Leyb Opeskin lyrics

Leyb Opeskin was born on January 1, 1908 in Vilna. Before the outbreak of World War II, Opeskin had been a member of the Communist Party. He later joined the פאַראײניקטע פּאַרטיזאַנער אָרגאַניזאַציע (United Partisan Organization — FPO), which was established in the Vilna ghetto in 1942.

The FPO cooperated with the Soviet partisans, helping to fight against the Nazis in the forests around Vilna. Opeskin was one of a number of poets and writers who began to write songs to promote the partisan cause and provide morale for the fighters.

Most of the partisan songs dealt with the themes of heroic bravery, the endurance of the Jewish nation in the face of their enemies, and revenge against them. A number of the songs are still sung today, including Opeskin’s “פאַר וואָס איז דער הימל? (Why Was the Sky?).”

Opeskin also wrote several poems dedicated to the Soviets, in anticipation of their victory over the Germans. One such poem is entitled “To the Red Tankman.”

In the summer of 1944 the partisans in Vilna increased their harassment of the Germans and Opeskin was killed on July 11, 1944, in one of the last battles before the liberation of the city.