Sunday, January 01, 2006

THE LAST NIGHT OF HANUKKAH


Tonight we light the last candle of the Hanukkah Menorah with the prayer that someday we as Jews will all live toghether in Israel in peace. Happy Hanukkah everyone! I hope everyone enjoyed the virtual menorah.

Last night at the Lisa Lampeneli show in Kalamazoo, which by the way I have not laughed harder in my life...She was a hoot. She asked a Jewish man in the audience, "Just how long is your holiday?" And I thought to myself for a minute, The merchandising of Christmas began before Thanksgiving this year. I would have to say, that as long as some of our Jewish holidays are, nothing, and I mean nothing beats the length of the Christmas season.

Happy Holidays All!

BLESSING OVER THE CANDLES:

Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam
asher kidishanu b'mitz'votav v'tzivanu
l'had'lik neir shel Chanukah. (Amein)

BLESSING FOR HANUKKAH:

Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam
she'asah nisim la'avoteinu bayamim haheim baziman hazeh. (Amein)


From Peter Yarrow's "Light One Candle"
Light one candle for the Macabee children, with thanks that their light did'nt 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 peacemaker's time is at hand

Don't let the light go out!
It's lasted for so many years!
Don't 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 that's valued so highly
That we keep it alive in that flame?
What's the commitment to those who have died
That we cry out they've 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!

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