| Joseph Friedlander, comp. The Standard Book of Jewish Verse. 1917. | | | | Chanukah | | By Margaret Freeman |
| | | 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, | 5 |
| Granted in our darkest hour; | |
| Speak of him who made us free, | |
| Israel’s champion—Maccabee. | |
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| What is slav’ry’s iron chain | |
| To the thrall of heart and brain? | 10 |
| 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, | 15 |
| Or the soul’s perpetual night? | |
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| Wake, then, rouse then candles bright, | |
| Sleeping Israel, with your light! | |
| Tell them that our chains of old | |
| Meant but passing pains untold. | 20 |
| But our fetters forged each day, | |
| Are blots we must wipe away; | |
| Had we courage to be free, | |
| Would we need a Maccabee? | | | | |
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