Chanukah again, we’ve lit the first candle and as always the simple beauty of the two lights are a thrill eliciting sense memories:  melting wax, all the lingering oily smoke of frying latkes, cold night air, off-key chanting of the blessings, and the delicious melting chocolate of Chanukah foil-wrapped coins. Chanukah was really never about 8 nights of presents, it was more about a special time as a family.  In the context of “Christmas is all around us,” it couldn’t compete for the enveloping mainstream culture. Blue and white shiny foil-wrapped gifts, gaudy decorations, and too many presents were not ever going to be quite as nice as the entire sparkling neighborhoods of Christmas lights, gorgeous music, and never-ending sense that we were not a part of it, just onlookers. But it didn’t have to compete.

When I think about the early celebrations I remember the fun of the attempts at imitating the holiday of Christmas. My father as “Chanukah Claus” wearing a wine colored bathrobe and a Santa hat, Styrofoam Menorah covered in blue glitter, and foil chains to drape, blue and silver of course. What gifts? It was the fun, the laughter, the times together and always the beauty of those candle flames.  I remember my own kids experiencing the candle-lighting, the promise they each made that they would always want to light the menorah, the way their children, our wonderful grandchildren do. I love the new traditions they create.

May these Chanukah lights kindle joyous memories, and create more each night of your lives.

To my Christian friends, I will wish you Merry Christmas when we get closer.