Happy Hanukkah

Fondest of memories when my Nana would come up from the Jersey shore to bring a bounty of presents for my sister and I – and she’d also make us dessert – usually parfaits after a nice meal from mom.
Dad is Jewish, mom is not – but I was raised and had a confirmation ceremony in the temple at 16. That was a fun day too.
I enjoyed going to synagogue all through my youth and the friends I made from other parts of south Jersey that I wouldn’t have had a chance to meet had it not been for Sunday school religious class. I feel blessed for those experiences.

A very Happy Hanukkah to all of you ~love and group hugs~

@sheba2011

Thank you for returning the holiday to Community. Always a great thread.

Oodie

@sheba2011

RROCK OF AGES

Rock of Ages, let our song
Praise thy saving power.

You amidst the raging foes
Were our sheltering tower.

Furious, they assailed us,
But your armour veiled us.

And thy word broke their sword
When our own strength failed us.

(repeat last two lines)OCK OF AGES:

HEBREW VERSION

MA’OZ TZUR
MAOZ TZUR YESHU’ATI
Ma’oz tzur yeshu’ati,
Lecha na’eh leshabe-ach.

Tikon beit tefilati
Vesham todah nezabe-ach.

Le’eit tachin matbe-ach,
Mitzar ham’nabe-ach

Az egmor beshir mizmor
Chanukat hamizbe-ach

(repeat last two lines)

Also, not to be forgotten:
I HAVE A LITTLE DREIDEL
I have a little dreidel,
I made it out of clay,
And when it’s dry and ready
Then dreidel I shall play!

Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel,
I made it out of clay
Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel
Now dreidel I shall play

It has a lovely body
With a leg so short and thin,
And when it gets all tired
It drops and then I win!

Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel,
With a leg so short and thin,
Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel,
It drops and then I win.

The Yiddish Version

kh bin a kleyner dreydl,
gemakht bin ikh fun blay.

Kumt lomir ale shpiln,
in dreydl – eyns tsvey dray.
Oy, dreydl, dreydl, dreydl,
Oy, drey zikh, dreydl, drey.
To lomir ale shpiln,
in dreydl eyns un tsvey.

Un ikh hob lib tsu tantsn,
zikh dreyen in a rod

To lomir ale tantsn,
a dreydl-karahod.
Oy, dreydl, dreydl, dreydl,
oy, drey zikh, dreydl, drey.
To lomir ale shpiln,
in dreydl eyns un tsvey.

This brings back so many moments at the grandparents home where all their children and grandchildren gathered on the first Sunday of Hannukah. Above are just two of the songs we used to sing after grandpa lighted the candles on the Menorah which sat on their grand piano. Grandma spent hours in the kitchen making potato latkes with fresh applesauce. And, yes, there were presents for all situated around the fireplace. So many wonderful memories that ended when we were all grown and moved away.

@jerseygirl2015

I am wishing you a Happy Hanukkah my heart is with you.
Don’t forget 1-1-2020 I marked that spot years ago. 🙂

Thank you Sheba2011 – how very nice to have a Hanukkah Greeting.
Rightbackatcha!!!!!

The images you posted make me yearn for Hanukkah’s in my far past as a lil kid – – – when the synagogue would hold its annual bazaar and we’d buy a buncha lil gifts for everyone and eat too many latkes.
My dad was always happy with Halva…usually a child’s mom would make homemade logs of the stuff and the air was so sweet you could practically taste it.

I appreciate the pics and well wishes and hope all who celebrate Hanukkah enjoy a warm and wonderful, memory filled 8 days.

Enjoy the season!

Thank you Sheba for starting this thread.

Hanukkah brings back so many memories when as a child the entire family would congregate at our grandparents home to sing, to dance, to light the candles and to have a great time. All the presents were gathered in front of the fireplace which always had a fire. And in those days it was with logs. Grandma would always make her potato latkes (pancakes) , apple streudel and her famous honey cake along with chicken soup or borscht followed by a full meal. My aunts and uncles would sit at the dining room table along with the older cousins. The rest of us would sit around a couple of card tables off in a corner of the dining area or somewhere in the kitchen. The smells from the kitchen permeated the entire house. Not sure if we wanted to eat first or open our gifts.

Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday which celebrates the victory of the Maccabees over the larger Syrian army. It also celebrates a miracle that happened during this time, where just a day’s supply of oil allowed the menorah in the rededicated Temple in Jerusalem to remain lit for eight days.