The following day was Friday, and little Chaim washed early and changed for Shabbat, so he could be with the Chanukah Lights the moment they were kindled. He watched his father light the Chanukah Lights and then he watched his mother light the Shabbat candles. Now Chaim drew up a chair and sat down to accompany the Chanukah Lights.
Sure enough, he could hear the familiar voice of the First Light: "Good Shabbos and Happy Chanukah! I am glad to see you again. This is my younger sister. Say ‘Hello’ to the little boy."
"Hello," the Second Light said, making a graceful curtsy. "I know a wonderful story. Would you like to hear it?"
"I most certainly do," replied little Chaim. "Please, do tell it to me."
"Well," the Second Chanukah Light began, "Yehuda Maccabee led that little band of faithful Jews from victory to victory. Do you know what "guerilla warfare" is? It’s the kind of war that a small number of people wages against big odds. Yehuda and his men did just that. Hiding in caves or lying in ambush, they would suddenly attack the enemy from the rear, or in the middle of the night. Although greatly outnumbered, they succeeded in routing the enemy every time.
Antiochus was bursting with rage. He sent one big army after another to capture Yehuda and destroy his followers, but each time his generals failed. Finally Antiochus sent his best general, Lysias, with a huge army of infantry and cavalry and armored chariots.
Yehuda addressed his handful of brave warriors: "Today we are put to our greatest test," he said. "But have no fear, for it isn’t our weapons that defeated the enemy in the past, but our faith in G-d. They come in chariots and rely upon their might, but we come in the name of G-d and He will fight on our side."
Calling unto G-d and sounding their trumpets, Yehuda and his valiant followers flung themselves upon the enemy. Seeing Yehuda at the head of his men, looking like an angel of G-d, the Syrian warriors became terrified. Their whole army was thrown into terrible confusion, and they began to fight one another. Those who escaped the sword took to their heels, hotly pursued by Yehuda and his men.
It was a wonderful miracle indeed, and the victory was complete and overwhelming. Yehuda’s first thought was to free Jerusalem and dedicate the Holy Temple, so that the Jews could once again worship G-d in peace and security.
When the goal was finally achieved and Yehuda, at the head of his men, entered the Holy Temple, it was a sorry sight that met their eyes. Everything had been defiled and desecrated by the vandals. For a moment the spirit of triumph deserted them, and they stood there motionless, tears streaming down their cheeks.
"No time for grief!" Yehuda called. "Let’s clean up and dedicate our Holy Temple! Everybody get busy!"
"Now we shall light the Menorah with its seven lights!" Yehuda announced when the Temple had been thoroughly cleansed. But alas! There was no pure, sacred olive oil to light it with, for everything had been defiled by the enemy. Searching again and again, they finally discovered one little cruse of oil that still bore the seal of the High Priest. Chanting Psalms to G-d for their deliverance, they kindled the Menorah and dedicated the Holy Temple in the year 3622 after Creation.
It was on the 25th of Kislev, the very day the Temple had been desecrated by the enemy, that the Dedication of the Temple was celebrated. But that was not all. Wonder of wonders! The little oil that was expected to last but one day lasted eight days, until new olive oil could be prepared for the Menorah. Here was a clear demonstration that G-d’s miracles were beyond human understanding.
"This is where my part of the story ends," said the candle. "Tomorrow my younger sister will tell you another story of heroism. Now, you run along to Shul and be sure to be with us again tomorrow."
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:
Yesterday was a very special shabbat.
After dropping Monti off at his aunt Lilly's, Mark and I headed for Williamsburge.
It has been a little over a year since we have visited one of our favourite places, so we decided to spend this shabbat there.
It was an amazing day to visit Colonial Williamsburge; a warm, almost Indian Summer day. Warm for this time of year, but for touring Christmas homes of the 1770s, it was perfect.
We are often asked about Jews here in Virginia history. Though we haven't found much, we do now that the Jewish presence in colonial Virginia was slight. It was the other southern colonies, particularly Georgia and the Carolinas, had large numbers of Jews among their early settlers.
