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Chanukah Hallel Paragraph Eight: Singing With the Chashmonaim



Imagine the exuberant joy of the Chashmonaim as they regained the Beit Hamikdash from the Greeks, and begin to sing:
“Give thanks to God Who is good, for His kindness is forever!
Let Israel
declare that His Kindness is forever!
Let the House of Aaron declare that His kindness is forever!
Let those who are in awe of God declare that His kindness if forever!”

Then imagine their joy when they were able to find that single jar of pure oil, and sing again.

Sing with them as the oil miraculously continued burning on the second day. Sing with them again as they would have on the third, fourth, and…eighth day.

Sing with them a year later, when they realized the lasting impact on the nation, and understood that the miracle was not just the oil burning, but its lasting inspiration on so many.

Sing with them now as we celebrate, more than two thousand years later, how every part of the story; their courage and determination, the victories, finding the oil, the oil burning for eight days, the permanent effect on all of us throughout the ages and all over the world and sing:

“Give thanks to God Who is good, for His kindness is forever!
Let Israel declare that His Kindness is forever!
Let the House of Aaron declare that His kindness is forever!
Let those who are in awe of God declare that His kindness if forever!”

Join the Chashmonaim at each of the above stages, as they tell their story and celebrate their growth:
Read the chapter as their story, and ours:
I called to the Creator of Heaven and Earth from a tight spot, and He answered me broadly. God is with me, I have no fear; what can people do to me? God is with me to help me, so I can confront my enemies. It is better to depend in God than to trust people. It is better to depend on God than to trust people in power. All the nations surrounded me but I survived them in God’s Name. They surrounded and encircled me but I survived them in God’s Name. Though they surrounded me like a swarm of bees, they were snuffed out like burnt thorns. I survived them in God’s Name. I was pushed to fall but God helped me. The Creator of Heaven and Earth is my Help and my Hammer, and became my Savior. Song and victory sound in the tents of the just. God’s Hand makes victory. God’s Hand is supreme. God’s Hand makes victory! I will not die but live, and tell of the doings of the Creator of Heaven and Earth. The Creator afflicted me to direct me but did not destroy me. Open the gates of justice for me, I will enter and thank the Creator. This is the gate to God, the just may enter here. I thank You for answering me, You became my salvation. The stone rejected by the builders became the cornerstone. This happened because of God; it is wondrous in our eyes. This is the day God made; let us sing and be happy with it. Please God; Save us! Please God; Make us successful! Bless those who come in God’s Name; we bless you from God’s House. God  is The Power and gave us Light. Wave your holiday branches up to the corners of the altar. You are my Power and I thank You, My Lord and I will exalt You. Give thanks to God Who is good, for His kindness is forever!”

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