Eich al Achai -

R. Haim Sabato
About the Piyut
Eich Al Achai is a kina about the Holocaust, written by contemporary scholar and author Haim Sabato. He wrote
this kina on Tisha BAv after a visit to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem. The text deals directly
with the horrors of the Holocaust--mass killing, humiliation, torture, and religious desecration--weaving in
allusions to Biblical and Midrashic texts. It also poses difficult questions about how God could allow these
horrific acts to take place, not moved to action even when innocent infants were cast upon stone. This Piyut is
now a standard addition on Tisha BAv in many communities throughout Israel.

Hebrew Text
Eich al achai nigzar din vnechtam

Bchotam shel tit vchotam shel dam

Kam goy aleihem lhumim labdam

Kmo gviyot nischvu mibeitam

Haal damam tchaper admatam

Kmo gviyot nischvu mibeitam

Haal damam tchaper admatam

Vhusar peram vnikra avnetam

Vgulach zkanam nigzzu peotam

Hod machmadav kara zar hifshitam

Per yonkotav katzatz kratam

Haal damam tchaper admatam

Haal damam tchaper admatam

Vhutzgueiromot toch khal naarotam

Ninatzu sakinim toch aron parochtam

Vratach lo shakat bdam bnotam

Haal damam tchaper admatam

Vratach lo shakat bdam bnotam

Haal damam tchaper admatam
Lo bdam chasidim ugdolei rabotam
Lo et el sela nupatz olal yonek tam
Lo kara rkiim rak kara libotam
Eich chullah shvuatam ubritam
Nishmta shavatam vnadma tfilatam

Haal damam tchaper admatam

Haal damam tchaper admatam

Nidchefu nivhalu toch kronot bhemtam

Im yaldeyhem nfuchim vkol bichyatam

Lo kara rkiim rak kara libotam

Lo chamal aleyhem ish btzeytam

Haal damam tchaper admatam

Neesfu kidgei yam vhuvlu kseh tam

Ei mador bashamayim nechtma gzeratam

Uma sod akedatam vdatam

Ei avotam vnichoach avodatam

Haal damam tchaper admatam

Haal damam tchaper admatam

English Translation
How was my people's verdict signed and sealed
With a seal of clay and of blood
A nation rose to strike them dead to liquidate
As corpses dragged from their homes
Can the earth atone for their blood?
As corpses dragged from their homes
Can the earth atone for their blood?

Their phylacteries seized and priestly sash torn

Beards shaved and their side-locks shorn
The beauty of what they held dear was stripped from them by a foreigner
Children they revered hacked and severed
Can the earth atone for their blood?
Can the earth atone for their blood?
Their daughters naked on public display
Knives piercing the curtain right to the ark
Their blood did not burst forth it kept flowing
Can the earth atone for their blood?
Agitated simmering blood by their bloodied daughters
Can the earth atone for their blood?
Not by the blood of their grand rabbis or saintly ones
Nor when raw infants were cast upon stone
Did it tear at the heavens, only their hearts
Oath and covenant violated
Their outcry choked and prayer gone silent
Can the earth atone for their blood?
Can the earth atone for their blood?
Pressed like bewildered cattle into boxcars
Children wailing swollen from hunger
Not heaven rent but their heart
None felt pity as they set out
Can the earth atone for their blood?
Like fish in a net or a lamb to slaughter
In what part of heaven was their verdict signed?
What mystery the root of their bondage and faith?
What is left of them or their fragrant sacrifice?
Can the earth atone for their blood?
Can the earth atone for their blood?

Recording by Yehuda Kadri