How lucky are we
That we have lights so that we can see
Although day is done
What a miracle that a spark
Lifts these candles out of the dark
Every evening one by one
Until the end of Hanukkah
Of Hanukkah
With the jingle bells and the toys
And the TV shows and the noise
It's easy to forget
At the end of the day
Our whole family will say
These words for Hanukkah
Barukh Atah Adonai
Elohaynu Melekh h'olom
Asher kid 'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu
L'hadlik nehr shel hanukkah
("Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe,
who has sanctified us with commandments
and commanded us to light Hanukkah candles")
We light the candles for Hanukkah
For Hanukkah
We remember how Maccabees
Fought so all of us could be free
And so we celebrate
On this festival of the lights
There's a joyful time every night
Where we illuminate
The candles of Hanukkah
Of Hanukkah
Barukh Atah Adonai
Elohaynu Melekh h'olom
She'asah neesim l'avotaynu
Bayamin hahem ba'zman hazeh
Hanukkah
Hanukkah
("Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe
Who performed wonders for our ancestors in those
Ancient days at this season")
~ Steven Page (for Barenaked Ladies)
You can thank me for not recycling the Adam Sandler "Chanukah Song," right? Barenaked Ladies, a Canadian band, put out Barenaked for the Holidays in 2004. The album contains both Christmas and Hanukkah songs, along with songs about winter and the traditional "Auld Lang Syne." Today is the first day of Hanukkah, so blessings to all.
I am a non-Jew, so forgive me if I get any of this wrong. Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the temple by the Maccabees in 167 BC after fighting the Syrians for three years. As the story is told, they had enough oil to light the Menorah (which symbolizes the light of God's presence) for one day, but it burned for eight days. It was considered a miracle and is celebrated with love and honor by the Jewish community.
While I am not a fan of organized religion, I have great respect for tradition, whether religious or ethnic or patriotic or communal or family-based. My children had dreidels and read storybooks about Hanukkah. We ate latkes and applesauce on Hanukkah, despite the fact that we were not Jewish. While I will not be participating in those rituals this year, I am mindful of the devotion to faith by those who will. Chag Urim Sameach!
How to end this post? Sorry, I can't resist:
Tell your friend Veronica
It's time to celebrate Chanukah
I hope I get a harmonica
Oh, this lovely, lovely Chanukah
So drink your gin and tonicah
And smoke your marijuanikah
If you really, really wannakah
Have a happy, happy, happy, happy Chanukah
Happy Chanukah!
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