Pray for our soldiers, and add another stanza to Maoz Tzur

Chanukah Sameach.

With the onset of the attack on the Gaza Strip, I thought I would share with everyone a new stanza that I wrote this year for Maoz Tzur.

It had been bothering me that we left the Miracle of Chanukah back more than 2000 years ago, without recognizing the great blessing of the State of Israel – the modern fulfillment of Al haNissim.

God has blessed this generation with the military might to defend the lives of our people….my son, Naftali,  a tank driver in the IDF,  is awaiting orders.  I am proud of him and ask that your prayers be with him and the thousands of Israeli soldiers who are being called upon to defend our nation, to defend our homeland, to defend Jews everywhere, as an extension of the miracle of Chanukah in our days, at this season.

PLEASE pass on these lyrics, and make them a part of your candle lighting on the final night of Chanukah, in recognition of the great miracle of the State of Israel, and the privilege we have been given to defend its right to exist.

אַלְפַּיִם שָׁנָה שֶׁל זִכְרוֹנוֹת

מֵעוֹלָם לֹא אָבְדָה תִּקְוָתֵנוּ

דּוֹר אַחַר דּוֹר, מֵאֲרָצוֹת שׁוֹנוֹת

לְצִיּוֹן נָשָׂאנוּ עֵינֵינוּ.

חָזַרְנוּ אֶל מוֹלַדְתֵּנוּ, קִבַּצְנוּ גָּלוּיוֹתֵינוּ –

מְדִינָה וְאוּמָה נַגְשִׁים חֲלוֹמֵנוּ

Two thousand years of memories,

Never did we lose our hope in the future-

Generation after generation, from many a nation,

To Zion did we lift up our eyes.

We have returned to our homeland,

We have gathered in our dispersed exiles,

Country and nation, we will fulfill our dream.

Alpayim shana shel zichronot

Me-olam lo avda tikvateinu

Dor achar dor, me-artzot shonot

Le-Tzion nasanu eyneynu

Chazrnu el moladeteinu, kibatznu galiyoteynu –

Medina ve-uma, nagshim chalomeynu.