Giant Menorah
The giant Hanukkah Menorah was lit Saturday evening at City Hall and ushered in the Jewish eight day 'festival of lights'. Growing up going to a Catholic school, I was sort of on an island when it came to religion. It wasn't until I went to Lincoln Junior High School that I met up with any Jewish kids my age. I remember having a discussion about the Christmas season vs. the celebration of Hanukkah. A friend went on and on raving about the all the gifts I was going to receive on the 25th and the huge lead up to the day. I reminded him of his eight nights of gifts he was soon going to be embarking on, and it seemed to be a 'wash'. We both agreed we liked it the way it was, and it wasn't going to change anyway. I learned the most about it listening to two girls in study hall talk on and on about their families' ritual of the lights and the food consumed on those nights. Hey, I must have been a pretty good listener, Cindy actually let me dance with her during the dreaded square dancing activity in gym class. Ah... those awkward years.
Happy Hanukkah to all!
Well this is embarrassing. You posted a Chanuka menorah before I did. I really must get up and get a bus to Jerusalem and take some holiday shots. ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks for your good background update.
Happy Chanuka to all.
Well composed. Your photo, I mean. Thanks for the greeting. I think I'll go have a latke!
ReplyDeleteThat's really a giant menorah.
ReplyDeleteI had square dancing in the winter as a gym class, too.
Sorry to be absent a bit from blogging. Recent death in the family has been taking a lot of my time.
i was very sheltered in my small-town wisconsin upbringing, but respect other religions of any kind for their traditions.
ReplyDeleteSounds so familiar to me. I went to Catholic Schools until the 4th Grade when I started public school. You really are on a religious island at those schools. I'm so glad for my public school experience and the doors it opened.
ReplyDeleteExcelent composition! I was born and raised in a Catholic country under a dictatorship where church and politics were hand in hand so, I'd better not comment on this subject, if you know what I mean.
ReplyDeleteI went to Catholic schools until University and have to admit the I was really isolated and now I have lots of Jewish friends and I love all their holidays ( and the great treats)!
ReplyDeleteI love these menorahs. We have quite a few of them displayed in my part of town.
ReplyDeletePersonally I'm a christian so I celebrate christmas and the birth of jesus so I'm not going to judge other religions.
ReplyDeleteI miss the diversity of people/religions of living in the big city.
ReplyDeleteIn the small town I grew up in, I only knew of two Jewish families (my doctor and a first grade buddy of mine) and three black people. The minorities were the Catholics. The world is much different today.
ReplyDeleteI love the building behind it.
ReplyDeleteRe. Jack's comment: I am SO happy that the world is different today in this regard! I think I missed a great deal about diversity as I was growing up and people today learn more and appreciate more about other religions, ethnic, and cultural groups...to everyone's advantage.
ReplyDeleteThere's a great Tummler Bay Concert tomorrow night at Temple Beth-el, 5-7PM~ with Latkes & with great accordionist Matthew Schreiber. My children's librarian just showed me a wonderful picture book for young children called Chanukah Haiku.
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