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Is This Man?

Walks a man
in the street, the park,
along the ocean's shore -
Guile-eaten
Yoke-laden
Torment-bent -

Universe's glory
he does not behold
World's wonder
he does not glimpse
The song of the stars
hears he not

The trees of the lane
over him nod:
Is this man
the crown of creation?

Is this man?
Chirp the birds
Whistle the winds
After him shake their head
The waves of sea.

From the Hebrew by Yanki Tauber

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Miknaf Ha'aretz

• The All-Inclusive (p. 8)

• Through Tranquility and Turmoil (p. 10)

• The Authors of the Tosfos (p. 12)

• A Prayer in the wee Hours (p. 13)

• Freedom of Choice (p. 16)

• The One (p. 17)

• The Spark That Shall Never Die (p. 20)

• The Luminaries of the Generation (p. 25)

• Eternity (p. 37)

• The Memory of the Souls (p. 38)

• The Cry of the Holy Sparks (p. 46)

• Tear (p. 77)

• The Ascent of the Tzaddik (p. 89)

• The Dejected's Prayer (p. 96)

• Night (p. 120)

• The Heights of the Holy (p. 144)

• A Story About a Prince (p. 152)