THE FEAST OF LIGHTS

But chiefly when Thy liberal hand
Scatters new plenty o'er the land;
When sounds of music fill the air,

And homeward all their treasures bear;
We too will raise

Our hymn of praise,

For we Thy common bounties share.

Lord of the harvest, all is Thine!
The rains that fall, the suns that shine,
The seed once hidden in the ground,
The skill that makes our fruits abound!
New, every year,
Thy gifts appear;

New praises from our lips shall sound!

241

JOHN HAMPDEN GURNEY

109

THE FEAST OF LIGHTS

Kindle the taper like the steadfast star

Ablaze on evening's forehead o'er the earth, And add each night a lustre, till afar

An eightfold splendor shine above the hearth. Clash, Israel, the cymbals, touch the lyre,

Blow the brass trumpet and the harsh-tongued

horn;

Chant psalms of vict'ry till the heart takes fire,
The Maccabean spirit leap new-born.

Remember how from wintry dawn till night,
Such songs were sung in Zion, when again
On the high altar flamed the sacred light,
And, purified from every Syrian stain,

The foam-white walls with golden shields were hung,

With crowns and silken spoils, and at the shrine Stood, midst their conqueror-tribe, five chieftains,

sprung

From one heroic stock, one seed divine.

Five branches grown from Mattathias' stem,
The Blessed John, the Keen-Eyed Jonathan,
Simon the Fair, the Burst-of-Spring, the Gem,
Eleazar, Help-of-God; o'er all his clan
Judas, the Lion-Prince, th' Avenging-Rod,

Towered in warrior-beauty, uncrowned king, Armed with the breastplate and the sword of God, Whose praise is: "He received the perishing."

They who had camped within the mountain-pass, Couched on the rock, and tented 'neath the sky, Who saw from Mizpah's heights the tangled grass Choke the wide temple courts; the altar lie Disfigured and polluted; who had flung

Their faces on the stones, and mourned aloud, And rent their garments, wailing with one tongue, Crushed as a wind-swept bed of reeds is bowed,

CHANUKAH

243

E'en they, by one voice fired, one heart of flame, Though broken reeds, had risen and were men; They rushed upon the spoiler and o'ercame;

Each arm for freedom had the strength of ten. Now is their mourning into dancing turned,

Their sackcloth doffed for garments of delight; Week-long the festive torches shall be burned, Music and revelry wed day and night.

Still ours the dance, the feast, the glorious Psalm, The mystic lights of emblem, and the Word. Where is our Judas? Where our five-branched

palm?

Where are the lion-warriors of the Lord?

Clash, Israel, the cymbals, touch the lyre,

Sound the brass trumpet and the harsh-tongued

horn,

Chant hymns of vict'ry till the heart takes fire,
The Maccabean spirit leap new-born!

ΙΙΟ

EMMA LAZARUS

CHANUKAH

I

We welcome thee joyfully, 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.

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.

They fought like true heroes for God, law, and land,

To victory leading their heroic band,
The enemy dreaded the name Maccabee,
He perished or fled, and Judea was free!

Once more was Jerusalem happy and gay,
When Judah returned in triumphant array;
Then songs of victorious joy and of praise
Arose from God's Temple, all brilliant, ablaze.

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!

RABBI LOUIS STERN

CHANUKAH

245

III

CHANUKAH

II

[This can be sung to the traditional Chanukah Hymn found in all Jewish Hymnals.]

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.

RABBI LOUIS STERN