Avshalom & Rebecca/The Last Kiss Was Missing

A true story ... A tearjerker even ... In 1915, Sarah Aaronsohn fell for the handsome & dashing Avshalom Feinberg. But she was heartbroken when fell in love with Sarah's, Aaron's and Alex's younger sister (who is not mentioned in the Wikipedia excerpt) Rebecca. He and Rebecca courted and, just before Avshalom set off on his fatal mission to Egypt, agreed to marry after the war. He said that he would come back to her; she said that she would wait for him. Avshalom, of course, never returned.

Rebecca was inconsolable. She never married ... The only knowledge regarding Avshalom Feinberg's fate was the testimony of Lishansky, a team member. He said that he & Feinberg were caught in the crossfire when their Bedouin guides became involved in a gunfight with local Bedouin (from another tribe) near Rafiah. He said that Feinberg was shot and killed.

Fast forward about 50 years. In 1967, after the Six Day War, the Israel Defense Forces established a military government in Sinai. IDF military government officers in the Rafiah area learned that a certain date palm in the area was referred to by the locals as kubr yehudi, "Jewish grave." They went to investigate and, lo and behold, discovered Avshalom Feinberg's remains (which were subsequently positively identified). The date palm had (in the 50 years since his death) sprouted from dates that Feinberg was carrying in his pockets when he was killed. The tree's roots were entwined around his bones. Feinberg's remains were re interred with full military honors at the IDF cemetery on Mt. Herzl in Jerusalem. An elderly and frail Rebecca Aaronsohn was present and was given the flag that draped Feinberg's coffin. She passed away a few years later.

This is such an incredible story which gives even me watery eyes! He said that he would come back to her and he did; she said that she would wait for him and she did. I cannot help but think that now, at last, thanks to God in His great mercy, that Avshalom Feinberg and Rebecca Aaronsohn are together and that he is giving her the thousand kisses that he wrote about so beautifully.

Elef Neshikot, A Thousand Kisses

First kiss on your white forehead

like a bond in the middle of your figure

and from it come out in glowing abundance

of kisses to your hair

like a crown of pearls made of kisses

I will rain down on the ebony of your curls

that you'll be my beautiful girl

the perfect princess of all the girls in the city.

A thousand kisses to you my love

a thousand a kiss and a kiss

a thousand kisses to you my dear one

so small, so sweet and beautiful.

And also to your ivory white innocent neck

flexible like the neck of a swan

I will cover in chains of kisses

girl of (pure) water, my little one

and right now I'll just put my head on your shoulder

in order to find in it your heartbeat

and kisses for no reason too without lust or limit l

ike flowers thrown by a bride.

A thousand kisses to you my love

a thousand a kiss and a kiss

a thousand kisses to you my dear one

so small, so sweet and beautiful.

The sky isn't in front of my sinful eyes

and I'm not indulging in you till I'm fully satisfied

The light isn't in front of my impure lips

and my chest is scorched until the end

thousandth kiss is not possible, love

the last kiss is missing

only 999

sweet thundering kisses

but still I'll kiss you a thousand kisses.

A thousand kisses to you my love

a thousand a kiss and a kiss

a thousand kisses to you my dear one

so small, so sweet and beautiful.

~Avshalom Feinberg's