Forty-two Jewish immigrants to Savannah established Congregation Mickve Israel in 1733, and Charleston Jews founded Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim in 1750. While visiting Charleston a few years ago, Mark and I stopped at Kadosh Beth Elohim and learn of her history.
I shall have to share that story one day.
Virginia's first permanent synagogue community, Kehilah ha Kadosh Beth Shalome in Richmond, coalesced after the Revolution, in 1789, but it is considered one of six colonial Jewish congregations along with others in Philadelphia, Newport, Savannah, and Charleston.
Given that Hanukkah, like most Jewish holy days are celebrated in the home, I really don't think there is much difference in how Hanukkah is now as it was then.
The decorations of the holidays are simple and made from things on hand; pine cones and wildflowers. Many are made from seasonal fruits.
And when the holiday is over, you can still eat the fruit.
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.
Shalom and Happy hanukkah:
Tonight it the 5th night of Hanukkah.
It has been a quiet celebration this year, quieter than what we planned. But that's ok.
We had planned a Hanukkah feast, but the weekend before we found ourselves heading off for the last of The Yellow Ribbon Programs and that meant using the money for gas.
Mark is still unemployed, still looking for work.
We praise G-d his unemployment has been extended. And he does get paid for going to the Yellow Ribbon.
And I shall share about that another time.
That following tuesday, Mark awoke rather sick. It seems he had picked up some stomach virus. Which meant my making a big pot of chicken soup for my beloved instead of potatoes latkes for the first night of hanukkah. Thankfully with ginger-ale and soup, he was right as rain the following day.
So the next night, we had fish and chips, one of our favorite meals for hanukkah, since it is cooked in oil.
We spend a lot of time together, my beloved and I. Mostly because niether of us has jobs.
But while a job is needed, I do not complain about the time we share. We talk so much. We take walks together, study and pray together.
I see the pain in my Mark's eyes. He feels he has failed me in that he has no work to support us. But that isn't his fault. My Mark's isn't a lazy man; just sitting on the sofa, playing vidoe games while we live on the Taxpayers dime.
And yet in those same eyes, I see love. I see how much my husband loves me.
And what does that have to do with Hanukkah?
This is the time of miracles. When a ragtag band with the Hand of G-d upon them, won the battle the Syian-Greacian army that was determine to rid the world of every hebrew man, woman and child. To rid the world of Torah and the hebrew tongue. If it had not been for that hard fought battle, the miracle of a young virgin girl concieving in her womb the Messiah would have never occured. If there had been no Hanukkah, there would have been no Christmas.
The miracle of a war won. Of oil found. Of a Child concieved. All duringing this time of miracles.
And the same G-d of ole is still performing mircales. He still has His Hand upon His people, upon all who would call upon His Name.
And that is why I can light the lights of Hanukkah.
Shalom:
It has been a wonderful day, but I would a do-over.
If you are familiar with the game The Sims, you know if things go wrong, you can re-do the game by not saving.
Real life isn't like that.
This morning my arm hit my coffee cup and went all over the keyboard. Now half the keys don't work and we have to sent it back to the company to have it repaired. However, our warrity doesn't cover accidents, so we have to pay 419.00 to get my baby back up and running.
So, now I am using the Laptop I gave Mark to take to Iraq and he is trying to update the older laptop we have.
But it has for the most part been a happy Hanuakkah and once I get the pictures downloaded, I will post them.
The first night of Hanuakkkah we had two families join us. Mark and I made sweet pototoes latkahs and salmon cakes, served jelly dounuts and cheese cake. We each lit the lights and played dreid and of course told the story of Hanuakkah.
There were three girls, two teens and a little one, and all had so many questions. They were thrilled to realize they remembered so much from Mr.Howard's class.
But the best part: even with both sinks full of dishes and the kitchen needing cleaning, it was still good to share the evening with my beloved.
