Shmor Elokim: A Song for Our Soldiers

Shmor Elokim: A Song for Our Soldiers

This song’s powerful image of an Israeli soldier at war moves me to tears over and over. In addition to its moving words, it touches my heart to think that it was written by Rivka Leah of distant Australia! Even at the most distant points on the globe, Jews are thinking of Israel and concerned for the young men who risk their lives (and, tragically, too often give their lives) to protect her. Please note: this song is instrumental music, but because it is mournful some poskim (include the JewishMOM.com posek) say it is permissible to listen to it during the 9 days. FOR GIRLS AND WOMEN ONLY PLEASE!

Shmor Elokim
Song by – Rivka Leah Cylich www.rivkaleahmusic.com
Lead vocals- Robin Aron
Backing vocals – Zahava Pinson

Along a dusty path
Walking all alone
Knapsack on his back
Wanders far from home

Singing to the wind
Beneath the open skies
Silent in his thoughts
Tears in his eyes

Eyes that long for rest
A heart that hurts to feel
Relief so far away
A dream that can’t be real

The sun slips through the sky
The day has come and gone
The world is deep in sleep
But he just wanders on

שמור אלוקים על חיל הבודד שלי
שמור אותו מסכנה ומכל דבר שלילי
הדלק לו נר בוער הנותן שלווה ושלום
המדריך אותו בדרך בחשכת החלום

Shmor Elokim Al Chayal HaBoded Sheli
Shmor Oto Misakanah Umikol Davar Shlili
Hadlek Loh Ner Boer Hanoten Shalvah Veshalom
Hamadrich Otoh Baderech B’cheshkat Hachalom

(Dear G-d watch over this lonely soldier of mine
Guard him from danger and harm
Kindle within him the vision of serenity and peace
To light his way through the darkest dream)

She thinks of him by day
Prays for him by night
G-d, watch him on his way
G-d, grant him strength to fight

And with each dawn and each dusk
Another tear is cried
To hear his gentle voice
His footsteps outside (chorus)

O’ let it be a time of peace forevermore
From distant corners bring us back to homeland shores
We’ll ride the dream of wings and let our spirits soar
אחכה לו בכל יום שיבא – achake loh Bechol yom sheyavo
(I await his coming every day)

6 comments

  1. I am sitting here crying while listening. I don’t know if Rivka Leah meant it this way, but a ‘chayal boded’ isn’t just a lonely soldier – he is one from another country who serves without being able to go home for Shabbos and free time. At least two soldiers from America in this category have been killed in Gaza. I hope when you were recently in America you felt how much we feel that this is our war, and I’m sure that this is true in Australia, Europe and S. Africa, etc. as well. The anti-Semitism erupting around the world is driving that point home even for those who didn’t always see it.

    • B”H

      Susan,
      Thank you for your message. Yes this song is for the ‘Chayal Boded’, the ‘Lonely Soldier’, far away from their birth-home, and for all our soldiers. May GD here our prayers and return them safely, in peace, and with the ultimate, complete peace, speedily!

  2. I just read the lyrics and it brought tears to my eyes. May this war soon end.

  3. absolutely beautiful!
    thank you for sharing!

  4. Gorgeous song!
    Is it possible for chords to be posted?

  5. Beautiful

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