Light Just One Candle

The festival Hanukkah began at midnight on December 21^st. It is an is a eight-day holiday and thus ended yesterday. Therefore, it is really too late for me to say Happy Hanukkah—or, Chanukah, if you prefer.

The story of Hanukkah is based upon history. You can read the entire historical background of Judah Maccabee and his four brothers in the deuterocanonical books of the Maccabees.

Central to the festival is the menorah. If you read any of the references in the above paragraph, then you grasp the significance of the lighted candles.

The flames symbolize not only remembrance of the rededication of the temple after its desecration, but also that Light of God—of God’s Love, Justice, and Peace—cannot be put out.

All we need do is to light one candle.

Light one candle for the maccabee children

With thanks that their light didnt die

Light one candle for the pain they endured

When their right to exist was denied

Light one candle for the terrible sacrifice

Justice and freedom demand

But light one candle for the wisdom to know

When the peacemakers time is at hand

Chorus:

Dont let the light go out!

Its lasted for so many years!

Dont let the light go out!

Let it shine through our love and our tears.

Light one candle for the strength that we need

To never become our own foe

And light one candle for those who are suffering

Pain we learned so long ago

Light one candle for all we believe in

That anger not tear us apart

And light one candle to find us together

With peace as the song in our hearts

(chorus)

What is the memory thats valued so highly

That we keep it alive in that flame? 

Whats the commitment to those who have died

That we cry out theyve not died in vain? 

We have come this far always believing

That justice would somehow prevail

This is the burden, this is the promise

This is why we will not fail!

(chorus)

Dont let the light go out!

Dont let the light go out!

Dont let the light go out!

Shalom, my friends.

Salaam, my friends.

Peace, my friends.

Please take a moment and click over to Listening to the Tune in Dialogue, a blog related to Radio Salaam Shalom, an internet radio station for Jewish-Muslim dialogue.

Hanukkah 2007

Hanukkah commemorates the rededication in 164 BCE of the Second Temple of Jerusalem after its desecration three years earlier by order of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the Syrian king who attempted eradicate the Jewish faith.

Hayo, haya, melech rasha, melech rasha.
Charbo chada, umlutasha, umlutasha
Mihu? Antiochus, Antiochus.

Let us remember reign of terror, reign of terror
King who murdered pain forever, pain forever
Who then? Antiochus, Antiochus
Antiochus, Antiochus

The blood he spilled, Jerusalem, Jerusalem
So many killed, gone all of them, gone all of them
Who then? Antiochus, Antiochus

Our hearts he broke, he burned the Torah, burned the Torah
Ash and smoke, the crushed menorah, crushed menorah
Who then? Antiochus, Antiochus

Arise our hero, Judah save us, Judah save us
Prize so dear, the vict'ry gave us, freedom gave us
Who then? Macabeus, Macabeus

Oh sing our songs and praise the Torah, praise the Torah
Right the wrongs and light menorah, light menorah
When then? Chanukah, Chanukah

[Peter Yarrow]