Sisters, or Double Chai

My mother always said:
"Be loyal to your sister."
By which she meant:
Do not complain about,
embarrass
or in any other way betray
this person, this younger sibling,
in public.
No matter how much she may
irritate,
disappoint
or perhaps simply confound you,
in word or in deed,
you keep it to yourself.
And if you should hear anyone
criticize this sister of yours,
you must defend her.

You must be loyal.

Now that I am older,
my mother's words assume new meaning
and shape my stance toward Israel.
By which I mean:
I will not complain about,
embarrass
or in any other way betray
this land and its people,
this younger sibling to my American self.
When I hear Others criticize Israel,
my pulse speeds, my hands shake,
my heart and soul and words leap up and out.
Like my younger sister,
Israel shares my blood.
I shall keep any quarrels to myself,
because those outside the family
do not love her as a sister can,
and does.

-Erika Dreifus

Erika Dreifus is the author of Quiet Americans, a short story collection scheduled for release in early 2011. Erika's poetry has appeared previously in New Vilna Review (http://www.newvilnareview.com/poetry/mannheim-and-diaspora.html); new poems are forthcoming in Moment Magazine and the Christian Science Monitor.