Neal Katz: Music

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The Great Menorah Debate
by Neal Katz 

Shammai insisted that to properly observe
The Chanukah festival we must try to preserve
The tradition of lighting the menorah his way
start with eight candles on the very first day

And take away one as each new night arrives
From eight to seven to six to five
And so on until all the flames are gone
And the chanukah candles are all withdrawn

Shammai taught that doing it this way
Would replicate the oil that burned for eight days
Getting smaller and smaller and smaller each night
From eight down to one Shammai said was right

Hanerot Hallalu Anu Madlikin 

But Hillel insisted that to properly observe
The Chanukah festival we must try to preserve
The tradition of lighting the menorah his way
start with one candle on the very first day

Then add one more than the night before
From one to two to three to four
And so on until all the flames burn bright
And the chanukah menorah lights up the night

Hillel taught that doing it this way
Would replicate the miracle that lasted eight days
Getting greater and greater and greater each night
From one up to eight Hillel said was right 

Hanerot Hallalu Anu Madlikin

Hillel’s lesson – it still transcends
What goes up in holiness never descends
And so our candle number each night will grow
Adding to the miracle from so long ago 

Our minds turn back to dark days and weeks
When Maccabees fought against the Syrian-Greeks
Led by Judah the Hammer and against every odd
That small band restored the Temple to God

So we light the menorah and offer our prayers
Remember the great miracle that happened there
And realize that’s why Hillel was right
'Cause the Chanukah miracle - grows greater every night