"Shma yisrael! Adonai elohainu. Adonai echad. Baruch shem. Kvod malchuto. Laolamva-ed!"
The legion sat down as a whole. The rabbi stood in the front of the synagogue with a yamikah rested like a cap on his head.
His gray hair glistened in the spotlight and was immaculately combed.
The rabbi spoke. "Shalom! May we celebrate together the first night of Hanukkah?"
"Yes, we may!" The crowd chanted.
"Thank you. Let us say our prayers." The rabbi lit the first candle with a matchstick. The fire blazed on the menorah like a gymnast twisting around.
Then we spoke together. I was just murmuring what I thought people said because I had no clue what any of the Hebrew letters formed! "Baruch atah adonai, elohainu melech haolam. Asher kiddishanu b'mitzvatah vitzivani l'halech nair shell Hanukkah."
The crowd dispersed but I stayed to watch the wax candles burn.
YOU ARE READING
The Last Night
Teen FictionSamara Cohen struggles with family complications, depression, and bullying just before accidentally burning her house down and being the only survivor.
