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 TalmudThe rabbinic compendium of lore and legend composed between 200 and 500 CE. Study of the Talmud is the focus of rabbinic scholarship. The Talmud has two versions, the main Babylonian version (Bavli) and the smaller Jerusalem version (Yerushalmi). It is written in Rabbinic Hebrew and Aramaic.
rise to the heavens as smoke from a pyre
in Paris, Toulouse, Porpignon
in Rome too where the pious
watched the words of the TalmudThe rabbinic compendium of lore and legend composed between 200 and 500 CE. Study of the Talmud is the focus of rabbinic scholarship. The Talmud has two versions, the main Babylonian version (Bavli) and the smaller Jerusalem version (Yerushalmi). It is written in Rabbinic Hebrew and Aramaic.
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
ShabbatShabbat is the Sabbath day, the Day of Rest, and is observed from Friday night through Saturday night. Is set aside from the rest of the week both in honor of the fact that God rested on the seventh day after creating the world. On Shabbat, many Jews observe prohibitions from various activities designated as work. Shabbat is traditionally observed with festive meals, wine, challah, prayers, the reading and studying of Torah, conjugal relations, family time, and time with friends. prayers silenced
then whispered as kaddishThe Aramaic memorial prayer for the dead. Mourners recite this prayer at every service, every day, in the presence of a minyan (prayer quorum) over the course of a year (for a parent) or thirty days (for a sibling or offspring). The prayer actually makes no mention of the dead, but rather prays for the sanctification and magnification of God's name.
reminds me of the blood shed
at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life
ShabbatShabbat is the Sabbath day, the Day of Rest, and is observed from Friday night through Saturday night. Is set aside from the rest of the week both in honor of the fact that God rested on the seventh day after creating the world. On Shabbat, many Jews observe prohibitions from various activities designated as work. Shabbat is traditionally observed with festive meals, wine, challah, prayers, the reading and studying of Torah, conjugal relations, family time, and time with friends. prayers silenced
then whispered as kaddishThe Aramaic memorial prayer for the dead. Mourners recite this prayer at every service, every day, in the presence of a minyan (prayer quorum) over the course of a year (for a parent) or thirty days (for a sibling or offspring). The prayer actually makes no mention of the dead, but rather prays for the sanctification and magnification of God's name.
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 HanukkahThe holiday which celebrates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem following its conquest by the Syrians in 165 BCE. The holiday is celebrated by lighting candles in a hanukiyah oon each of eight nights. Other customs include the eating of fried foods such as latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiot (jelly donuts), playing dreidl (a gambling game with a spinning top), and, in present day America, gift giving.
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.
