Shalom:
While enjoying my morning coffee, I read this poem on face book. It was posted by a friend, a nine year old boy's view of Hanukkah.
"Out of the mouths of babes..."
What Hanukkah does not mean to me:
Hanukkah does not mean x-boxes or Wi game systems;
Hanukkah does not mean tons of presents waiting for me at home;
Hanukkah does not mean chocolate candy or gelt;
Hanukkah does not mean getting jealous about seeing Christmas trees;
Hanukkah is a miracle of lights.
We celebrate the light that exists inside every Jew.
The light started with Abraham, who passed the light to Isaac, who passed the light to Jacob, who passed the light to Joseph and his brothers, who passed the light to Moses and the Israelites in Egypt and so on until the light finally reached me.
And one day I will pass on the light that exists inside every Jew to my children. That is what Hanukkah means to me.
Shalom:
So if you have followed our blog for any length of time, you know by now, Mark and I love Hanukkah.
It is more than the food, the fun and the fellowship, but a holy day we have celebrated together since Hanukkah 2002.
We celebrated our first Hanukkah together just before he was deployed to Iraq.
2003 would find me mailing Hanukkah cookies to Mark, still in Iraq.
2004, Hanukkah came the second week of Mark's Chemo treatment. This year, I taught Mark how to make latkes, Cajun fried chicken and salmon cakes for the holidays. He later told me this is when he really wanted to ask me to marry him, but with his battling cancer, he didn't know what the future held.
Until I reminded him the future isn't promise to any of us. I just wanted whatever time G-d would give us together.
2005, Hanukkah came six months after we were married and we celebrated this Festival of Lights with Mark's uncle and aunt. It was an amazing time to celebrate with family. We even went out for Chinese food :)
With a home of our own, Mark and I would start hosting Hanukkah parties, the only time we didn't is when Mark was deployed twice more. Twice again I found myself baking Hanukkah cookies and mailing off Hanukkah gift. The fun of receiving gifts from overseas; the only thing better would have been for Mark to deliever them himself.
Hanukkah this year is very different. Not just because we don't have money to exchange gifts, but because all of the trappings from Hanukkahs past are still packed up and the box lost to us. I can't even find my cookie cutters.
So the past few nights, as we lit our made shift Hanukkiah, Mark and I share the story of Hanukkah; both of days gone by and the 10 we have celebrated as a couple.
Creating yet another sweet memory.
Chag Sameach Hanukkah
(Happy Hanukkah)
Tonight is the second night of Hanukkah.
And already it has been an interesting few days.
We are still going through the garage where our things are stored. Sadly, the quilt I had started for my little niece was amoung the things ruined.
We have not been able to find our big box of Hanukkah things, so I had to become created with the Hanukkiah.
The menorah is the seven branch lamp one finds in many a Jewish home. It is the smaller venison of the Lamp Stand spoken of in scripture. The menorah is also the national symbol of Israel.
For Hanukkah, however, we use an eight branch candelabrum for the Festival of Lights known as a Hanukkiah. This candelabrum also has added space for another candle, known as the shamash (servant). This is the candle we use to light the others.
So, with our hanukkiahs MIA, I had to become created. I pulled out all of my Shabbat candle stick holders and laying a white table cloth over a dinner tray, I placed nine candle sticks on the table, in front of our fireplace.
Against the red background of the fireplace, the small altar has taken on a soft, holy glow. Simple, yet elegant. Like the Holy Temple itself.
After saying the blessings and singing the songs, we just stood there, glazing at the soft candle lights, not speaking above a whisper.
The scenes remind me of the very first Hanukkah. As the priest found the Holy Temple defiled, they worked hard to clean it, to restore her back to her holy purpose and state. To rededicate the Holy Temple to her G-d.
That is the meaning of Hanukkah: Feast of Dedication or Rededication. The dedication of our homes, hearts, our lives to G-d. To remove those things that defile our bodies and souls, our homes. The Holy Place had been defiled by unclean men who knew not the G-d of Israel nor cared. Who, by offering swine on the very altar, knew the priest would never return to this place to worship. The scent of unclean men and swine blood still hung in the air.
What it in our lives that we must rid ourselves during this holy time?
Mark and I stared at the burning candles, rededicating ourselves to each other and to our Creator.
I am still looking at the lights.
Shalom:
Yes, that's Monti at the wheel. No, he isn't braving the holiday shoppers, but on our way to Starbucks.
Whenever we get into the car, Monti heads for the driver's side and reaches for the steering wheel. One of these days, I expect to see him actually driving our car.
Well, it's Monday and a new week.
Time to start preparing for Hanukkah, which begins this Saturday evening.
Since Mar gets paid this week, we will be able to buy the makings of all the Hanukkah goodies; the soft scent of olive oil burning in the oil lamps. Latkes and fried chicken; home-made apple sauce and jelly doughnuts. Eight nights of bright lights and family fun.
We will once again tell the Hanukkah story; a story of religious freedom and the salvation of a people, the Hebrew People.
As I told Chris (our roommate); "if it wasn't for Hanukkah, there would have been no christmas."
This will be Chris's first Hanukkah and he is looking forward to it.
And so are we.
