Joseph Friedlander, comp. The Standard Book of Jewish Verse. 1917.
By Isidore MyersThe Eight Chanukah Lights
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And glory and praise to His name we accord,
While we greet with great gladness this glorious night
And piously kindle each Chanukah light.
We’ll ever feel grateful for what He has done;
When all our race was as dark as the night
Said the Guardian of Israel, “Let there be light!”
Whose words were engraved on two tablets of stone;
And our people were chosen, with zeal and with might,
To spread through the world the great heavenly light.
As true to their God as the patriarchs three,
Whose faith was a star which was shining so bright
That the gloom of the world was illumed by its light.
See the Israelites keeping the Chanukah feast,
Who, just like ourselves, are performing the rite
Of piously kindling each Chanukah light.
The sons of our people will ever revere,
With the courage of heroes did fight for the right,
And God’s Temple they cleansed and rekindled the light.
And woe unto him who his duty doth shirk!
Though the battle of life is a hard one to fight,
With heaven’s assistance our task is made light.
We should joyfully welcome the day of sweet rest,
For our lives are made happy and rendered more bright
By the joys of the Sabbath, its peace and its light.
To continue to labor for God and mankind,
Till the day shall arrive when all men will unite
To serve the one God and to walk in His light.