Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights:12 '18

Hanukkah is one of the most joyous of Jewish holidays.  The eight-day celebration is known as Hanukkah, or Chanukah commemorates the re-dedication during the second century B.C. of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.  Often called the Festival of Lights, the holiday is celebrated with the lighting of the menorah, traditional foods, games and gifts.

First nite / December 2, 2018

The center of our Hanukkah celebration revolves around lighting candles on a nine-branched menorah. On each of the holiday's eight nights, another candle is added to the menorah after sundown. and lit using the ninth candle.

Second nite/ December 3, 2018
The center branch’s candle, known as the helper or the “shamash,” is lit first all eight nights, and its flame is then used to light the other branches. On the first night, one candle is lit; the second night, two candles; and so on.

Third nite / December 4, 2018 

In our home, it is always the lighting of the candles that carry the most meaning and memories for the holiday. 

 

Fourth nite / December 5, 2018 
We use a menorah that was given to Bruce  50 years ago by his family to use for his first Hanukkah away from home after joining the Navy.

Fifth nite / December 6, 2018

 Jewish families typically recite two or three blessings during this ritual.  We read these blessings from a book that Bruce received from his family when they gave him the menorah.

Sixth nite / December 7, 2018 

 Up until Bruce  read all the blessing aloud in Hebrew

then I (CC)  read the translation in English

Seventh nite / December 8, 2018 

This year, Bruce asked me to  the more common Hebrew blessings ( After all I have had 25 years of understudying him to prepare).  Bruce coached me through the harder to pronounce consonance (like the ch), then read the English translations

Eighth nite / December 9, 2018 

And so we have added another treasured memory to our Hanukkah holiday collection.