Force of ritual

washington-menorah-403552-lwIt’s the first night of Hanukkah and I have no candles. Or rather, I have candles, but they are packed away God only knows where, and in any case I have too few to last all eight nights (and I can scarcely hope for my own Hanukkah miracle now, can I?) And so I took a patient’s advice this evening and stopped off at the Temple on the way home.

They were open, naturally, and quite crowded. Two Hadassah babushkas were in the kitchen preparing latkes. The smell pulled me out of my Friday funk (long day. Loooong day) and I resisted the urge to offer my services. Back up north, when I participated in our Temple’s Hanukkah party, they always put me in charge of latkes. No one does a better latke. But even though these might be my landsmen, they don’t know me, and they looked the type to stone a man for entering their kitchen.

Quite a crowd in there. Hanukkah ropes ’em in like no other holiday. Yes, we’re supposed to all show up for the High Holy Days services, but it’s the fun holiday that folks come for in droves. I was dressed for it, too, still in my doctory clothes. Would have been oh so natural to grab a cheapie black yarmulkeh and sit my ass down in the shul.

But family called, and it was late already, and I still had a grocery store run to make. The Temple gift shop was closed, bizarrely enough, so I figured I would check the kosher section of the grocery store. Yet I couldn’t find a kosher section, not in the store I chose tonight, and so I came home, said my prayer way too late (sundown, dontcha know) and lit a Shabbat candle. Better than nothing.

We didn’t have too many rituals as kids, but we did celebrate Hanukkah. We did light the candles every year. We did and still do exchange gifts.

Latkes, they’re a year-round treat, but they still make me think of Hanukkah.

Happy Hanukkah.

D.

6 Comments

  1. Dean says:

    Whether you believe or not, there is joy and beauty in the myth. In fact, I sometimes think that if you can step back and see it as a myth, it becomes more human and more beautiful. As human myths go, Hanukkah is gorgeous.

  2. Lucie says:

    Happy Hanukkah.

  3. Stamper in CA says:

    Enjoyed this post/blog.
    I lit the first candle Thursday night (some Jew I am), but I do have the candles and the menorah. And I will make latkes when I get home. I make a pretty good latke myself but will check out your recipe. Oh, and I love the picture too.
    Happy Hanukkah!

  4. Walnut says:

    Thanks, folks. Sis, I found that photo via Google image search. There’s a much bigger version here. Looks like it’s a Nat Geo pic.

  5. (re: National Geographic – the little yellow box is usually a giveaway 🙂 )

    Happy Hannukah, Doug.

  6. Walnut says:

    Thanks, ps. Have you been to the Lodge yet, or is that still to come?