The Silver Platter

Translation / Interpretation / Caption Text / Source
Hebrew translation: Desolate land prepared for settlementSwamps drained for agriculture Security roads along the borders Millions of trees planted for man's health and improvement of the landscape______________________Curator's note: the graphic in this poster, titled "Offering the Land", is by the artist Jacob Steinhardt.According to Yoram Shamir the title of this poster comes from a 1947 poem, "The Silver Platter", by Natan Alterman: And the land grows still, the red eye of the sky slowly dimming over smoking frontiers As the nation arises, torn at heart but breathing, to receive its miracle, the only miracle As the ceremony draws near, it will rise, standing erect in the moonlight in terror and joy When across from it will step out a youth and a lass and slowly march toward the nation Dressed in battle gear, dirty, shoes heavy with grime, they ascend the path quietly To change garb, to wipe their brow hey have not yet found time Still bone weary from days and from nights in the field Full of endless fatigue and unrested, yet the dew of their youth is still seen on their heads Thus they stand at attention, giving no sign of life or death Then a nation in tears and amazement will ask: "Who are you?" And they will answer quietly, "We are the silver platter on which the Jewish state was given." Thus they will say and fall back in shadows And the rest will be told in the chronicles of Israel