The shamash sheds light
on my tabletop
covered with chocolate gelt
crispy latkes
jelly-filled sufganiyot
on my tabletop
covered with chocolate gelt
crispy latkes
jelly-filled sufganiyot
It also sheds light
on the suffering
we have endured
for ages upon ages
at the hands of others
on the suffering
we have endured
for ages upon ages
at the hands of others
I gaze into the first flame
and am taken back to Persia,
to England, to Prague
when our people’s books
were turned to soot
and am taken back to Persia,
to England, to Prague
when our people’s books
were turned to soot
In the second flame,
I’m transported to Milan,
Antioch, Daphne, Ravenna
and I see synagogues
flattened by fire and hate
I’m transported to Milan,
Antioch, Daphne, Ravenna
and I see synagogues
flattened by fire and hate
For the third flame
I time travel to Toledo,
Seville, Cracow, Lisbon
where Jews’ lives were at stake
figuratively and literally
I time travel to Toledo,
Seville, Cracow, Lisbon
where Jews’ lives were at stake
figuratively and literally
I’m in France for the fourth flame
in Paris, Toulouse, Porpignon
in Rome too where the pious
watched the words of the Talmud
rise to the heavens as smoke from a pyre
in Paris, Toulouse, Porpignon
in Rome too where the pious
watched the words of the Talmud
rise to the heavens as smoke from a pyre
Images of Kristallnacht
are forever burned into my memory
with the fifth flame
the broken glass crackling beneath my feet
shimmering in the synagogues’ blaze
are forever burned into my memory
with the fifth flame
the broken glass crackling beneath my feet
shimmering in the synagogues’ blaze
On the sixth night, the red flame
reminds me of the blood shed
at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life
Shabbat prayers silenced
then whispered as kaddish
reminds me of the blood shed
at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life
Shabbat prayers silenced
then whispered as kaddish
The seventh candle is symbolic
as I recall the October 7 massacre
the Nova Festival turned from celebration to slaughter
peace-loving kibbutzniks killed en masse
lives snuffed out too soon
as I recall the October 7 massacre
the Nova Festival turned from celebration to slaughter
peace-loving kibbutzniks killed en masse
lives snuffed out too soon
It’s the eighth night of Hanukkah
and, despite it all,
I see reflected in the light
the faces of my family.
I see hope.
and, despite it all,
I see reflected in the light
the faces of my family.
I see hope.
