Happy Hanukkah

[RoadRaven]

Yes... we have significant Jewish communities here... but little recognition even though they share one significant set of books with the Christian community (the Olde Testament)

And even though we are supposed to be a non-secular country, we continue to but into only the commercialised Christian festivals (Easter and Christmas)
and one Americanised version of an Old Faith belief system (Halloween).

What about our rich multicultural, multifaith culture which is developing.

We are a young country, we should be making our own way (YAY - MATARIKI is becoming mainstream AT LAST) and not mindlessly adopting and celebrating the ways of other countries.

Whoops... I better get off my soap-box...


HAPPY CHANUKAH ALL!

[Trek420]

Whoops... I better get off my soap-box...


HAPPY CHANUKAH ALL!

Oh, get back up there, I'll join ya', woops, there's no room.

This amazes me, it's our shared Judeo/Christian tradition. I would think more Christians would know about Jewish religion. It's our shared background, history, basis ... the King of the Jews! The Last supper was a Passover Sedar. Oy.

I think it's fun to learn about other cultures religions (ok, I'm odd, I think learning, discussing and reading are fun).

Many secular traditions, the yule log, tree, the lights .... are derived from Pagan traditions. Deck the halls with ... fa' lah lah lah lah.

I'm in favor of and and all holidays with good food!

[Duck on Wheels]

I'm missing Channuka this year Not a menorah in sight up here in Montreal, although the flight over had a number of Hassids, but I've got no wig so can't go searching them out just to watch the candles burn. I think I catch the last night when I land in California.

And on behalf of my protofeminist grandmothers, who secularized the families just because keeping a kosher household was so goldarned much WORK! (and they had full jobs outside the home already) ... I vote for mashed potato latkes, using leftover mashed potatoes. But I do like'em with a bit of freshly chopped onion tossed in.

p.s. I think the Yiddish word for smidgen may be "bissele".

[Running Mommy]

I'm missing Channuka this year Not a menorah in sight up here in Montreal, although the flight over had a number of Hassids, but I've got no wig so can't go searching them out just to watch the candles burn.
p.s. I think the Yiddish word for smidgen may be "bissele".

When we took running son to NYC last month I had to explain the Hassids to him. He loved the long curls on some of them. He's very curious about people of other faiths, nationalities etc.
At one point we were walking through the city and he whispered to me "mom. there are A LOT of Jewish people here. Do we have any in Arizona, or do they all live here??"...
That's why I'm glad I have the opportunity to travel with him. I don't want to raise him in an insulated bubble like I was. When I moved to New York to be a nanny at age 19 I was shell shocked! Best thing for me, but MAN was it a step out of my comfy box.

[margo49]

I first heard smidgen from a Canadian Jewish woman in New Zealand in December, 1973. Make of that what you will.

[margo49]

5 candles tonight, Trek.
Wonderful, innit?

[Trek420]

And on behalf of my protofeminist grandmothers, who secularized the families just because keeping a kosher household was so goldarned much WORK! (and they had full jobs outside the home already) ... I vote for mashed potato latkes, using leftover mashed potatoes. But I do like'em with a bit of freshly chopped onion tossed in.

I also vote for mashed style so latke season starts with Thanksgiving leftovers. Doesn't mutual-Mom put a little breading on the pancake of matzo meal?

Besides the goldarned work I'd heard our mutual maternal grandmother refused to cut her hair when she married. Her DH did not mind (she was very beautiful) so what's not to like? This caused conflict when they left Poland for America with the plan to work and bring the family over her Mom (our mutual great grandma) refused to see them off at the train station.

Of course she never saw her family again.

I heard she blamed these traditions as much or more than the Nazis for her loss feeling somehow they would have made it out if not for this conflict over them. I'm sure that was not correct, they could not escape Poland. She got one sister out but not the rest. But that was her feeling and so she never followed Orthodox traditions.

[tygab]

My (Catholic) hubby has been away, but he didn't want me to feel forgotten so he had some things to arrive here while he was gone (some sox, handwarmers, iTunes card)... very cool.

He'll be back tonight and we'll light the menorah together.

In my family we always tried (and now I've done this with him) to pick right after lighting the candle that goes out the last... does anyone else do this?



I will have to try making latkes out of mashed potatos. That sounds like something even I could do.

Happy Hanukkah!