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 I 
 
 CHANUKAH 
 SKETCH 
 
 BY 
 
 RUTH E, LEVI 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 BLOCH PUBLISHING COMPANY 
 
 "The Jewish Book Concern" 
 
 192 1 
 
 Copyright, 1921, Bloch Publishing Company 
 
Characters 
 
 Father Time. 
 
 A Child. 
 
 Hannah^ and Her Seven Sons. 
 
 Mattathias. 
 
 Judas Maccabee. 
 
 Crowd of Israelites : Warriors, women, and children. 
 
 The costumes should be simple, flowing robes in Orien- 
 tal colors for the women and children, with the usual 
 swords, shields and helmets added for the warriors. 
 
 ICI.D 59H83 
 
 2 
 
 Mi 19 1922 
 
 <H* I 
 

 CHANUKAH SKETCH 
 
 Scene: A large roo'm. A table stands at one side (left), 
 at which sits old Father Time, writing in a large hook. 
 He has his hour glass and scythe at his side. Books 
 and papers in great disorder cover the table. Two 
 doors, right and left. 
 
 {The Child enters at the right door, and goes left. 
 He and Father Time remain seated at the table, while 
 the characters are on and off the stage.) 
 
 Father Time {writes busily) : Dear me, dear me ! Here 
 it is almost New Year again, and I've not half my ac- 
 counts written. I've gotten so confused with these dis- 
 coveries of the North Pole and airships that it seems 
 as though I'll never catch up with my days. Let me 
 see. {Writes hurriedly, consulting his calendar every 
 few mimites.) 
 
 {A knock is heard at the door.) 
 
 Father Time {testily, keeping on writing) : What is it? 
 Don't come in, I'm busy. 
 
 {Door opens and Child enters, big-eyed with wonder, 
 but perfectly at ease.) 
 
 Father Time {continues writing) : Well, what do you 
 want ? 
 
 {No answer.) 
 
 3 
 
Father Time (pounds on the table) : Hurry up, I say! 
 
 Can't you see I'm busy ? 
 (Child jumps.) 
 (Father Time looks up for the first time and sees 
 
 Child. ) 
 Father Time (kindly) : Oh, hello, I didn't mean to 
 
 frighten you ! 
 Child (politely) : You didn't, sir. I'm a Jew, you know, 
 
 and we never get scared. 
 Father Time : Indeed ! Well, and what do you want 
 
 here, my little man? 
 Child (advances to the table) : Please, sir, are you Father 
 
 Time? 
 Father Time : That's what the earth people call me. 
 Child : Then I want you to show me where all the stories 
 
 come from. 
 Father Time (astonished) : What ! 
 Child (repeats) : I want you to tell me a story. When 
 
 Mother put me to bed tonight she said that Father 
 
 Time kept all the stories locked up in his books. So I 
 
 thought I'd come and see for myself. Is this one? 
 
 (He reaches out for the book nearest him, and tries to 
 
 open it.) 
 Father Time: Hold on, hold on there, my young man. 
 
 That book is not to be opened by anyone but me. 
 
 Child : Oh, excuse me. But why can't I do it ? 
 
 Father Time: Because that's the Book of the Future, 
 and no man may look into that. But there, there (he 
 glances at his hour-glass) . I've a few minutes to spare 
 now, and I'll show you some of the pictures in this 
 other book. Come ! 
 
 (Child climbs on his knee. Father Time unclasps a 
 large volume bound in dark colors.) 
 
 4 
 
Child : What is this one called ? 
 
 Father Time : The Book of the Past. 
 
 Child : Did you write it ? 
 
 Father Time: Yes, my boy. 
 
 Child (peers in as Father Time turns the pages absent- 
 mindedly) : How funny it looks ! And what queer kind 
 of ink you have used — it is so faint. 
 
 Father Time : Ah, my dear, that is memory. But now, 
 we must hurry to our story. What kind do you want ? 
 
 Child (eagerly) : Oh, fairy stories, please! 
 
 Father Time: You won't find them in here or at least 
 men don't give them that name. (He ponders a mo- 
 ment.) But wait, I've an idea! Can you tell me what 
 holiday is coming next? 
 
 Child (proudly) : Chanukah, sir. 
 
 Father Time (nodding assent) : That's right. So now, 
 I am going to introduce you to some of the people who 
 made that festival for you and let them tell their own 
 story. 
 
