ל”ז ןמסורג ירוא ר”מס
Uri was born in Jerusalem in the summer of 1985.
Just like his name (Or- light) he brought light and love to those who surrounded him.
He was the son of David Grossman – a renowned Israeli author. Uri inherited his father’s gift and was known as one of the most theatrical people in his school.
At 18, he enlisted in the Armored Corps and was so happy to be the tank gunner.
He was known as the most ethical soldier in his unit.
Even when he was stationed to guard the checkpoints, he made sure to greet the women with respect who came to protest against them and against the occupation.
In the summer of 2006 during the second Lebanon war, Uri first entered Lebanon with his tank and his team. On a Saturday evening, during a rescue operation in the eastern sector, his tank was hit by a missile fired by Hizbullah. All the men in the tank were killed, including Uri.
After his death, Uri’s father wrote a song comparing the short burst of springtime to the loss of a young soldier, as seen through the eyes of a parent.
Spring is So Brief over Here
Lyrics: David Grossman
Music: Yehuda Poliker
Translation: Donny Inbar
There is a brief moment, between April and May In which nature’s rejoicing is real It’s bursting with life It’s fragrant and plays For nothing like beauty can heal Excited, impassioned, it sparkles and then It withers and now disappears See, on nature’s fringes the summer ignites For spring is so brief over here It’s short, it’s so brief and it’s breaking our heart To see how it’s fading halfway Its eyes have just opened The blooming now starts It was given me, then taken away This juvenile spring is so lively; its end Is engraved in the bud and the leaves Yet it flies and it swirls Like a butterfly tends To regard it as eternal, to believe It’s short, it’s so brief and it’s breaking our heart To see how it’s fading halfway Its eyes have just opened The blooming now starts It was given, then taken away Yet you and I already know it: It’s horrific that he has no clue How short is the life that was given This brief moment of life that went through The swirling, the twirling, the grief For spring over here Is so brief.
קצר פה כל כך האביב מלים: דוד גרוסמן לחן: יהודה פוליקר יש רגע קצר בין אדר לניסן שהטבע צוהל בכל פה הוא שופע חיים – שיכור ומבושם איך שיופי יכול לרפא! – נסער ומשולהב ומתיז ניצוצות אך עוד רגע ייבּול ויצהיב – כי הנה בשוליו כבר הקיץ ניצת קצר פה כל כך האביב. קצר וחטוף ושובר את הלב לחשוב שהוא תכף ידעך מבטו רק נפקח – אך התחיל ללבלב רק ניתן לי ותכף נלקח. – – אביב עול ימים וסוער וסופו כבר כתוב בעלי ניצניו, אבל הוא מסתחרר כפרפר במעופו, – וכמוהו נצחי בעיניו. קצר וחטוף ושובר את הלב לחשוב שהוא תכף ידעך מבטו רק נפקח – אך התחיל ללבלב רק ניתן לי ותכף נלקח. ואת ואני היודעים – ונורא הדבר שרק הוא לא עד כמה קצרים החיים, החיים הקצרים שניתנו לו. נדיב ונסער ומכאיב קצר פה כל כך האביב.
