There is something powerful about bringing light into
darkness.
When I was growing
up in Jerusalem, Hanukah held special charms for me. My family was not
religious, and Hanukah is “religion-light” in that all work is permitted and
there is little by way of ritual, save the nightly lighting of candles.
And so it was less
of an exterior event, and more of an interior one. Hanukah happened at home. This
suited me and mine just fine. In Israel at that time there was nary a hint of
the competition with Christmas, so ubiquitous in the USA.
When my kids were
little we had a yearly Hanukah party, and shamelessly did compensate for our
no-Christmas home with presents and decorations I never saw in my own childhood
in Israel.
But I returned to
my roots. Hanukah is no more party-time, or presents time, or any other
whoopty-doo time. Hanukah is, once again, the smell of frying latkes and most
of all, candles. If nothing else, the pandemic returned all of us home, and
reminded us how this is our anchor.
A slight
modification (because my roaming ever-curious cats will surely burn their
whiskers) requires strategic placing of the menorah. We don’t get to put it in
the widow, as is customary. But candles it is.
Their charm is
undeniable.
“...One for each night
They shed a sweet light
To remind us for days long ago.”
From Hanukah Oh Hanukah
{Last year’s 8th
night^. Hanukah this year begins the evening of Thursday, December 10 and ends
the evening of Friday, December 18}
It's a few days early, but Happy Hanukkah!
ReplyDeleteSo lovely. Happy Hanukkah. I love the story and indeed even one little candle can dispel the darkness.
ReplyDeleteHappy Hanukkah! Wishing you much light.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mirka, for sharing your own experiences with Hanukah, both growing up and later and now. The symbolism of light is such a good one and something the whole world needs right now. May your Hanukah be a blessed one this year.
ReplyDeleteHappy Hanukkah! I love that you refer to it as and interior event. My little family rejected the "commercial" Christmas years ago and scaled waaaay down on presents and focused more on presence.
ReplyDeleteI still like presents (anytime, Thank You ;} ) but presence is far more gratifying for holidays.
ReplyDeleteHappy Hanukkah, MIrka!
ReplyDeleteYour mentioning potato latkes reminds me of my father, who liked them so much that, year round, our cousin H would stay up late at night to make them for him if we were due to visit her the next day. He didn't want to inconvenience her like that, so he stopped warning her about an impending visit.
I stopped indulging in them years ago, but I did buy some wrapped Hanukkah chocolate coins. For us, it's all about the chocolate.
Beautifully written, dear heart.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie