Candle Marathon
Sedentary and stuck in place. Has really gone much further, Then the greatest marathon race. It has walked and run, Its survival a major feat It has sprinted and swam. To beat the best athlete. It's come a very long way, All through time and space From times ancient 'til now Virtually all over the place. Overcoming hurdles Its eight little wicks With valor and strength Outshine the Olympics. Its torch has passed, From the Maccabee band One generation to the next, And from hand to hand. It hails from the Temple And its Maccabees loyal When Syrian Greeks invaded, And defiled all pure oil. Only one cruse remained It didn't stand a chance Yet the light persisted And spread to all lands. Illuminating the Dark Ages In the poor shtetl and ghetto Where they faithfully carved Their Menorahs from potato. Despite the nightmare Of Hitler's Death Camps, And in Soviet Gulags We still kindled our lamps. We'd light it furtively quick, Or very cautiously slow, The Menorah we kindled Whether spirits ran high or low. Israel's soldiers lit Menorahs After Yom Kippur's War of Attrition In ammo casings filled with oil And a fiery sense of mission. Chanukah's Light shines forth In Peace and in War Starting with one candle Each night it adds one more. Continuing links in a chain Of generations gone by The present relay runners – They are You and I. The Grand Relay of light Will overcome evil men Of Al Quaeda and intifada And attacks of Nine Eleven. It's the light at the end of the tunnel Redemption our hope and aspiration When Israel will finally Be a Light to all the nations. (c)2002 Rabbi Israel Rubin
More in this section
- On the Lighter Side
- Your Guide to Buying Draydels
- The Amazing Olive
- Shlopping for Chanuka
- Listening To The Lights