Learn and Sing Modern Hanukah Song “Light One Candle” by Peter Paul and Mary

Goal: To explore modern teachings on Hanukah through music

Duration: 15 – 20 minutes

Materials: Light One Candle Song Sheets

Audience: Grades 3+

Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary wrote this Hanukkah Song in 1983

Please listen and learn it in advance of the class.

Audio version can be purchased at itunes

Guitar Chords can be found at www.members.cox.net/billandleann/candle.htm

Procedure:

1) Learn song “Light One Candle” by Peter Yarrow.

2) Discuss lyrics of the song and apply to modern issues and people.

Good lyric lines for discussion include:

a. What is “the light?

b. “Our right to exist was denied.” How was this happening then? How is this happening now?

c. “The wisdom to know when the peace maker's time is at hand.” How do we know the right time to act?

d. “Let it shine through our love and our fears.” Why love and fear? What is it about fear (and later mentioned anger) that hinders our ability to effect change?

e. “The strength that we need to never became our own foe.” How might we become our own foe? What limits us in accomplishing our own tasks?

f. Entire final verse “And what is the memory… This is why we will not fail!” – What is our commitment to the past, present and future when we choose how to act?

g. How can we each “light one candle” in our lives? Discuss taking simple steps in our lives to effect change where we can. Such as changing light bulbs to lower usage, turning off lights when we leave a room, buying recycled products, teaching others about what we have learned, etc.

Light One Candle

by Peter Yarrow

performed by Peter, Paul and Mary

Light one candle for the Maccabee Children
with thanks that their light didn't die.
Light one candle for the pain they endured
when their right to exist was denied.
Light on candle for the terrible sacrifice
justice and freedom demand.
Light one candle for the wisdom to know
when the peace maker's time is at hand.

Chorus:

Don't let the light go out
It's lasted for so many years
Don't let the light go out
Let it shine through our love and our fears

Light one candle for the strength that we need
to never became our own foe.
Light one candle for those who are suffering
pain we lived so long ago.
Light one candle for all we believe in
that anger won't tear us apart.
And light one candle to bring us together

Chorus

And what is the memory that's valued so highly
that we keep it alive in that flame?
What's the commitment for those who have died,
when we cry out they have not died in vain?
We have come this far always believing that
justice would somehow prevail.
This is the burden, this is the promise,
and THIS is why we will not fail.

Chorus

Don't let the light go out!
Don't let the light go out!
Don't let the light go out!

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