Weekend Lyrics: Rock of Ages/Maoz Tzur

Rock of Ages

Performed by Marc Cohn
Arranged by M. Cohn and F. London




Rock of Ages let our song
Praise (your) saving power;
Thou amidst the raging foes;
(You were) our sheltering tower
(Our sheltering tower).
Rock of Ages let our song
Praise Thy saving power;
Thou amidst the raging foes;
(You were) our sheltering tower
(Our sheltering tower.)
Furious they assailed us,
But thine arm availed us,
And Thy word broke their sword,
When our own strength failed us.
And (your) word broke their sword,
When our own strength failed us.


Children of the (Wanderers)
Whether free or fettered
Wake the echoes of the songs
Where ye may be scattered
Yours the message cheering
That the time is nearing
Which will see all men free
And tyrants disappearing
(Hope will see all men free,
And tyrants disappearing)



Why I chose these Lyrics: Every Hanukkah, I cannot wait to pull out my Hanukkah CDs. I love my 'Festival of Lights' CD and my Western Wind CD 'Chanukah in Story and Song'. Both CDs contain versions of the classic song 'Rock of Ages'. In Jewish tradition Hanukkah is a 'minor' holiday, and very few songs are traditionally associated with this holiday, with the exception of Rock of Ages. The version on my 'Festival of Lights' CD is performed by Marc Cohn (I mean, how can you go wrong with that??). I can listen to this song over and over and over again, year after year after year. I like Marc Cohn's modernized lyrics--a combination of both the original lyrics and his own lyrics.



I admit it: I LOVE Hanukkah. I look forward to this holiday of lights. As the gray days of winter are upon us, I delight in the lighting of the candles. I love to watch as we light each one. For me, Hanukkah is here to remind me of light in darkness--the darkness of winter, and on a deeper level my own dark night of the soul.



While Hanukkah began in a way that is difficult to find joyous or worthy of celebration, it ended with a miracle. It began as a war between the most powerful army in the world at that time--the Greeks--who attempted to get rid of the Jewish people and decimate the temple. Yet, somehow Judah and the Maccabees, a small army of priests, rose to defeat this great army.



Jews frown upon using war over peaceful words, so little is written in the ancient texts about Hanukkah and it remains a minor holiday without the rich traditions of other major Jewish holidays. The Rabbis of the time found themselves conflicted over the war against the Greeks. (That Hanukkah CD of mine is pretty good, eh? Look at all of the things I have learned!). Still, it was a miracle that the Jews defeated the Greeks at all.



As I listen to Rock of Ages, it reminds me each year how far we have to go to live in a peaceful world and how many people still are not free, especially to practice religious freedom. The words never grow old to me. I admit to wondering what to think and feel about the state of Israel. As a Jew we are expected, in many ways, to be pro-Israel at all costs. But how do I reconcile it with what I believe as a Jew and what the Rabbis so long ago felt about the war that later came to be celebrated as Hanukkah?



At Hanukkah, the focus becomes on what happened after the defeat of the Greek army. The temple was destroyed as was the precious and sacred oil used to light the menorah. Only one container of oil remained pure--enough for one day--yet it lasted for eight days.



And so, we have the story of Hanukkah, the miracle of Hanukkah, and the joyous side of Hanukkah. A light that was meant to burn for only one day burned for eight days. In honor of this we light candles for eight days and celebrate light in darkness.



Although Hanukkah, is of course, a Jewish holiday--it is universal in it's hope for peace, freedom, and of course, light in this world.

I actually began writing this entry on the 9Th of December and never finished it. It has been sitting ready to 'publish' but I never did publish it. I found myself unable to blog, unable even with the Hanukkah lights, to find my way out of my own dark night of the soul.

Hanukkah is over now. Christmas is almost here. In the end, while we are celebrating VERY different things at Christmas and Hanukkah both holidays are joyous occasions filled with hope, love, a desire for peace on earth, and ultimately, faith in God. Rock of Ages is a song well-known by Christians and Jews. I almost deleted the post entirely because I didn't get it done in time for Hannukah, but after some thought I saw that it was a song more universal in nature than I had realized.

Inside the CD jacket the following is written about Rock of Ages and its ecumenical nature:

Perhaps the quintessential and best known Hanukkah song, the original poem (a hymn of praise) was composed in the middle Ages. The poem was set to this melody in 19Th century Germany. As was their custom, German Jews used what was basically a Christian hymn melody. The commonly known English text is a translation of the German version of the original Hebrew (note: it originally could have been a mix of Hebrew and Aramaic). The message of the song--that faith in God will help us to conquer our foes, "overthrow tyrants" and lead us to a time when all people are free--is one that was picked up by other groups. "Rock of Ages" has become a favorite hymn amongst white and African-American Christian congregations.


Blessings to you this holiday and always,



Emily