A Time for War and A Time for Peace

On December 17th, 2023, “A Time for War and A Time for Peace” was published online in Topical Poetry.

On December 24th, 2023, Topical Poetry wrote to Pesach, saying: “Hi Pesach, We have received multiple emails from our readers about being hurt by this poem. In light of the ongoing situation, we have decided to retract the poem from the publication. We hope that you will understand.” The poem was then retracted from the publication.

On December 30th, 2023, “A Time for War and A Time for Peace” was published in The Deronda Review, where it remains.

Green Golem: The Zionist Literary Magazine republished this poem on February 8th 2024 — not only due to its obvious merit and importance, but to raise awareness of the censorship of Zionist authors which is perpetuated by places like Topical Poetry. We salute The Deronda Review and all other publications which join us in protecting the free expression of Jewish and Israeli artists and their allies. 

A Time for War and A Time for Peace by Pesach Rotem

לַכֹּל, זְמָן; . . . עֵת מִלְחָמָה וְעֵת שָׁלוֹם.

“To every thing there is a season, . . . a time for war and a time for peace.”

Ecclesiastes, chapter 3

In the fifteenth century, in the time of Joan of Arc,

England and France were at war.

In the nineteenth century, in the time of Napoleon,

England and France were still at war.

An intelligent observer could have concluded, reasonably,

that England and France were destined to be at war forever.

And yet . . . 

And yet, today, in the twenty-first century,

not only are England and France not at war,

they are so not-at-war that it is impossible 

to even imagine England and France going to war.

I predict that by the twenty-third century,

just two hundred years from now,

Israel and Palestine will also be not at war.

Like England and France, like Czecho and Slovakia,

they will be so not-at-war that it will be impossible

to even imagine Israel and Palestine going to war.

And yet . . .

And yet, today, in the meantime, 

in the harsh reality of the here and now,

in the bloody shadow of Simchat Torah,

in the vow, once again, of Never Again,

there is no alternative to victory.

Peace will have to wait.

Illustration and visual design by Isabelle Young. Isabelle (she/they) is a multidisciplinary artist and art/nature/Jewish educator. She recently graduated from the University of Arizona’s Art Education program and is a certified teacher. Follow her art and other adventures on Instagram @isabellespaintedsky