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Dec
26
The festival of lights began this evening and finally, after twelve years of celebrating Chanuka with my kids, everyone was happy with their presents – Mom and Dad included.
We began the holiday after a not so traditional supper of souped up french toast and fruit. We were supposed to have latkes, blintzes, bagels and matzo ball soup but The Chronicles of Narnia ended later than we expected. Nevertheless, I made a few special adjustments to the preparation and presentation. Given my kids’ eagerness to get to the main event – present opening – I probably didn’t need to even cook the food. Still, raw eggs dripping on soggy bread…nah.
After my husband lit our three chanukiot, we sang the three prayers intended for the holiday. I tried to find new chanukiot for our children – tradition says that each child should have his or her own – but we used the three we own already: one that my husband and I received as a present from my in-laws, one from my husband’s Grandma Flora, and another one that we received as a gift. My husband polished them earlier and their silver and gold stems glistened in the flames, dining room lights out and tinfoil underneath.
Chanuka candles are made to burn for about 20 minutes. Many Jews use Chanukiot that use oil and in Israel, most memorably for me in Jerusalem, these candelabras are placed either literally on the outside of the house or prominently displayed in windows and doorways. I have a cassette tape I made and sent to friends in the states from when I lived in Israel and recorded this sight as I walked down alley after alley in different Jerusalem neighborhoods during Chanuka. I hope to dig it out and, if I can handle it, listen to what I said 21 years ago about the holiday in that city.
Although many people refer to the candleabra as a menorah, it’s actually a “Chanukiah, ” special for Chanuka (chanukiot is the plural). A menorah, representative of what was used in the temples, holds seven candles. A Chanukiah holds nine – eight to represent the eight days and nights during which oil that should only have lasted one day and night actually burned, and the ninth to light those eight.
(Coincidentally, I never knew why I prefered the spelling Chanuka to the more often seen in the media Hannuka or even Hanukkah, but now that I know how chanukiot is spelled, I can see why I’ve stuck with Chanuka all these years. I’m also partial to the “ch” pronounced like you’re clearing your throat, rather than the bland “h.”)
My youngest son’s hebrew name is Mattitiyahu, which is a derivative of Mattathias – the father of Judah Maccabee, who led the Jews to victory over the Greeks who’d been forcing the Jews to abandon their traditions in exchange for Greek traditions and so this holiday gives me good nachas (that gutter “ch” again – not like nachos) because I think about the Hebrew connection of my children’s names.
After our french toast and prayers and candle-lighting, the present hunt began. I hid everything – and of course, I’d bought everything too (except for my gift from my husband).
Jeff got to search and find his new set of Martini glasses after unwrapping the house gifts I’d bought – a solid olivewood handpainted dreidel (the spinning top used as a game and decorated on each side with one of four Hebrew letters: Nun- nes or miracle, Gimel – gadol or great, Hay – hiyah or happened and Shin – sham or there) and a songbook of Chanuka music (kids and Jeff play piano). (Not to digress yet again, but that saying on the dreidel – a great miracle happened, is Nes Gadol Hiya PO in Israel because Po means “here” and that’s where the miracle happened, but I can’t recall if the dreidels in Israel actually have Po on it.)
Then I easily detected a large gift bag under the dining room table and pulled out a beautiful wool cardigan sweater (the better to write in the cold basement, my dear).
Last, our three Maccabees bounded up the stairs to their rooms and found one piece each to a family gift: Gamecube. Unbelievable that the Zimon family of Ohio, which owns just one television and no iPod (yet), has joined the fold. But, after weighing the pros and cons, talking to numerous other parents and taking out extra mental health coverage to deal with how to parent kids with affinities for gaming, it’s a done deal.
On the other hand, what would you, as a parent, do to hear your daughter say, “It’s a dream come true!”
I cannot recall ever saying that to anyone about anything in my life. I hope my daughter remembers that she said it, because her birthday is in three weeks and she won’t be getting any Gamecube caliber items from us.
One night down, seven to go.
Chappy Chanuka ya’ll.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 2:06 am December 26th, 2005 in Politics
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4 Responses to “O Chanuka O Chanuka, come light the Menorah”
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by Tips and TricksNews Now
On the first day of Chanuka my true love gave to me…
Looks like you had a great holiday so far.
Chappy Chanuka!
Thanks, Ray. Hope your holiday was good too – that book release sure is getting close, eh?
Thanks Jill… I am spinning my wheels like you wouldn’t believe. Didn’t get much writing done!
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