Post by Ben Avraham on Dec 9, 2018 11:59:10 GMT -8
Two poems for Hanukkah, one serious, the other, not-so-serious.
Written by rabbi Ben Avraham
PRAISING AND MAGNIFYING OUR GOD AND KING
Let’s praise, magnify, and glorify our God, our King. Praises to His name on our lips do we sing.
He is Eloheinu, Malcheinu, for whom the Hammer of Judah struck a mighty blow.
Oh, let us sing all due praises and haleluyot to our king, for the sons of Mattathias have vanquished Israel’s
foe, for Antiochus Epiphanes is now no more, the Hammer of the Maccabees has struck his mighty blow.
Let us glorify, magnify, and praise Adonai, and may His holy Name be exalted on high. To the Hammer of Judah
he has given the victory cry.
The teeth of Antiochus have been broken, and the strength of his army thus crushed, but not by human might
nor by human power, but by my spirit saith the LORD of Hosts.
For the enemy has been driven out of the land by the LORD God of Israel, by His mighty hand. Let us go forth
and rededicate once more, the temple of Yerushalayim to our God, our LORD.
Draw nigh Oh ye sons of Israel, oh ye priests of the Most High, bring forth water from Siloam, to wash clean and
purify, and cleanse the temple from the blood of swine.
Cast down the pagan god, throw it out of thy dwelling, ground it into dust, for a snare unto thy people it shall be
not.
Let your house by a house of worship once more, and a house of prayer for evermore. Oh, come ye sons of Israel
come nigh unto thy LORD, come ye nigh, ye sons of Levi, sons of Aaron and worship the LORD of Hosts.
Go forth and gather the olives of the land, crush them and make holy oil to light the menorah that now stands.
Rejoice once again ye daughters of Zion, and praise the Holy name of Adonai, the lamps now lit are for all to
see. Come ye that are far, come nigh and see the light of Yeshua, for your salvation is here.
Come and gaze upon the eternal light of Elohim, for He shall open your eyes to see and your ears to hear. Come
and dedicate the temple of your bodies to worship Him who is for evermore.
TWAS THE FIRST NIGHT OF HANUKKAH
Twas the first night of Hanukkah, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The menorah was placed in the window with care, in hopes that our evening visitor would soon be here.
Mama in her kerchief, and I in my Yarmulke, had just settled down for the 8 nights of Hanukkah.
When up on the roof top there arose such a clatter, that I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
I rushed out the door and went outside, and looked up at the rooftop to behold an amazing sight.
For up on the roof top, my gazing eyes did see, was a gallant black stallion and its rider, Judah the Maccabee.
He got down from his horse and looked all around, his eyes met mine and shouted, “I'm Jerusalem bound!”
I thought for a moment, of what I could say, and finally replied;
“Yo Judah, you're in the US of A, so welcome to my Hood cuz yous in Forum Park Hood!” *
Then Judah looked down and said, “I know I’m Jerusalem bound, but I would still like to have a look-around”
“Yo, Bro” I replied with my voice a little low, “You come down and look around and you’ll be wishing you had
landed in some other part of town, cuz yous in my hood bro, and this place aint the safest place in town.”
but we've been expecting you any way, come down from the roof and just follow me this way!”
“Might as well” sighed Judah as he dismounted his horse, “but I can't stay long, got to get back on course”
So, Judah jumped down from the roof with a bound, but not empty handed, and that was a fact, for on his back he bore a large, heavy sack. He entered our house, and went straight to the kitchen, put his sack down next to a defrosting chicken. He took from his sack, and put on the table, all sorts of treats, as quick as he was able.
Latkes, apple sauce, sour cream, and bagels, lox and cream cheese he arranged on the table. He even put out some
Hamantashens too.
“Hamantashens?” I asked, “On Hanukkah?”
“Well, I can always give them to someone else.” Replied Judah a little annoyed.
“That’s OK”, I replied, I’ll have them with coffee at morning’s first light.”
To be sure this was one night we would never forget, the kindness of Judah who kept us well fed.
With the sack now empty, he climbed back to the roof, he jumped on his horse and rode out of sight, saying;
“Happy Hanukkah to all, and to all a good night.”
*Forum Park; A “not-so-nice” area in Houston, a little rough, a good place to avoid. And for those who live here
The best policy is; “see nothing, hear nothing, say nothing” yet be polite and kind to all, because
You never know who they might be (in secret).
