19 degrees at 5am -- the weather is frightful, but snuggling's delightful

[lagilman]

Woke this morning to three thoughts:

1. wow, steam heat is loud.
2. it must be cold, the cats are still sleeping.
3. latkes!


I've been thinking about why I light the menorah, even though, with how far my faith has wandered from the traditional roads, I can't even really call myself a forgetting-to-practice Jew any more.

Hannukah is a celebration of survival, of hope, of reasserting who we are, as a people. Yes, it's a minor holiday, and if didn't fall in pseudo-lockstep with Christmas, probably no Gentile would have heard of it, much less known the story (er, you all DO know the story, don't you?). But it does something very important, symbolically.

It stands up and says "I'm still here. I'm bearing light, not sitting in darkness."



Happy Hannuakah to all my friends and readers who observe, or once observed, or merely wish to stand with us, within the glow of flickering lights.



And to any North City Irregulars (or Regulars, for that matter) who are interested, there will be latkes at Ch. Felidae tonight!

Comments

[klingonguy.livejournal.com]

No latkes for me, alas. We're hosting a small dinner party tonight and Valerie has made up this wonderfully tasty (and elaborate) taco salad.

Candles will be lit before the guests arrive, using an enormous menorah handmade by my great uncle Jake more than 90 years ago.

Wishing you a happy one!

[ex-fashioni.livejournal.com]

Sweet potato latkes tonight. Spicy and sweet and all sorts of yum.

Candles will by lit by the kids and their grandparents tonight.

[nycdeb.livejournal.com]

latkes! I'm dining at the other end of town but now all I can think about are latkes!

[joycemocha.livejournal.com]

I'm not Jewish, but the story of Hannukah is one of the greatest ones out there, IMO (Interestingly, I learned more about it once I became Catholic and heard more about it from priests than I ever did a Protestant pastor).

It moves the soul. The lights still burn in the darkness.

Happy Hannukah. Survive. Keep the lights burning.

[wyld-dandelyon.livejournal.com]

And that symbolic message is SO VERY important to people in this dark time of the year. I don't know of any mid-winter celebrations that don't include light as a very prominent part of the festivities.

[rovanda.livejournal.com]

Happy Hannukah! I do know the story, and think it's a wonderful one.

[bevhale.livejournal.com]

Happy Hannukah! Bearing light is always good.

[mevennen.livejournal.com]

Happy Hannukah!

[allaboutm-e.livejournal.com]

Happy Hanukkah!

[shadowfay.livejournal.com]

Thanks... you brighten my day. Happy Hannukah to you too!