Zion Train: Bob Marley and Theodore Herzl

Today, the 11th of the Hebrew month of Iyar* and 11th of May, is both Theodore Herzl Day and the anniversary of the death of Bob Marley.

Bob Marley, lover of Zion, a prophet and seer, Rastafarian and messianic believer, iconoclast, natural mystic man, voice of struggle and liberation. He died young and exhausted, having traveled the world with a message born long before him that he reenchanted, reenergized, and that continued to bloom long after he had gone. 

Theodore Herzl, lover of Zion, a prophet and seer, Jew and messianic believer, iconoclast, natural mystic man, voice of struggle and liberation. He died young and exhausted, having traveled the world with a message born long before him that he reenchanted, reenergized, and that continued to bloom long after he had gone. 

Bob Marley sang:

Zion train is coming our way
The Zion train is coming our way
Oh, people, get on board
Thank the Lord
I gotta catch a train, 'cause there is no other station;
Then you going in the same direction 

Zion's train is coming our way
The Zion's train is coming our way 

Which man can save his brother's soul?
Oh man, it's just self control.
Don't gain the world and lose your soul
Wisdom is better than silver and gold
To the bridge
Oh, where there's a will
There's always a way
Where there's a will,
There's always a way 

Soul train is coming our way
Zion train is coming our way 

Two thousand years of history
Could not be wiped away so easily
Two thousand years of history
Could not be wiped so easily
Oh, children, Zion train is comin' our way

Theodore Herzl

Theodore Herzl said:

Some people do not understand us correctly and believe that the goal of our effort is to return to our land. Our ideal is going forwards then that - our ideal is the vision of the Great eternal truth; it is an ideal that always goes forward; it is an ideal that never ends, it is always growing, so that every step forward that we take, our horizon keep going ahead of us, and in perspective we see before us the purpose that is greater and more noble, which we’ll try to put ourselves towards.*

Here's to wild dreamers, huge hearts, and continuing echoes of best laid plans for Zion.

*Theodore Herzl Day is held on the 10th of the Hebrew Month of Iyar, which fell on Shabbat this year, pushing celebration to the 1th.

**Thanks to my friend Yair Bamberger for pointing out the special shared significance of this day.