He was a leader of rebels. They lived in the mountains and they sought their independence. They would come down and fight against the Russian forces, and run back to the mountains to seek refuge.

One day, the Russians told Shamil that they wanted to make a peace treaty. But it was a trick. As soon as Shamil came down, they arrested him and threw him into jail.

Shamil sat in jail and looked through the window at the mountains above. And he started to sing.

It was a song of longing. Wishing for the time when........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)