Terror Victim’s Poem: ‘If I Die Before My Time’

A delegation of 28 Shluchim from the US, Canada and Australia, visited Israel recently, giving chizuk to soldiers on the frontlines, wounded soldiers in hospitals, families of hostages, grieving families and displaced families. The trip was arranged by Rabbi Dovid Eliezrie in coordination with Tzach in Israel as was previously reported by COLlive.

Among the grieving families the Shluchim visited was the home of Avraham and Urit Baruch in Kiryat Netafim in the Shomron who had just ended Shiva for their 22-year-old daughter Adi Baruch, who was killed by a missile attack, as she headed to Sderot to fight the terrorists.

One of the Shluchim, Rabbi Ruvi New, shared with COLlive: “we were all deeply moved by Adi’s story shared by her parents, and by their deep faith amidst such deep pain. Among the stories they shared, was a poem they discovered on Adi’s computer. Written in Hebrew, it begins with the words: “and if I die before my time, I want you to celebrate life…”

“Hearing that, I felt like the poem and its message should be shared with the world. When Adi’s parents mentioned in passing that her birthday is 28 Cheshvan, I instantly felt a personal connection to the story, as it is my birthday as well.

“The next day I called Adi’s parents and asked permission to record the poem as a song. They readily agreed. I sent the poem to Yitzy Waldner who composed a beautiful and befitting melody.

“The trip to Israel was life-changing for many of the Shluchim. I am working on another song inspired by the trip – a tribute to the faith, resilience and courage of the people in Israel, who are both traumatized and galvanized at the same time.”

VIDEO

Song lyrics (translated to English)
And if one day I die
Before my time has come
I want you to celebrate life
And do not grieve over my death
That you wake up each morning
with a smile and longing in your heart

And don’t allow a single moment of your lives to be wasted
See the world for me, appreciate every moment
And every once in a while smile up to the clouds – I will be there.

I’m sorry for the pain I have caused
Know that I am in a good place
Longing
And ever loving.

Audio Streaming platforms

Lyrics: Adi Baruch A’H

Composed by: Yitzy Waldner
Vocals Recorded at: Palm Beach Sound Studios
Sound Engineer: Chuck Hemann
Arranged and Produced by: Eli Klein and Yitzy Berry
Strings performance/cello & string arrangement by Yoed Nir, recorded at Yoed Nir’s Studios
Graphics and Video Production: Asher Essebag