Chanukah for Ceasefire

A memory sits nested

In the maze of my mind

Words whispered by candlelight

In the company of friends

I hear a story of invasion

Of oppression and of struggle

A continuous fight for the right

To live a life the way you want to

I learn of endless destruction

Created from a basis

Of power over others

And of greed fueled hatred

Historic sites destroyed

And communities disregarded

History almost lost, then saved

By elders knowledge imparted

At the end of this old story

Battles won for peoples rights

A single candle lit

Burned in faith for 8 full nights

I sit here now in darkness

Hesitation stays my hand

How is it we can celebrate

This story of struggle for land

How can we sit comfortably

In the body of our conscience

When the story we remember

Is being played out before us

Invasion and destruction

Endless nights of terror and struggle

Remains of proud communities

Being buried under rubble

How can we sit and choose

To simply turn our eyes away

From a struggle perpetuated

By powers acting in our name

So when you light your candles

On this the final night of Chanukah

Light them not in celebration

Or as a festive historic reminder

Light them for Palestinians

For their lives, their history, their power

From the river to the sea

I name this Chanukah for Ceasefire