In days of old, when shadows grew
a temple stood, defiled, askew.
The faithful rose, a steadfast few
with hearts of flame, they sought the true.
Antiochus’ rule, harsh and grim
decreed to quench the sacred hymn.
But Judah led, with courage bright
against the dark, he lit the fight.
Through fierce battle, they claimed the day
the temple cleansed, its stones did say:
“Restore the light, let faith renew
dedicate this house anew.”
A single jar of oil was found
enough for one day’s flame unbound.
Yet heaven’s hand, a wondrous sight
sustained the glow for eight full nights.
So now we kindle candles gleam
to honor faith, to live the dream.
Each night a spark, each spark a thread
of miracles in days long fled.
The dreidelA four-sided top bearing the letters "nun," "gimel," "hay," and "shin" for "nes gadol haya sham" - a great miracle happened there. In Israel, dreidels have a "peh" for "po" (here) -- a great miracle happened here. Played with on Chanukah in a gambling game, traditionally using chocolate gelt as the wager. spins, and the gelt is shared
songs resound; hearts are prepared.
Through Hanukkah’s glow, a truth is told:
the light of spirit never grows old.
Remember this, as nights grow cold
the story’s flame, its lesson bold:
Through vast trials, the soul can soar
and the light will shine forevermore.
