The dirge was written in the style of Rabbi Eliezer HaKalir, the 6th century composer of religious poetry. Rav Buch’s dirge is based on “How the Rose of Sharon Sits”, HaKalir’s dirge of 24 stanzas about the 24 shifts of the Priests (“Kohanim”) in the Jewish Temple (“Bet HaMiqdash”). Words of the Rabbi Buch’s dirge are borrowed from Rabbi Eliezar’s original version as well as from the first chapter of the Book of Lamentations (“Megilat Eicha”). The stanzas are arranged according to the Hebrew alphabetical order and the last line of each stanza ends with the name of a destroyed community.
“This is religious poetry that truly speaks from the heart. It eloquently captures the feelings of the day, of both the destruction of our Holy Temple and the holy communities of Gush Katif and northern Samaria,” says Rabbi David Bar-Hayim, the head of Machon Shilo.
“Many words in the dirge have double meanings and reflect the bitterness caused by this modern tragedy. Rabbi Buch has expended great effort to adhere to the historical style of the traditional dirge. All words of his dirge—except for one—are found in the Hebrew Bible although grammar may have necessitated some slight changes. My only regret is that Rabbi Buch’s beautiful poetry reflects our current state of mourning rather than celebration. I look forward to the day when we will be able to publish poetry celebrating the rebuilding of the destroyed communities and our Holy Temple.”