Monday Morning Musings:
“Look at how a single candle can both defy and define the darkness.”
–Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl
“How far that little candle throws his beams!
So shines a good deed in a naughty world.”
–William Shakespeare, Portia, The Merchant of Venice (Act 5, Scene 1)
Season of miracles, season of light
A single candle glows bright
It’s the first night of Hanukkah.
I think of a candle shining in a window
And of the light traveling out into space.
The light of stars takes billions of years to reach us,
Traveling at 186,000 miles per second
But still I wonder if someone out there
Out there
Somewhere
Might see it.
As I fry latkes—
Lots and lots of latkes—
I listen to a Hanukkah CD.*
I listen to it every year,
But this year
I really listen
As the young girl asks her Uncle Joe
If miracles really happen?
He says it was a miracle when someone
Who was very sick got well
Or if a long war ends.
The child then says,
“What if there were no more wars.”
And Uncle Joe
Replies, “Yes, that would be a miracle.”

Two pans; one spatula
Season of violence, season of fear
A single candle brings cheer
It’s the first night of Hanukkah.
Rituals of thousands of years
The miracle of the oil
Burning for eight nights.
And we celebrate with latkes
And other delights.
Though of course
Long ago,
In lands torn by war,
As they were then
And are now,
There were no potatoes
Or candles packaged
Neatly in box.
But Hanukkah reminds us
Of rededication
And hope.
So at the darkest time of the year
We light a candle.
And then we light
Some more.
We celebrate
With family and friends
We eat too much
And we drink some wine.
We talk.
We laugh.
We sing and dance.
And rejoice–
Because in the face of darkness
We need to find the light.
And it doesn’t even matter
That my house and clothing
Smell of oil.
Because we have love
And laughter
And good food to eat.
Season of brightness, season of yearning
Lighting the candles till all of them are burning,
It’s the eight nights of Hanukkah.
*A Child’s Hanukkah, The Jewish Wedding Band
Last evening I caught the tail end of a PBS broadcast http://video.pbs.org/program/story-jews-program/
Now I want to go back and view the other episodes. Your post today has brought age-old rituals back to life, the candle an apt metaphor for dispelling darkness in this beyond “naughty world.” Happy Hanukkah!
Thanks, Marian. You know how my family–especially daughters and I–love our traditions. 🙂
I will have to check out the episodes, too. I know I’ve seen bits and pieces, but I should just sit down and watch.
A beautiful post
Thank you so much, Derrick!
“Season of violence, season of fear
A single candle brings cheer
It’s the first night of Hanukkah.”
Beautiful. Timely.
As always
Thank you, Janet. I appreciate your kind words! As always. 😉
Happy Hanukkah, Merril. Thank you for sharing your traditions with us. This is a beautiful post, and there’s something current, or at least something we need currently, about a tradition that is so old. Or at least it seems that way.
The latkes look delicious. I have made them once or twice so I can well imagine the smell of oil and how it permeates everything.
Thanks so much, Robin. The latkes were delicious. We’re having the leftovers tonight. 🙂
“Because in the face of darkness / We need to find the light.” All too true. Wonderful post.
Thank you so much, Elusive Trope!
A happy Hanukkah to you and family Merril. Thank you for this post that reminds us to re-dedicate ourselves, and to believe in miracles as when someone who is ill, gets well .. Lovely photos too!
Thank you, Susan.
In years past, we also had some killer dreidel games. 🙂
Love the references to light. I’m reading Dante right now, and it’s all about light, too. Happy Hanukkah to you all.
Thanks so much, Cindy! I’m impressed that you are reading Dante. 🙂
I was thinking about the candle in the window that Dr. Zhivago sees before he knows Lara.
Happy Hanukkah, Merril!! Guess what?! My son made latkes and BRISKET for his girlfriend last night. I’m beaming haha! I guess something rubbed off. Hope you’re enjoying your family and friends! Your latkes look delish!!!!
Thanks, Luanne! I hope your son’s girlfriend enjoyed the meal!