More Hanukkah Poems

Hanukkah Quiz
Eva Grant

Why is the story of Hanukkah told?
To honor the brave Maccabeans of old.
What makes our mouths water, handed around?
Platefuls of pancakes, deliciously browned.
There are the Hanukkah gifts hidden? Well . . .
That is a secret which no one should tell!
What do we place on the table to hold
The gay-colored candles? It's polished gold.
The shining menorah!
What comes once a year?
Hanukkah fun!
At last it is here!




Nun, gimel, heh, and shin,
See the wooden dreidel spin.
Nes gadol hayah shin,
If I'm lucky I will win!

I play with my new dreidel
upon the shiny floor.
I ask some friends to play with me-
we must have two or more.

I give the players pennies-
the same amount to each.
We sit down in a circle,
the pennies within reach.

Each player puts a penny
in the proper spot.
The middle of the circle
is what we call the pot.

Next I take the dreidel
and spin it round and round.
Which letter does it land on?
What fortune have I found?

I read the letter facing up-
it tells me how to play.
The letters are in Hebrew,
and here is what they say.

Nun means I do nothing-
I neither give nor take.
Heh means I take half the pot-
what a lucky break!

Gimel means I take it all.
It looks as if I'll win!
But I must put a penny back
when it lands on shin.

We go around the circle-
it's lots and lots of fun,
till one has all the pennies.
Then the game is done!

Nun, gimel, heh, and shin,
See the wooden dreidel spin.
Nes gadol hayah sham,
If I'm lucky I will win!



For Hanukkah
H. N. Bialik

Father lighted candles for me;
Like a torch the Shamash shone.
In whose honor, for whose glory?
For Hanukkah alone.

Teacher bought a big top for me,
Solid lead, the finest known.
In whose honor, for whose glory?
For Hanukkah alone.

Mother made a pancake for me,
Hot and sweet and sugar-strewn.
In whose honor, for whose glory?
For Hanukkah alone.

Uncle had a present for me,
An old penny for my own.
In whose honor, for whose glory?
For Hanukkah alone.



Happy Hanukkah!
Eva Grant

Outside, snow is slowly, softly
Falling through the wintry night.
In the house, the brass menorah
Sparkles with the candlelight.

Children in a circle listen
To the wondrous stories told,
Of the daring Maccabeans
And the miracles of old.

In the kitchen, pancakes sizzle,
Turning brown, they'll soon be done.
Gifts are waiting to be opened,
Happy Hanukkah's begun.



Let's be Happy
Malvine P. Hoenig

Let's be happy, let us cheer,
Hanukkah again is here.
All the lights are shining bright,
Isn't it a lovely sight?

You know these lights remind us
Of the time long, long ago,
When God caused one,
tiny light,
for eight long days to shine so bright.



Joyous Hanukkah!
Eva Grant

At last! At last! Hanukkah is here!
The whole house is bursting with holiday cheer.

Pancakes are sizzling as hard as they can,
Browning delectably crisp in the pan.

The dreidels can scarcely wait to be spun;
Presents are hidden for Hanukkah fun;

And there, on the table, polished and bright,
The shining menorah gleams through the night,

Like the oil lamp in ancient history,
That burned on and on miraculously!

And each flaming candle proclaims the great story
Of the Maccabean heroes, their deeds and their glory.



At Hanukkah
Vivian Gouled

Lighting Hanukkah candles
and watching them burn and glow;
Listening to the story
of Hanukkah long ago;
Giving and getting presents
each day, and theat means eight...
Hanukkah is a happy time,
fun to celebrate.



My Hanukkah Candles
Philip Raskin

Eight little candles,
All in a line;
Eight little candles
Glitter and shine.

Eight little candles
Eight little flames,
Whispers a legend
Of honor and fame.

Eight little candles
Bashfully hide
The soul of people
Its hope and its pride.

Eight little candles
Sparklets of gold,
Stories of battles,
And heroes of a old.

Heroes undaunted,
And noble, and true;
Heroes who knew
How to dare and to do;

Heroes who taught
The ages to be
That man can be brave,
And that man should be free.

Modest and frail
Is their lights, yet it cheers
A people in exile
Two thousands years

Eight little candles
Their guttering gleams
Speak to my heart
In a language of dreams.

Light to my eye
Is their smile and their cheer,
Sweet to my ear
Is their whisper to hear.

Courage but courage,
Maccabee's brave son,
Fight for light
And the battle is won.



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