From the Cantor - December 2001

Shalom, Chaverim:

Usually the Chanukah column is the easiest one for me to write. Not this year. How is it possible to speak of light when our country, and our congregation in particular, have been hit by deep tragedy in these past days and weeks? As the days grow shorter and the nights grow colder, our ability to buoy ourselves seems to diminish even more. When our hearts hurt from loss, we tend to turn inward and seek the comfort of darkness. But light, God's premier creation, is inevitable. Morning always follows night. Memories of loved ones, though painful, contain sweetness for us to savor more and more as time goes on. Consider this poem by Hannah Senesh, the Hungarian-Jewish freedom-fighter and martyr:

Yeish Kochavim

There are stars up above
So far away we only see their light
Long, long after the star itself is gone
And so it is with people that we loved
Their memories keep shining, ever brightly
Though their time with us is done
But the stars that light up the darkest night
These are the lights that guide us
As we live our days
These are the ways
We remember, we remember

Yeish ko-cha-vim she-o-ram ma-gi-a ar-tza
Rak ka-a-sher heim atz-mam av-du v'-ei-nam
Yeish a-na-shim she-ziv zich-ram mei-ir
Ka-a-sher heim atz-mam ei-nam od b'-to-chei-nu
O-rot ei-leh ha-mav-hi-kim b'-chesh-kat ha-la-yil
Heim, heim, she-ma-rim la-a-dam et ha-de-rech

(Translated and set to music by Cantor Jeff Klepper)

May the memories of those we love shine in our lives as a light and a blessing. Mark and I wish you Chag Chanukah Sameach - a happy Festival of Chanukah.

B'Shalom u-v'shir,
Cantor Jacqueline L. Shuchat-Marx

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