Stronghold of Rock

Maoz Tzur really means stronghold of Rock and of course, the rock and stronghold are not physical really though at the time they were. But God is the true rock and salvation.

It is the start of Chanukah.
Chanukah is the Feast of Dedication or festival of lights celebrating the re-dedication of the temple at Jerusalem by the Maccabees long ago.
I wish everyone who celebrates a Chanukah Sameach!
(Ch like loch in Scottish Chan is sort of like Goldie Hawn;s  name. Sameach is Sa-May-ach with the ach sounding like a Scottish ach, Ch is  in the back of the throat in Hebrew )

Here is the song sung while lighting the oil on the lamp for Chanukah (olive oil gives the most steady and clear light) . The chanukiah is placed in the window to announce that a miracle took place.
During the re-dedication of the temple in those days there was not enough oil for the big menorah to burn but by the grace of the Almighty, the tiny bit of oil there was burned for 8 days until more oil could be gotten.
It was a miracle.
For all my Christian friends, the holiday is found in John 10:22-23.

Maoz tzur yeshuati
l’cha naeh l’shabeach
Tikon beit t’filati
v’sham todah n’zabeach.

L’eit tachin matbeach
mitzar hamnabeach
Az egmor b’shir mizmor chanukat hamizbeach
Az egmor b’shir mizmor
chanukat hamizbeach.

 O mighty stronghold of my salvation,
to praise You is a delight.
Restore my House of Prayer
and there we will bring a thanksgiving offering.
When You will have prepared the slaughter
for the blaspheming foe,
Then I shall complete with a song of hymn
the dedication of the Altar.