 (Father Time turns back page after page, stopping 
 at the one he wants, and bids the Child look down at it. 
 Instantly, the light of the stage grows dimmer, and fig- 
 ures advance from the shadows at the back of the stage. 
 The light brightens again, and shows Hannah sur- 
 rounded by her seven sons.) 
 
 Hannah (looks down at them lovingly, and fondles the 
 youngest) : Oh, my sons, my own fine boys, do you 
 know how dear you are to your mother Hannah? 
 
 First Boy: Yes, Mother, but you have taught us some- 
 thing better than that. 
 
 Second Boy: Aye, to love and serve the God of Israel, 
 blessed be He! 
 
Seventh and Smallest Boy : Oh, Mother, do you think 
 I'll ever get the chance to keep my promise? I am 
 ready to die. 
 
 Hannah (takes him in her arms impulsively) : Hush, 
 child, hush ! You know not whereof you speak ! 
 
 Third Boy (interrupts) : Oh, no Mother. He does 
 know what it means to worship the God of Israel, when 
 all our enemies try to make us sacrifice to their strange 
 gods. 
 
 Fourth Boy : Aye, were we not stoned in the street yes- 
 terday, as we hurried home from the Temple! 
 
 Fifth Boy (timidly) : Mother, think you harm can come 
 of it all? 
 
 Hannah (looks frightened, and tries to gather them all 
 into her arms. Then she assumes a brave air and says) : 
 No fear, no one need fear, as long as he remains true 
 to his trust. Come, my sons ; once more let us pledge 
 ourselves to the worship of the Most High — blessed be 
 He! 
 
 (They all stand in a circle and raise their hands, 
 chanting.) 
 
 We swear to be true to the God of our Fathers, 
 To the truth that Jehovah to Israel has shown; 
 We sing loud His praise, with our voices we raise — 
 (Sounds of tumult outside interrupt.) 
 
 Sixth Boy : Mother, Mother, the time has come ! 
 
 (He runs out of the room, the others following him.) 
 
 Hannah (hurries after them sobbing frantically) : My 
 children, my sons, my children! Come back, come 
 back! 
 
 (Pause of a few moments.) 
 
 Child (gazing up at Father Tim£, piteously) : And were 
 they all killed? 
 
 6 
 
Father Time : Yes, yes, my dear. But look here, (points 
 to the next page) here is a happier story. 
 
 {Stage darkens again. Music plays a triumphal 
 march. The stage brightens, showing Judas Maccabee 
 in warrior costume. He stands in the center of the 
 stage, with his helmet off, paying reverence to his father 
 who is dressed in the garments of a High Priest. War- 
 riors, wom^en and children stand around.) 
 Judas Maccabee : Give my thy blessing, my father ! 
 Mattathias : You have conquered the enemy, slain the 
 foe. 
 The great and the mighty your arm has 
 laid low. 
 
 Judas Maccabee : In the name of the Lord, I triumphed 
 over them. 
 
 Mattathias : The Assyrian's army all lie in the dust. 
 
 Forever and ever their heavy swords rust. 
 
 Judas Maccabee: The Almighty, blessed be He, hath 
 
 cast out his foe ! 
 Mattathias : Israel's freedom through you is rewon, 
 
 Jehovah's best blessing be on you, my son ! 
 Chorus (all chant) : Hail to the conqueror. 
 
 Hail to the Maccabee: 
 He who has saved Israel, 
 He who has destroyed the enemy. 
 He who will lead Israel among the 
 
 nations ; 
 Hail, all hail! 
 (They form a procession and file out of the room, 
 Judas Maccabee and Mattathias leading.) 
 (Pause.) 
 Child : Oh, that was fine ! Show me some more, please. 
 
 7 
 
014 212 000 8 
 
 {He tries to hide his yawns, but begins to look very 
 
 tired.) 
 Father Time : Aha, I think I had better look at my hour 
 
 glass ! Somebody is sleepy ; it is high time that he 
 
 should be in bed ! 
 Child (rubbing his eyes) : I'm not tired, honest I'm not ! 
 
 (Yawns again.) 
 Father Time (laughs good-naturedly) : Well, I am. So 
 
 good-night. 
 
 ( Child begins to slip down from Father Timers knees 
 
 and as he does so the room darkens again.) 
 Child (sleepily) : Good-night ! Thank you. Father Time. 
 (Chorus outside sings the traditional Chanukah 
 
 Hym^n while curtain falls.) 
 
LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 
 
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