2 posts tagged “jewish”

Sean and Stefan say...

The McFreeds' Last Night of Hanukkah

Well we celebrated our first official Hanukkah in our home together. It was fun!  We said the prayers and lit the candles for 8 days and really enjoyed being together. We used Stefan's paternal grandmother's menora which may need to go into retirement due to a loose base. Stefan then did his interpretation of a Maccabee... and for some odd reason Rhoda Morgenstern.

Stefan Pretend to be a Macabee

Stefan as Rhoda Morgenstern

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Stefan and Sean say...

Below is the letter we sent to Stefan's niece Sarah (4 1/2 yrs old ) and Sean's nephew Zachary (1 yr old). 

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Menora

Dear Sarah & Zachary –

Happy Hanukkah!

For 8 nights, the Jewish faith celebrates the festival of Hanukkah.  Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem in 165 BCE after the Temple had been profaned by the Hellenistic Emperor Antiochus IV.  At the time of the rededication, there was just one day's worth of pure oil left that was needed to keep the Temple menorah burning. But tradition says a great miracle happened: It lasted for eight days!

Each year, Jews light candles in their hanukkiot (Hanukkah menorahs) to symbolize the miracle. On the first night of Hanukkah, one candle is placed in the menorah.  On each successive night, another candle is added.  By the last night of Hanukkah, eight candles are glowing brightly in celebration of this beautiful festival.

As you light each candle, say the following prayer the first night:

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us by His commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the lights of Hanukkah.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has kept us alive, and has preserved us, and enabled us to reach this time.

And on each of the remaining 7 nights recite this prayer as you light each candle:

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us by His commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the lights of Hanukkah.

Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe, who wrought miracles for our fathers in days of old, at this season.

Jelly Donuts

potato latkas

Hanukkah, like Christmas, celebrates not just the lighting of a candle. In a box we each sent you both are your Hanukkah gifts for each night.  Each is numbered to make it easier to choose what to open! 

Enjoy your heritage and learn from it Sarah & Zachary.  It will always teach you something about yourself.

Love -  

Uncle Sean and Uncle Stefan