Hanukkah

After last year's Hanukkah was a smashing success, we decided to make a night of Hanukkah celebration one of our holiday traditions, this time with Grandpa and Grandma here to celebrate with us.  We really dug into the food this year and Eric made challah bread and sufganiyot (filled donuts) from scratch, along with an amazing beef roast with gravy, a cherry upsidedown cake, and of course, latkes.  Hanukkah food is often fried or cooked in oil because the miracle that Jews celebrate involved God providing a surplus of oil, keeping the lamp burning for 8 days.  Here is a breakdown of the story:

A tyrant king from Damascus had ruled over the Jews and forced them to worship Greek gods. Jewish rebels (The Maccabees) fought for their freedom for three years and, victorious, reclaimed the holy temple in Jerusalem. Now to rededicate the temple, they needed oil to light the menorah but they could only find enough to keep the flames burning for one night. And here's the miracle: The oil lasted for eight days. In that time, they were able to make more oil and keep the eternal flame lit.

We also played the dreidel game.  The kids had a blast spinning it to win craisins.  Simon just ate the craisins with reckless abandon.  It was such a beautiful night filled delicious food and the joy of family.  Happy Hanukkah!