Rabbi Leila Gal Berner, 9/17/2003
Updated to link an audio file on 9-30-05

ISAAC AND ISHMAEL
copyright 1989 Rabbi Leila Gal Berner
(First two verses can be sung in Hebrew/Arabic or English)

Shalom aleichem, aleichem shalom, shalom
Shalom aleichem, aleichem shalom.

I. Sh'mi Yitzchak, ayeh achi, ayeh achi?
Sh'mi Yitzchack, ayeh achi Yishmael?
My name is Isaac, where's my brother?
Where's my brother?
My name is Isaac, where's my brother Ishmael?
Salaam aleikum, aleikum salaam, salaam
Salaam aleikum, aleikum salaam

II. Ismi Ismael, wayn achi, wayn achi?
Ismi Ismael, wayn achi, Is-hak?
My name is Ishmael, where's my brother?
Where's my brother?
My name is Ishmael, where's my brother Isaac?

Shalom aleichem, aleichem shalom, shalom
Shalom aleichem, aleichem shalom

III. Born on the same Land
guided by the same God hand
We were torn apart,
And it broke our father's heart.
I was bound on the altar.
you were left to wander.
Both of us sacrificed,
And it broke our father's heart.

Salaam aleikum, aleikum salaam, salaam
Salaam aleikum, aleikum salaam

IV. When our father Abraham died,
We laid him down, you and I.
Then our brother bonds were broken,
and it broke our father's heart.
Our children's children don't know why
they must fight and kill and die.
We are slaughtering each other It breaks our father's heart.

Shalom aleichem, aleichem shalom, shalom
Shalom aleichem, aleichem shalom

IV. O Isaac I dream of you in the desert sands!
O Ishmael I dream of you in the hills!
O Ishmael can we share our father's land?
O Isaac can our mothers, too, be friends again?

Salaam aleikum, aleichem shalom, salaam
Shalom aleichem, aleikum salaam.
O Isaac, can we live free at last?
O Ishmael, with Justice in the land?
We are brothers, can we live in peace again?
O Abraham, father, can we heal your broken heart?

Salaam aleikum, aleichem shalom, salaam
Shalom aleichem, aleikum salaam.

To hear the song actually sung, you can download an mp3 file from this link. [7.0 MB - added on 9-30-05]