December 07, 2007
O Little Lights of Mystery
O little lights of mystery
You recall our history
And all that went before
The battles and the bravery
And our release from slavery
Miracles galore.
As my eyes behold your flames
I recall our heroes' names
And our ancient dream:
“Jews were learning how to fight
To defeat an awesome might
They could reign supreme”
“They would rule their own domain
When the enemy was slain,
The Temple cleansed and whole.
Once there was a Jewish land
And a mighty Jewish hand.”
Oh, how it moves my soul!
O little lights of mystery
You retell our history
Your tales are tales of pain.
My heart is filled with fears
My eyes are filled with tears
"What now?" says the haunting refrain
The above Chanukah poem was written by Morris Rosenfeld, in Yiddish, at a time when the land of Israel was a dream within a dream and the idea of Jews fighting for and gaining their homeland seemed impossible. Morris died in 1924, before the dream first became a reality, and then, became a nightmare:
Hell is a Jewish state devoid of Jewish values that picks up where the anti-Semites, the pogromers, and the exilers left off. Hell is a Jewish prime minister who has become a cannibal of his own people. Hell is when a country has lost its will to exist and begins a process of national suicide. Hell is when Jews with Jewish values have become outcast in their own land. Hell is when the Jewish state becomes worse than the exile. - Gershon Perlman
Tonight is not just Shabbat, its Shabbat Chanukah.
Isaiah 31:4 For thus saith the LORD unto me: Like as the lion, or the young lion, growling over his prey, though a multitude of shepherds be called forth against him, will not be dismayed at their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them; so will the LORD of hosts come down to fight upon mount Zion, and upon the hill thereof.
Isaiah 31:5 As birds hovering, so will the LORD of hosts protect Jerusalem; He will deliver it as He protecteth it, He will rescue it as He passeth over.
I believe in miracles.
Our Father in Heaven, Rock and Redeemer of Israel, bless the State of Israel, the first manifestation of the approach of our redemption. Shield it with Your loving kindness, envelop it in Your peace, and bestow Your light and truth upon its leaders, ministers, and advisors, and grace them with Your good counsel. Strengthen the hands of those who defend our holy land, grant them deliverance, and adorn them in a mantle of victory.
Ordain peace in the land and grant its inhabitants eternal happiness. Lead them, swiftly and upright, to Your city Zion and to Jerusalem, the abode of Your Name, as is written in the Torah of Your servant Moses: “Even if your outcasts are at the ends of the world, from there the Lord your God will gather you, from there He will fetch you. And the Lord your God will bring you to the land that your fathers possessed, and you shall possess it; and He will make you more prosperous and more numerous than your fathers.”
Draw our hearts together to revere and venerate Your name and to observe all the precepts of Your Torah, and send us quickly the Messiah son of David, agent of Your vindication, to redeem those who await Your deliverance.
Manifest yourself in the splendor of Your boldness before the eyes of all inhabitants of Your world, and may everyone endowed with a soul affirm that the Lord, God of Israel, is king and his dominion is absolute.
Amen.
Posted by LindaSoG at December 7, 2007 07:00 AM
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Comments
Amen.
Am Yisrael Chai.
Posted by: Vinnie at December 7, 2007 04:39 PM
Beautiful stuff, Miss Linda, Happy days to you.
Wollf
Posted by: howlsatmoon at December 7, 2007 06:02 PM