Chanukah

LITTLE candles shed your light
And illuminate our night;

Tell your tale of conquests won,
Of Judea's warrior son;

Of the faith-born wondrous power,
Granted in our darkest hour;
Speak of him who made us free,
Israel's champion-Maccabee.

What is slav'ry's iron chain
To the thrall of heart and brain?
What's the tyrant's rage so blind,
To the listless human mind?
Or the champion's cunning skill,
To the independent will?

Which is worse—a cell's dim light,
Or the soul's perpetual night?

Wake, then, rouse then candles bright,
Sleeping Israel, with your light!
Tell them that our chains of old
Meant but passing pains untold.
But our fetters forged each day,
Are blots we must wipe away;
Had we courage to be free,
Would we need a Maccabee?

MARGARET FREEMAN.

Chanukah

'HE hand of Time moves o'er the dial,

THE

And guides the seasons through the year;

It drives the sorrow from our hearts—
Behold the Feast of Lights is here!

The Feast of Lights-old mem'ries stir,
And pride within our breast soars high,
We live again in ancient days,

When Judah's glory was the cry.

We see the Maccabees of old

Bow low within the house of God;
Where Syrian hands defiled the halls,
Where Israel's patriarchs had trod.

Now light we tapers for their deeds;
Awak'ning in each heart a prayer,
That we may like the Maccabees
The glory and the valor share.

The Feast of Lights-a time when hope
Throws off the yoke of sorrow's rod,
To wing its way above the flames
That leap to glory and to God!

CECILIA G. GERSON.

Mo'oz Tsur Yeshu'osi
(A Chanukah Hymn)

MIGHTY, praised beyond compare,

Rock of my salvation,

Build again my house of pray'r

For Thy habitation!

Haste my restoration; let a ransomed nation
Joyful sing

To its King

Psalms of dedication!

Woe was mine in Egypt-land

(Tyrant kings enslaved me)

Till Thy mighty, outstretched Hand

From oppression saved me.

Pharaoh, rash pursuing, vowed my swift undoing; Soon, his host

That proud boast

'Neath the waves was rueing!

To Thy Holy Hill, the way

Mad'st Thou clear before me;

With false gods I went astray

Foes to exile bore me.

Torn from all I cherished, almost had I perished;

Babylon fell,
Zerubabel

Bad'st Thou to restore me!

Then the vengeful Haman wrought
Subtly to betray me;

In his snare himself he caught—

He that plann'd to slay me.

(Haled from Esther's palace, hanged on his own

When the brave Asmonèans broke
Javan's chain in sunder,

Through the holy oil, Thy folk

Didst Thou show a wonder.

Ever full remain-ed the vessel unprofan-ed;
These eight days,

Lights and praise

Therefore, were ordain-ed.

Lord, Thy Holy Arm make bare,
Speed my restoration;

Be my martyr's blood Thy care

Judge each guilty nation.

Long is my probation; sore my tribulation;

Bid, from Heaven,

Thy shepherds seven,

Haste to my salvation!

Translated by Solomon Solis Cohen.

Chanukah

I

E welcome thee joyfully, glorious night,

WE

We hail thee with pleasure, O Chanukah light! Its lustre so brilliant, invites us to joy, Invites us to praise Him, the great Adonoy.

He was our Redeemer in dark days of old,
When Syria's mad ruler, proud, cruel, and bold,
Proclaimed through Judea: "Your God I defy;
Bow down to my idols and worship-or die!"

Of brave, pious martyrs these bright candles tell,
Who yielded their soul, praying: "Hear, Israel!"
Of Hannah, the mother and seven sons so dear,
Who sealed with their life-blood their faith without
fear.

But Israel's God never slumbers nor sleeps,
He ever is near him who mournfully weeps,
He saw our oppression, and, hearing our pleas,
Awakened, to save us the brave Maccabees.

Be welcome then, welcome, O glorious night,
We hail thee with pleasure, O Chanukah light!
Its lustre, so brilliant invites us to joy,
Invites us to praise Him the great Adonoy!

II

Let our grateful anthems ring,
Joyous songs and gladsome lays,
To our God and Heavenly King,
Sing His glory! Sound His praise!
He who never sleepeth

Israel safely keepeth,

Hears their cry, from on high,

E'er when Judah weepeth.

Syria's mad and mighty host
Fiercely down upon us swept.
To destroy us was their boast;
Israel trembled, Judah wept!
But behold! salvation

God wrought for our nation,
Sending light, clear and bright,
'Midst our tribulation.

"Feast of Lights"-O glorious name!
Cast thy rays o'er land and seas;
Kindle in all hearts the flame
That inspired the Maccabees;
Heroes to be ever,

Cowards, traitors-never!

And to love God above,

Right and truth forever.

LOUIS STERN.

Vashti

IN all great Shushan's palaces was there
Not one, O Vashti, knowing thee so well,
Poor uncrowned queen, that he the world could
tell

How thou wert pure and loyal-souled as fair?
How it was love which made thee bold to dare
Refuse the shame which madmen would compel?
Not one, who saw the bitter tears that fell
And heard thy cry heart-rending on the air:

"Ah me! My Lord could not this thing have meant!
He well might loathe me ever, if I go
Before these drunken princes as a show.
I am his queen; I come of king's descent,
I will not let him bring our crown so low;
He will but bless me when he doth repent!"
HELEN HUNT JACKSON.