Nachman Bialik
Avraham Levinson.
Poet and prophet. Lamenting Israel's dirge upon the willows of its exile, and seeing the vision of its revival on the soil of the homeland. Chastising and rebuking his people in the poetry of his wrath, and heralding tomorrow's redemption in hymns of consolation. —
Prince of Hebrew literature. First and foremost in the assembly of our writers. Architect of the sanctuary of our literature's revival. A just balance in the scales of our culture.
A man of all learning, a master of collections. Keeper of the keys to the treasuries of our culture, awakening and reviving slumbering generations, gathering and collecting the forgotten things of the past.
Commentator and expounder of the plain sense. Illuminating with the light of his reason the twilight of thought, reviving the corpses of language and uncovering its mysteries.
Teacher and guide. Teacher and educator of the perplexed of our time, leading those who have lost their way towards tomorrow.
Mighty one of the generation, a knight of will and ability, who straightened the bent of back and the low of spirit, who roused to rebellion those bereft of counsel and help, who raised the dead of the desert from the eternal sleep of their slavery.
A bright-eyed messenger of the people who uncovered light, revealed light to those wandering in darkness.
Bialik — happy the generation that was privileged to have him — and woe to the generation from which he was taken!