Friday, December 11, 2009

Happy Chanukah!

It's that time of year again, time to light the candles once more, so here is my poetic rendering of our holiday, once more:





Eight Lights








One
Light
For
Liberty

Freedom from slavery and tyranny
From oppression and persecution
Freedom to live in harmony
With the Earth and with Heaven





One
Light
For
Law

Justice and equality
Human rights and human dignity
Peaceful coexistence
An end to war and violence





One
Light
For
Leaders

To stand up for liberty and bow to the law
To lead by example with courage and wisdom
To be a hammer that builds as well as a hammer of war
With a passion for peace, for justice, and for freedom





One
Light
For
Letters

Four on a dreidel
Twenty-two in total
Infinite in combination
Endless in education
An alphabet aligned with order
A numbering of our works, days, names
Books—greater than any leader
Knowledge stored transcends our times





One
Light
For
Learning

Reading, writing, remembering
Studying, questioning, understanding
Preserving tradition
Saving continuity from being lost
Moving forward—evolution
Avoiding errors of the past
Teachers—the highest calling
Bring to the world much needed healing





One
Light
For
Life

A sacred gift
Most precious of all
Vessel of the spirit
Root of liberty and law





One
Light
For
Love

Courtship and Family
Friends and Neighbors
Community and Humanity
Creations and Creators





One
Light
For
Laughter

Spinning dreidels
Chocolate gelt
Jelly doughnuts
Potato latkes
Giving gifts
Singing songs
Saying blessings
Children playing
Family visiting
Friends gathering
Lifting hearts
Kissing keppellahs
Glowing candles
Eight nights
Eight lights
Happy Chanukah!





8 8 8 8 L 8 8 8 8

L L L L I L L L L
A O I E G E E A I
U V F A H T A W B
G E E R T T D 2 E
H 7 6 N S E E 2 R
T 7 6 I 0 R R 2 T
E 7 6 N 0 S S 2 Y
R 7 6
G 0 4 3 2 1
8 7 6 5 0 4 3 2 1



















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