Twas a night during Hanukkah and all through the house, not a creature was stirring except for a mouse.

And Cowgirl Kitty killed it.

My Hanukkiah had been lit, and into sufganiyot and latkas I had bit and I smiled with joy that the three of them bring.

Little Marlowe gently snored on his puppy bed, and I snuggled in, with thoughts of Hanukkah in my head.

And who to my wondering eyes should appear? Judah Maccabee, it WAS him, I swear!

I sat up quite started, “Sir, you give me quite a fright, why do you appear here in the dead of the night?”

He regarded me gravely and tugged on his beard, he said so very softly “It’s the things I have heard”.

My eyes widened just as his narrowed, and I shivered in my bones, clear down to the marrow.

Judah, what has you so troubled I asked with a frown, you know you’re one of my heroes, you know it deep down!

He sighed as he listed the attacks both great and small, in France, in England, the USA and Israel, worst of all,

Hannah and her sons, my father, my brothers and I did not fight and give our lives, so that latkas you could fry. The dreidels you do spin, the songs you do sing, they should be a strong reminder there are still evil things.

We loved G-d our father, he created this earth, to serve him we certainly have proven our worth.

Those that would keep us from observing his rules, have mistaken our courage, they must have been fools.

He gave us great victories, he gave back our Temple, you should have held on, it is just that simple.

No Jew may pray there, nor Christian it seems, Beit HaMikdash lives only in my dreams.

In France Jews are told no Menorah to light, so as to avoid the evil in the night.

G-d gave us the miracle of such great victory, he gave us the miracle of the oil, it is our history. To turn our backs and ignore? What a sad mystery!

Judah smiled sadly, and said “The Zelmans Partisans, it fights the good fight you are warriors all. My spirit is beside you, you must heed the call!” We were partisans, we Maccabees, we know of your struggle, we’ve made the same pleas.

Freedom comes dear, without effort it won’t last. Keep your sword sharp and ready, be prepared to draw fast.

Your weapons they will try to seize, your faith try to shake, and you must hold both close. Make no mistake.

Judah then brightened and said with a smile, you all are doing good work. You all spread the word, keep it up and you will be heard.

He then began to fade and my eyes began to tear, Oh Judah I said, why did you come here?

It was then Marlowe barked and I awoke with a start, and I began to rethink the idea that Chipotle pepper Tabasco in latkas was a good idea.

חג חנוכה שמח

chag chanukkah sameach

Happy Hanukkah Holiday!!

 

 

With sincere, abject and humble apologies to Clement Clarke Moore. And probably a few of you that just suffered through my attempt at poetry!