song.
Though we had no sifrei torah to clutch close to our hearts.
In their place, we held the future, of a past so torn apart.
I remember liberation, joy and fear both intertwined.
Where to go, and what to do, and how to leave the pain behind.
My heart said "Go to Vilna", dare I pray yet once again,
For the chance to find a loved one, or perhaps a childhood friend?
It took many months to get there, from the late spring to the fall
And as I, many others, close to four hundred in all.
And slowly there was healing, darkened souls now mixed with light
When someone proudly cried out, Simchas Torah is tonight.
We danced round and round in circles as if the world had done no wrong.
From evening until morning, filling up the shul with song.
Though we had no sifrei torah to clutch close to our hearts.
In their place, we held the future, of a past so torn apart.
We ran as one towards the shul, our spirits in a trance.
We tore apart the barricade, in defiance we would dance.
But the scene before our eyes shook us to the core.
Scraps of siddur, bullet holes, and bloodstains on the floor.
Turning to the eastern wall, we looked on in despair
There'd be no scrolls to dance with, the Holy Ark was bare.
Then we heard two children crying, a boy and girl who no one knew.
We realized no children were among us but those two.
We danced round and round in circles as if the world had done no wrong.
From evening until morning, filling up the shul with song.
Though we had no sifrei torah to gather in our arms.
In their place, we held those children.
The Jewish people would live on.
We danced round and round in circles as if the world had done no wrong.
From evening until morning, filling up the shul with song.
Though we had no sifrei torah to clutch and hold up high.
In their place, we held those children.
Am Yisrael Chai.
We danced round and round in circles as if the world had done no wrong.
From evening until morning, filling up the shul with song.
Though we had no sifrei torah to gather in our arms.
In their place, we held those children.
The Jewish people would live on.
Am Yisrael Chai.
The Jewish people would live on.
The Jewish people will live on.