Happy Hanukkah!
 

Sunday at sunset marks the start of this holiday. We get so wrapped up in Christmas, I didn't want to forget to honor this most religious time. (8 days isn't it ?)

i babysit 3 jewish girls which i absolutely adore - on monday night we're making Hanukkah cookies and playing dreidle! i've learned a lot about judiasm from them, and it really is a beautiful religion!

little kids are so cute - they said i should be jealous of them b/c they get 8 days of presents and i only get one, lol :D

IowaHawkeye's comment reminds me of the end of "Spirit of Christmas" where the kids decide the most important aspect of the holidays is presents, Kyle points out that if you're Jewish you get presents for eight days, and Stan and Cartman decide they want to be Jewish! :)

Hanukkah isn't actually a major holiday - it tends to get blown out of proportion in the US because it's near Christmas. But the important thing is that it's the holiday season - regardless of which specific holidays you do or don't celebrate - it's time to spend with your family, give to charity, reflect on the religious aspects of this time of year (whatever they may be for you), and prepare for a new year.

Happy Holidays, all! :)

Happy Holidays.

put on your yarmulke, here comes Chanukah...

My Catholic fiance is so excited 'cause I'm letting him light the menoriah. I know the significance of the holiday has been way overblown, but it's a fun holiday anyway...time to make latkes!

Happy Hanukkah!!! Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! :D

Happy Hanukkah, Barbara and other GCers!!!!
 

Yes, Hanukkah is eight nights and it is actually a minor festival in our Jewish calendar year. All Jewish holidays begin the night before the first day. My family will get together tommorrow night. We'll probably have our usual of latkas and brisket (pot roast). I can't wait because this time I have a 14 month old neice who can say dreidle. It comes out "daydle". Way too cute!!! I can't wait!!!! Anyway, Happy Hanukkah to Barbara and other GCers!!!!!
justamom- I know this message was'nt for me peronally, but thanks for a really sweet thought. It is appreciated!!!!

Yep, I made some last week. Getting a jump on things. 'Cept I make them damn near instant (frozen hashbrowns) egg, flower, mmmm. Happy Holidays everyone.

maybe you GCers can help me out - i love the little girls i babysit - what are appropriate gifts to get them? Theyre 14 months, 4, and 7 - all girls - do you wrap presents for Hanukkah? I'm sorry for being so naive - i just don't know!

Just wanted to wish those of the Jewish faith, a Happy Hanukkah!
To those who celebrate Christmas, Merry Christmas!
And to those who celebrate Kwanzza, Happy Kwanzza!
If I missed anyone, Happy Whatever You Celebrate Day! :)
A joyful and safe season to all!

You know, some of my favorite memeories were when we decided to do Hanukkah instead of Christmas. Even though my family and I aren't really practicing, this is a wonderful time for us to remember our heritage and history. I'm so excited! Last year I got to introduce my fiance to it, and he loved lighting the candles. This year, I'm all alone at school, so my friends offered to come light them with me. :D Friends are the best!!

Happy Hannukah. Merry Christmas. Happy Solistice. Enjoy the Yuletide. Good Ramadan. And have a dignified Tet. :)

My boyfriend is Jewish, so we are celebrating the holiday tomorrow night as well. When his Zedi (is that spelled right??) passed away, we received one of his menorahs, so it'll be even more special this year.

I'm happy someone dtarted this thread, because "we" get so wrapped up in Christmas....it's everywhere, from campus being decorated in Christmas lights to going to the mall....this is the holiday season, not just Christmas...

So with that....Happy Channukah everyone!!!

Never mind the cute lil kid s*%t, I've been jealous about the 8 days of presents thing since I was a wee lad. Aww, but...lil kids are cute though huh? Alright, alright, i'll stop being a bitch now.:)

Re: Happy Hanukkah, Barbara and other GCers!!!!
 

I'm so jealous!! I'm gonna have to miss my mom's latkes this year(since i'm still at school)..and my grandmother pretty much couldn't cook if her life depended on it..but the one thing she could make was brisket..and it was amazing..sigh..my mom is almost perfected my grandma's recipe..but it's still not the same..ya know? :(

Just out of curosity..how many GCers are jewish?

Re: Re: Happy Hanukkah, Barbara and other GCers!!!!
 

ummm...I really like ruggalah (sp?) does that count?

Actually, not Jewish here but the philosophy is pretty deep and the food ain't half bad! (ex of 2 years was Jewish)

Happy Hanukkah Merry Chritsmas Have a Good Ramadon Happy Kwanzza
SO basically I am saying, Have a Happy and Safe Holiday to all and many more to come.
DGPhoney~

Historical Insight to Hanukkah
 

iiiiliiii iiiiliiii

To add to this conversation, I wanted to let you know why Hanukkah is historically significant to Judisiam. (In a nutshell) The Jews were ruled by Syian King Antiohus. The Syrians faught the Jews. The Syrians destroyed the Jewish Temple because the Jews stood up to Antiochus and told his they would NOT worship his idols. When the Jews faught back a father and his sons banded together to be the Maccabees. The Jews won the Temple back. As the Jews and the Maccebees were looking through their precious, destroyed Temple they found some oil to light their lamps. They did not think it was enough to last them one day. It was a miracle, but the oil lasted for eight nights and days. This is why we say, Hanukkah is the Festival of Lights and why the holiday lasts eight nights. This is why we have the menorah with eight candles. Hanukkah in Hebrew acually means "Rededication" because the Jews were rededicating the new second Temple.
The significance of the dreidel is: each side of the spinning top has a Hebrew letter. The letters: gimmel (G), hey (H), nun (N) and shin (sh sound). These letters stand for the Hebrew words nes, gadol, haya, sham. This means in English, "A great miracle happened there." In Israel, they use the letters for saying " A great miracle happened HERE."

Okay, don't be that jealous. Usually, days one through seven involved "presents" like socks when I was growing up.

Time to bump.

Happy Hanukkah!

(Hey, whatever happened to justamom? I haven't seen her around here in a while...)

Happy Chanukah to all!!!
or Happy Hanukkah or Happy Chanukkah!!!!!

Happy Chanukkah to all Greek Chatters who celebrate it!!

<---Suddenly jonesing for some latkes!!

Happy Chanukah, GC!

I had latkes at our holiday party this week!

Chanukah starts on the evening of the 25th this year!

Happy Hanukkah to those who celebrate!!

JAM has been gone for quite awhile. I miss her :( She is an awesome sister & always seemed to have some good advice for those in need. I wish she would come back to visit!!

Happy Chanukah, everyone!

My dog loves Chanukah...he knows that he gets a treat after I light the menorah and say the blessings. As soon as I start setting up the candles he comes racing over, and as I finish up the blessings he starts leaping in the air! He's too adorable. :)

Ditto as to both statements!

Happy Chanukah to everyone!

Don't forget the apple sauce with the latkes.

My mother's latkes are so light and lacey, they're hard to resist! And while I prefer them with applesauce, my brother likes them with sour cream.

Thank heavens for Jewish cousins!!!