I almost missed Hanukkah!

I'm not sure what calendar I've been looking at, but I was convinced that Hanukkah didn't start until this upcoming Saturday.   Today I found out that I was wrong & it actually started last Friday.  My family celebrates Hanukkah.  Yes, we’re candy-making, gift-giving, New-Testament-reading Christmas celebrators primarily.  But Hanukkah will always have a special spot in my Decembers.  I thank Cyndee for this.  Because of her we made & burned our own menorah, because of her we knew of the miracle of light granted to a weary but faith-filled people, because of her I learned to drench latkes in sour cream to make them palatable. 

All mothers have hopes & dreams for their children’s futures.  Most mothers would love for their daughters to marry rich, handsome, successful men.  Cyndee isn’t most mothers.  I don’t think any of those criteria crossed her mind.  Cyndee dreamed that one of us would have the luck to marry a converted Jew.  I desperately hoped to acquiesce at one point, but my brief e-mail relationship with a Jewish man in Texas brought no conversion.  Then (okay, about 10 then’s later) came Jim and although his sideburns sometimes get so long and frizzy that payoth (yes, that’s what they’re called!) don’t seem far away, there’s nothing kosher about the man.  My sisters likewise failed.  Cyndee seems okay with the turn of events, of course, but I know her love for All Things Jewish (a magazine my roomies & I actually subscribed to in college…how on earth did I find people as strange as I was?!) remains.

I'm like my mother.  I would love to learn more about Judaism.  I knew a woman who learned Hebrew just so she could read the Old Testament in its original language.  That moves me.  I learned Spanish to read Cervantes – that moved me more than considerably, but Hebrew could potentially Move me closer to God…to understanding…to striving & yearning.   If I ever take the Hebrew  challenge on, I think I would read Hosea first.  It’s about that – approaching & distancing ourselves from God.  Brother Wold taught us an amazing lesson on that book in seminary...that was probably 15 years ago but the impact remains even if the details have disappeared.   To remind myself in Hebrew…a good goal. 

But, I digress…

Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem more than 2000 years ago.  The temple had been seized by the Greeks in battle, and Judaism had been outlawed.  Judah Maccabee didn’t take kindly to that & refused to be outlawed.  He  fought for freedom for three years, eventually recapturing Jerusalem and the beloved temple.  The temple needed to be rededicated, but only a small bottle of oil (enough to last one day) was found.  The oil miraculously lasted eight days and nights.  A beautiful story in any language. 

My mom thought so too, so the story & candles became part of our own tradition.  I am grateful for a mom who stretched & yearned and grew us into people who are fascinated by things beyond our immediate realm of space & time.  Now that she's single again, perhaps we'll try to snag her a converted Jewish husband.

Comments

[Megan]

I'm all for a Jewish step-dad. In fact I think that could be quite rewarding in many ways, but I won't get into it.
Your blog this morning has made me want to do Hanukkah with my little family. I'm not sure what Tom would say to that, but I think it's a great idea to open up your children to different cultures and such. I'm going to make that a goal for next year, and I'm going to start Tom on building us a menorah immediately!

[Kelly]

We have an older couple in our ward who are converted Jews. They're really interesting to listen to. Great people.

Brother Wold was the best Old Testament teacher. I've heard lots of grumbling this year about studying the Old Testament in Gospel Doctrine, but it's my total favorite.

I think a Jewish hubs for Cyndee sounds delightful! I will keep on the lookout.

In all seriousness, I think it's wonderful that you celebrate Hanukkah. I've wondered if the couple in my ward still celebrate -- I can't imagine giving it up -- really such a beautiful holiday.

But ... you know my favorite Hendrix Hanukkah story. Shadow the Hanukkah dog.

[Price Cream Parlor]

I love that you celebrate this! And, I would love to learn more about the holiday and tradition! I had a seminary teacher that left the US and studied hebrew. It was life changing for her. My mother in law always had a menorah up in her window. I loved that!

[Judy Naegle]

Oh, how your memories bring back mine. I remember the year your mom and dad made me a minorah and how it inspired me to teach my children about Hanukkah. I remember reading them the stories and how impressed I was with one particular story about the runners who light the torches from a central fire and then relay the light through torches like the spokes of a wheel (with the fire in the center) and spread the light from torch to torch across the land so the light of religious freedom will never go out. It was very touching and astoundingly significant to me.... I love your memories....