For a thousand-plus years, the story’s been told
Everyone knows it, both young and old
Yet its lesson for everyone rings oh so true
For it speaks to the neshamah of every Jew
Why hear it again? You may just ask
What is the purpose of this repetitive task?
But of each bitter churban we ask, “Why? Oh why?”
In each generation must we cry, cry, and cry?
Hundreds, thousands, millions of korbanos
Young and old kedoshim, tzaddikim and tzidkaniyos
Battered, injured, left to starve and to die
As we cry to Hashem, “Ad mosai? Ad mosai?”
Can anyone of us change this tide?
Would we be able to restore our Yiddishe pride?
If we want to repair our broken heart
We must go back to the beginning when everything did start
Sometimes people just don’t get along
Often because someone did something wrong
As children we are encouraged to make it right
Apologize, make up, Yidden don’t fight!
Hashem looks at his children, “How wonderful are they?
I’ll also forgive them when to Me they will pray
Look how these children don’t bear a grudge
With favor and kindness my nation I’ll judge”
But this sad story did not end this way
And that’s why we’re crying to this very day
When it all began, no one was crying
To forgive and be friendly no one was trying
Mazel tov! She’s engaged, let’s all drink lechayim
Such a wonderful chosson, the finest in Yerushalayim
A big wedding, so fancy, was planned
A fine gourmet menu and eleven-piece band
Friends, guest and neighbors, gedolei rabbonim
Everyone’s invited, even meshulochim
The guest list was lengthy, not one oversight
Many surprised, “Even me he’d invite?”
Just one single person was excluded from the list
His name was Bar Kamtza, he wouldn’t be missed
“I really hate that fellow, for him there’s no place
It would ruin my party if I’d see his face”
Now it was Bar Kamtza who was his enemy
But the fellow named Kamtza he wanted to see
So someone was sent Kamtza to invite
But the messenger got confused, he did not get it right
To the house of Bar Kamtza, the enemy, he came
He knocked on the door, not noticing the name
“I’m invited to the wedding by my enemy?
Could it be he’s no longer angry at me?”
The invitation was something he hardly believed
But it seemed to be true, he was greatly relieved
How wonderful this friendship we both can now mend
And the messenger told the host, “Kamtza will attend”
So it came to pass, the wedding day did arrive
Guests were coming, the ruach was alive
Hundreds, maybe thousands, from every city and village
To be at this wedding was quite a privilege
First came the shmorg, with every fancy dish
Sweet breads, ribs, and sushi raw fish
At the chosson tish every rosh yeshiva and rov
Coming up to the mechutan to wish mazel tov
The march to the badeken was quite a stampede
With jumping and dancing with every type of Yeed
Then to the chupah with hartzigeh mezamrim
And tons of kibbudim for the choshuve rabbonim
The grand ballroom was opened, the guests streamed inside
The host went to each table beaming with pride
Until he reached the table where Bar Kamtza did sit
His eyes began to bulge as he went into a fit
“What are you doing here?” he screamed and he cried
“To my dear daughter’s wedding, who allowed you inside?
To be in this room you have no permission
Not to eat, not to drink, not to hear a musician
“I hate you, I’m disgusted to look at your face
Get up immediately and leave this place!”
His embarrassment was terrible, yet no one did protest
Neither family nor rabbonim, rosh yeshiva nor guest
Please let me stay, I’ll pay for my meal
Don’t throw me out or make a big deal
“NO WAY! GET OUT! I DON’T WANT YOU HERE!”
Everyone was quiet, all they did was just stare
“For half of the party, I will gladly pay”
“NO WAY! GET OUT!” is all he did say
“Please don’t embarrass me, I’ll pay for it all
The food, the band, the magnificent hall”
“NO! NO! GET OUT”” he said in his rage
Like a very wild animal out of his cage
“Will anyone help me?” came his plea, came his cry
Not the caterer, not a guest, or a respected rabbi?
“Okay, I will leave, you can dance, you can sing
But I’m going to get you and snitch to the king
This terrible sinas chinom you will all regret
With a churban the Yidden will never forget”
So he went to the king and asked to be seen
“I’ll get them back well for being so mean
The Jews have rebelled, you aren’t respected
Send them a korban, it will surely be rejected”
The ruler followed Bar Kamtza’s advice
And sent to the Temple a fine sacrifice
On the way a small blemish was made to its eye
That only for Jews it would disqualify
But for the nations to reject it, there would be no reason
If the Jews won’t accept it would be outright treason
What should we do with this animal’s blemish?
The question was going around the bais medrash
Not realizing Bar Kamtza was filled with such hate
By the time they said no, it was already too late
The Mikdosh and all of its pride and its glory
Would soon be destroyed and remain just a story
Whose fault is it? Who is to blame?
When we sit by quietly and see someone’s shame
We all are responsible, we all share the guilt
Of why the Bais Hamikdosh hasn’t been built
We must get together with strength and with achdus
And ahava v’achvah veshalom verei’us
Ahavas chinom can help this dream be fulfilled
As the foundation of the Bais Hamikdosh we soon will all build!
