Eliana kindly invited us to her family’s Hanukkah celebrations. Poor Kevin had a bad migraine (he’s periodically plagued with them, alas), but the kids and I went, along with one of Kavi’s friends, and it was great! The kids and I had never been to a Hanukkah party before — I’ve helped cook for a seder, but nothing for Hanukkah. They learned a lot! Anand had MANY questions!
Eliana’s father tells the whole story of Hanukkah as part of it, asking the children questions; it’s a great educational event, which he did for years at schools when his kids were growing up, and I suggested he bring it to the Oak Park Library next year. (I’m forgetting who organizes those cultural events — Chibuike Enyia, can you remind me?)
He also read Lemony Snickett’s _The Latke Who Couldn’t Stop Screaming_, which is quite funny, if a little gruesome. 🙂
My favorite parts were the lighting of the candles, (not to be used for anything functional, like warmth or cooking, only to look at the light and contemplate / remember), the eating of the latkes (yum!), the surprising discovery that Costco macaroons are pretty yummy, getting to tour all the wonderful art he’s collected over the years, including many pieces from local artists, and from around the world…
…but most of all, I appreciated a passage he chose to read to us, in the context of the current conflict in Israel and Palestine. I’m copying it here:
*****
The Meaning of the Miracle
Why was the miracle of the menorah necessary? Wouldn’t the military victory have been enough?
Notwithstanding the necessity to take up arms, you must know when to put them down. Too many wars are lost in their victories, too many revolutionaries forget why they fought. At times it is necessary to fight, but ‘not by strength, nor by power, says the Lord.’ It is the spirit that must be the ultimate victor; if not, the enemy will have won, for you will become like him. It is not pacifism advocated here, but the miracle of the menorah. To have fought and yet be able to cleanse the temple, to rededicate it, to relight the menorah, this is victory. Victory is to be free, not to triumph.
— _The Jewish Holidays: A Guide and Commentary_, Michael Strassfeld
