dots-menu
×

Home  »  The Standard Book of Jewish Verse  »  Our Heritage

Joseph Friedlander, comp. The Standard Book of Jewish Verse. 1917.

By Isidore G. Ascher

Our Heritage

WE own no kingdom and we flaunt no king,

No crown is ours to mock at or obey,

No superficial homage do we bring

To any dastard tyranny to-day;

Our realms have broadened to the mighty world,

The boundaries of our rule stretch far and wide,

Our racial flag is evermore unfurled,

Where Jewish souls in freedom’s air abide,

Our citadel is truth; our empty home,

Our ramparts are the laws to make us wise,

Eternal as the azure-vaulted dome,

Our heritage from Heaven never dies;

And from the nations’ flux and change and strife,

The Jews draw strenuous force and vigorous life.