Happy Hanukkah!

In many Jewish circles, Hanukkah is considered “a minor holiday.” This is because its observance is not required in the Torah, like Rosh Hashanah and Passover. And yet, so many of my Jewish memories come from celebrating Hanukkah with family. So, I don’t think I can ever discount it.

More importantly, this is a time of year when diversity and inclusion should shine like the candles on a Hanukkah menorah or a Kwanzaa kinara. With the rise of blatant antisemitism and racism in this country and around the world, it seems even more critical this year to celebrate all of these festivals.

Here are a few of my favorite family Hanukkah stories to share with you. I hope you will share your holiday memories (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or others) in the comments.

Hanukkah Then

As far as gifts go, my parents were quite creative. One year, we were told to open the hall closet, where we found two brand new high school jackets hanging there with our names and graduation years embroidered on them. Another time, we were given fuzzy socks, but stuffed inside were tickets to a show. I think it was Annie, but I can’t remember for sure.

The best present was when my sister and I unwrapped small phone books and told us to turn to K for our last name. There, we found our own phone number! We were getting our own phone line! For those of you who weren’t born before cell phones, the value of this gift is the equivalent of unwrapping your first iPhone.

Besides gift giving, we lit the menorah, ate potato latkes with sour cream or applesauce (or both!) and jelly doughnuts, and played dreidel for chocolate coins and M&Ms. We shopped at the annual Hanukkah Bazaar. We learned the three blessings and the Hebrew and English versions of Maoz Tzur (Rock of Ages) in Sunday school. We heard the story of the Maccabees fighting for religious freedom every year. However, we could never agree on the correct spelling of Hanukkah. It’s a good thing spelling didn’t count in Hebrew school.

Then & Now

By the time my kids were born, Hanukkah had moved way past the Dreidel song at holiday concerts. Jewish songwriters everywhere must have had a meeting and decided we needed more. I’m sure lots of latkes, doughnuts, and gelt were served to foster divine inspiration. And although we don’t have as many songs like Christmas carols, this year, Jewish acapella groups have put out not one but TWO Taylor Swift Hanukkah song mashups — here and here. Pretty cool!

One year, I decided to make homemade latkes for Andrew’s preschool class. Unfortunately, I didn’t know not to put all the potato peelings down the garbage disposal. We had to call a plumber, and those latkes cost me $350! Happy Hanukkah to me!

Another year, I asked a cashier at the grocery store if she had anything other than Christmas stamps for sale. It was one of the few years I was sending out holiday cards and didn’t want to send them affixed with Santa stamps to everyone on my list. I had to explain to the cashier why Santa was not representative of my holiday, nor were the stamps with the candy canes and decorated pine trees. I don’t think she ever caught on to what I was saying; she just got annoyed. Exasperated, I bought American flag stamps instead. I remember that story often when I’m at the post office and see menorah and kinara stamps available for purchase.

A few weeks ago, I was astounded to find an entire aisle of Hanukkah decorations. A WHOLE AISLE! I stumbled upon it at Home Goods and was floored. Typically, Hanukkah décor is relegated to an end cap or one shelf of dreidels and wrapping paper. You’ve seen them (or maybe you walked right by it). It’s a sad representation of our otherwise joyful holiday. I don’t expect that trend to end anytime soon, and I live in a fairly Jewish neighborhood.

Support the Jewish Community this Hanukkah

This is a tough time for our community as we are witnessing the old adage, “They tried to kill us, we survived, let’s eat.” It’s actually pretty scary. I have had conversations with friends who are afraid to put menorahs in their windows for fear of retaliation. Even something as simple as a Jewish star necklace or a kippah may be deemed too risky to wear in public these days.

If you want to show your support, look up Project Menorah to print a paper menorah and hang it in your window  —even if you aren’t Jewish. For my Jewish friends, take out all your menorahs and light as many as possible to shine a brighter light into the world. And one menorah for the hostages still being held by Hamas, who can’t celebrate this year.

I don’t want to end this post on a sad note, so here are some photos of my family celebrating Hanukkah over the years.

I wish everyone a happy, healthy, and safe holiday season.

XO,
Elisa

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