Chanukah, a festival of lights,
Jelly doughnuts, latkes and eight exciting nights.
Keep the dreidel spinning.
Hopefully I will be winning.
Parties, gatherings, celebration.
Music, singing and jubilation.
The menorah lights aglow.
Children running to and fro.
Latkes so fresh and hot.
“Chanukah gelt!!, Chanukah gelt!!” Zaidy calls.
And suddenly everything stalls.
Einiklach, children, everyone in line,
Money from Zeidy one at a time.
Presents and Chanukah treats galore.
I can almost open up my own store.
Joy and excitement fill the air.
Gleaming faces everywhere.
With all the spinning, frying, and exhilaration,
I almost forgot Chanukahs interpretation.
Well, a long time ago, you see,
There was a man named Yehudah Hamaccabee.
When times were good,
The Holy Temple was running as it should.
To the Holy Temple everyone would come.
There was room for everyone.
Sacrifices, prayer, and song.
To visit the holy temple everyone did long.
But suddenly an evil decree,
King Antiochus, vicious as can be.
Judaism is outlawed, Torah study is banned.
Oppression and darkness befall the Jews of the land.
With a heart full of hate,
His army he sends to seal the Jews’ fate.
To Jerusalem they descend,
The services in the Holy Temple they end.
With the Holy Temple, violated and desecrated.
Antiochus’s men are extremely elated.
Seemingly, the mission accomplished,
The light of the Jews forever extinguished.
Upon hearing this dreadful news,
Sadness and anger filled the Jews.
Matisyahu the High Priest shouts with might,
Mi K’amocha B’aelim Hashem, who will join this righteous fight?
Small in numbers but full of zest,
The Jews gather, they will do their best.
To reclaim the Holy Temple they will try,
For this great cause they are ready to die.
One by one Antiochus’s men are defeated.
An army once so large completely depleted.
The Hand of Hashem is seen so clear.
For not their own might got them there.
Arriving at the Holy Temple’s door,
The Jews are shaken to the core.
A ghastly sight lay before them,
Destruction, degradation and total mayhem.
Submerged in darkness.
Their hearts filled with sadness.
Completely torn apart,
To restore order to the Holy Temple they start.
The Menorah they would like to rekindle,
But their hopes quickly dwindle.
Pure oil with the High Priests seal,
Is no where to be found in this whole ordeal.
Searching in every corner and nook.
Hopelessness, despair all around.
Suddenly, a miracle!! A flask of oil is found.
Oil enough for just one night,
But for eight days they managed to burn bright.
The light of the Menorah illuminating the way.
Casting away the darkness to this very day.
In commemoration of the miracles and salvation.
Chanukah is celebrated by the Jewish nation.
Each night another candle, another spark,
Slowly, steadily, casting away the dark.
Just like the days of Chanukah long ago,
One night’s oil, for eight days did glow,
Let the light of Chanukah shine and radiate.
Throughout the year, the darkness to illuminate.
So Happy Chanukah everyone.
Go out and have loads of fun.
But don’t forget the message it tells you…
May the Bais Hamikdash be rebuilt Bimheyrah Byameinu.