CREATING   A   MIRACLE

The Real Meaning of Hanukkah

What family memories do you have about celebrating Hanukkah? Every year before Hanukkah, my grandkids come over to my studio and ask to make a new Menorah out of clay. Each year we have different ideas: a ballerina, a robot, a fire engine, to name a few we have made together over the past years. They know we will have a big Hanukkah party and make yummy latkes to eat.

This year, as you prepare for Hanukkah, spend a moment to think about what you want your family and friends to remember about your Hanukkah together. What can you do to make this a truly memorable event, and maybe even a happening? How can you make a miracle of the celebration of Hanukkah? Here are some of our ideas:

We invite friends to a Hanukkah party in our home. They are told to bring their favorite home-made latkes or sufganiyot (dough-nuts are more popular in Israel.) We have an anonymous vote to see whose were the best. There is a prize for the best latkes and the best dough-nuts. It is usually the ones that don’t survive until the end that are the best.

We ask everybody to bring their Hanukkiyot, (their Hanukkah Menorahs), and we light them together. We ask each family to share a story about where their Menorah came from and why they chose to bring this one to our celebration.

On the week of Hanukkah, we always go to our grandchildren’s school to watch the sweetest Hanukkah play. Afterwards there are always delicious jelly doughnuts to share, the most popular doughnut here in Israel.

We celebrate the miracle of this holiday by creating long lasting memories with our family and our friends. Wishing all of you a happy and joyous Hanukkah . Please take a look at some of my new Hanukkah creations in my Etsy shop: www.etsy.com/shop/jewishheirlooms . Remember, each of my creations is hand made and one of a kind.

A Hanukkiyah (Hanukkah Menorah) which looks like the Western Wall (Kotel)

A Hanukkiyah (Hanukkah Menorah) in the shape of pomegranates

A set of Driedle napkin holders

A hamseh painted in the Hanukkah mode

A latke plate