Hanukkah, or Chanukkah, the eight-day festival of light that begins on the eve of the 25th of the Jewish month of Kislev, celebrates a miracle God performed in the 2nd century BC. This year, 2012, Hanukkah began December 8. It concludes December 16.

Growing up outside DC, in Maryland, I envied my Jewish friends who celebrated Hanukkah. They received one gift every night for EIGHT nights. Man. They even ate potato latkes with applesauce and sour cream!

In Junior High we danced the Hora to Hava Nagila, and sang Chanukkah, O Chanukkah. I loved it!

When I taught my fourth grade class, in Florida, about world cultures, we played the

dreidel game, pin the Shamash on the Menorah, and ate latkes. I read my students one of my favorite picture books, Eric A. Kimmel’s The Chanukkah Guest.

Chanukkah. Such a holiday!

After we moved to Texas, I decided I wanted a menorah for Hanukkah. You can’t just walk into any store to find a menorah and candles in southeast Texas, oy, veh, but it is getting easier. In fact, I just learned our local Christian bookstore carries them. Mazel tov!

Shalom.

I wish you well.

Sandy

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