The Menorah is central,
The most powerful
Symbol representing Israel
In His kindness.
With light
HaKadosh Baruch Hu began
Creation,
Giving knowledge and primacy
To man.
From keepers of the garden,
To His world to watch over,
With righteousness and justice
To bring heaven closer,
The chronicles of existence
Have been a volatile flow,
So much beyond our control
But this much we know:
We have relevance, to the story
Established as G-d’s camp,
As He lights up creation
We can shine, as His lamp.
Light the way
For a traveler
On an uphill climb,
Give a spark of encouragement
To someone, at a rough time;
Show compassion
To one downcast,
Wake that hope against hope,
Be a lifeline to someone
At the end of their rope.
Give all whom you encounter
The benefit of doubt,
Turning an enemy into a friend,
Causes salvation to sprout;
Sound advice, or rebuke
If someone’s receptive
May be difficult, but the truth
May cause their soul to live.
Clear the one
To whom your honor
Was diminutive,
Like the sun’s gentle rays
Heal the hurt and forgive.
A beacon can be a laser,
Make no mistake,
Burn down the lies,
Be not silent
For Zion’s sake.
Be a lamp against the darkness,
Sometimes it’s hard to do;
Show caring and forbearance
When the choice falls to you.
Beams of light
From the Menorah,
When the Beis HaMikdash stood,
Reached every corner of the earth
With great blessing and good.
Hashem fashioned the sun and moon,
Stars in multitudes,
Yet, our light is dearest
To HaKadosh Baruch Hu.
I want to thank You
For the light,
HaKadosh Baruch Hu;
You poked holes
Through the blackness
In our darkest hours;
We knew
Even then, we were Your children
Still beloved to You.
When this old world
Sees redemption
From the exile’s dark night,
You will return
To Your world,
Its primordial light;
We will be overcome
With thanksgiving and song,
Your Eternal Flame
Glowing,
There for us, all along.
By Sharon Marcus