Written by rabbi Ben Avraham
PRAISING AND MAGNIFYING OUR GOD AND KING
Let’s praise, magnify, and glorify our God, our King. Praises to His name on our lips do we sing.
He is Eloheinu, Malcheinu, for whom the Hammer of Judah struck a mighty blow.
Oh, let us sing all due praises and haleluyot to our king, for the sons of Mattathias have vanquished Israel’s
foe, for Antiochus Epiphanes is now no more, the Hammer of the Maccabees has struck his mighty blow.
Let us glorify, magnify, and praise Adonai, and may His holy Name be exalted on high. To the Hammer of Judah
he has given the victory cry.
The teeth of Antiochus have been broken, and the strength of his army thus crushed, but not by human might
nor by human power, but by my spirit saith the LORD of Hosts.
For the enemy has been driven out of the land by the LORD God of Israel, by His mighty hand. Let us go forth
and rededicate once more, the temple of Yerushalayim to our God, our LORD.
Draw nigh Oh ye sons of Israel, oh ye priests of the Most High, bring forth water from Siloam, to wash clean and
purify, and cleanse the temple from the blood of swine.
Cast down the pagan god, throw it out of thy dwelling, ground it into dust, for a snare unto thy people it shall be
not.
Let your house by a house of worship once more, and a house of prayer for evermore. Oh, come ye sons of Israel
come nigh unto thy LORD, come ye nigh, ye sons of Levi, sons of Aaron and worship the LORD of Hosts.
Go forth and gather the olives of the land, crush them and make holy oil to light the menorah that now stands.
Rejoice once again ye daughters of Zion, and praise the Holy name of Adonai, the lamps now lit are for all to
see. Come ye that are far, come nigh and see the light of Yeshua, for your salvation is here.
Come and gaze upon the eternal light of Elohim, for He shall open your eyes to see and your ears to hear. Come
and dedicate the temple of your bodies to worship Him who is for evermore.
TWAS THE FIRST NIGHT OF HANUKKAH
Twas the first night of Hanukkah, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The menorah was placed in the window with care, in hopes that our evening visitor would soon be here.
Mama in her kerchief, and I in my Yarmulke, had just settled down for the 8 nights of Hanukkah.
When up on the roof top there arose such a clatter, that I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.
I rushed out the door and went outside, and looked up at the rooftop to behold an amazing sight.
For up on the roof top, my gazing eyes did see, was a gallant black stallion and its rider, Judah the Maccabee.
He got down from his horse and looked all around, his eyes met mine and shouted, “I'm Jerusalem bound!”
I thought for a moment, of what I could say, and finally replied;
“Yo Judah, you're in the US of A, so welcome to my Hood cuz yous in Forum Park Hood!” *
Then Judah looked down and said, “I know I’m Jerusalem bound, but I would still like to have a look-around”
“Yo, Bro” I replied with my voice a little low, “You come down and look around and you’ll be wishing you had
landed in some other part of town, cuz yous in my hood bro, and this place aint the safest place in town.”
but we've been expecting you any way, come down from the roof and just follow me this way!”
“Might as well” sighed Judah as he dismounted his horse, “but I can't stay long, got to get back on course”
So, Judah jumped down from the roof with a bound, but not empty handed, and that was a fact, for on his back he bore a large, heavy sack. He entered our house, and went straight to the kitchen, put his sack down next to a defrosting chicken. He took from his sack, and put on the table, all sorts of treats, as quick as he was able.
Latkes, apple sauce, sour cream, and bagels, lox and cream cheese he arranged on the table. He even put out some
Hamantashens too.
“Hamantashens?” I asked, “On Hanukkah?”
“Well, I can always give them to someone else.” Replied Judah a little annoyed.
“That’s OK”, I replied, I’ll have them with coffee at morning’s first light.”
To be sure this was one night we would never forget, the kindness of Judah who kept us well fed.
With the sack now empty, he climbed back to the roof, he jumped on his horse and rode out of sight, saying;
“Happy Hanukkah to all, and to all a good night.”
*Forum Park; A “not-so-nice” area in Houston, a little rough, a good place to avoid. And for those who live here
The best policy is; “see nothing, hear nothing, say nothing” yet be polite and kind to all, because
You never know who they might be (in secret).
