Oh, dear Ruth! How you brought everyone to life and the lives they led--and lead! It's a singular blessing I found and read this today! Happy Hanbukkah and New Year and for all the days to come!
Thanks so much, Pat! Blessings to you and your family in the New Year! Thanks for your fine and thoughtful writing and for connecting and commenting. It means a great deal.
That was such a beautiful story about your Hanukkah traditions and I understand more how important it is to create all the beautiful food you do and have a joyous gathering.
Thanks so much, Patricia! We love sharing it with you and Chris! Wishing you both, as well as your niece and nephew and their significant others, a 2025 filled with joy, friendship, enjoyable travels, good health and great food!💕
Thank you for sharing your memories. I continued one of my/our family's Hanukkah traditions with my son earlier this month. When I was a small child, I helped my mother bake the family's traditional Hanukkah cookies. In my adulthood, I've kept up the tradition - baking with my mother during my college and early working years in Berkeley, then doing it on my own since the late 1980's. I bake cookies with my son now - a time for us to work on a project together, to schmooze, and just to be together. We do four of the family cookies - butter cookies, almond crescents (formerly hazelnut), cinnamon stars, and chocolate kichel. I hope it is a tradition he will want to continue when my baking days are done. May your season be filled with light and your stomach be filled with yummy treats.✡💙
Joe, thanks so very much for sharing your memories. I’m especially moved that you bake cookies with your son, as your mother did with you. Some of the cookies you mention are ones Ursula also talked about making every year with her children and before that with her mother—the cinnamon stars, butter cookies and nut crescents are ones I remember, but not the chocolate kichel. I shall have to look into those! I’m so excited that the cookie baking tradition is being passed on to the next generation. As you point out, the schmoozing that goes along with it and the rewards of taste and memory are really what the holiday is all about. Chag Sameach to you and your family!❤️🤗🕎
Wonderful...too often Hanukkah is portrayed as the stepsister to Christmas when it's the beautiful, illuminating holiday bringing family (and community) together that you capture here. Having first generation parents and marrying the son of Holocaust survivors imprisoned as adolescents, I feel your gratitude and the *miracle of having precious things of heirloom quality carried to this new country to pass on to a next generation. Happy Hanukkah !
Thanks so much, Ellen! Your comment captures exactly the feeling I was trying to convey. It sounds like your background has many similarities to mine. Wishing you a very Happy Hanukkah and many blessings in 2025!💙🎉🕎
Hi Ruth, This is a good story, and I liked the photos of the old family gatherings. Have a happy Hanukkah, and good luck with your big get together. I hope to see you in January. Love, Denis
Thanks, dear brother! Always good to hear your perspective. Unfortunately the picture I have from that long-ago gathering shows only half your face (and about the same amount of mine!), but we all remember what it felt like to be there. Chag Sameach and much love! I look forward to seeing you very soon.💙
What a great recollection. Also, you are right in that my recollection of Christmas all these years, almost always is the gathering of family and friends and not the presents. Happy Hanukkah, Ruth, to you and family.
Oh, thanks so much, Carolyn! I’m glad it’s that way for you too. The commercialism of the holidays can be overwhelming, but the kindness, love and memories of family shine through if we are lucky— and I know that I am, and I think you are too.
Merry Christmas and a healthy, happy 2025 to you and your family!❤️
So beautiful, Ruth, and I love seeing the pictures of your family. Bringing the Menorah from Germany really touched me, such continuity and history for your family. Happy Hanukkah, my friend! ❤️ ps — the fruit cake is almost gone! 😆
So glad, Jolene! That menorah was very special and now resides in my brother’s home in Ohio, to be passed on to his kids someday. I’m so happy the fruitcake hit the spot. Merry Christmas and a very happy, healthy 2025 to you and yours. I think we will finally make it to your fair city when we embark on the Route 66 trip—most likely next April!🧑🎄💝🥂
Thank you, Marg! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas! Wishing you and your family a happy, healthy 2025. I hope it will be a year full of great books, good food and continuing friendships across the miles. Thanks for your excellent blog, your kind and thoughtful comments and your many terrific reading recommendations.
I also don't remember specific gifts, but I remember getting everyone together, a tradition I do to this day. One high"light" is 10+ Chanukiahs going at one time.
Hi Loren! Happy Hanukkah! I can't believe you have 10 Chanukiahs lit at once! That was actually probably true at our house at one time--or maybe just 7 or 8. They've been divided among the countless descendants now, but we still have some five or six going at our Hanukkah table. It really is a bit of a spiritual high to witness that much light on a dark night. May it bring joy and hope to your home and hearth.
I love the story and of course the pictures! I miss the celebrations we used to have when we were children but what special memories I have. When I was about 5 I desperately wanted a Tiny Tears doll. We got one present each night, of course, and each night I hoped she would be there. Finally by night 7 when she still wan't , I decided it would probably be my 8th night gift. It wasn't. I was happy with what I did get but my mother knew I was disappointed. She explained that the stores didn't have any when she went shopping but that she had ordered one and it would be delivered the next day. I sat on the front steps waiting for the L.S. Ayres truck. When it arrived, the driver brought her to me and said I couldn't open it till Christmas. I just smiled and ran inside to spend time with my Tiny Tears. Thanks for always stirring my childhood memories. Happy Hanukkah to you, Jeff and the family!
Oh Leslie, I just LOVE this story! I don't think I ever had a Tiny Tears doll, but I just looked them up and the vintage ones sell in the vicinity of $500! Your tale might make a great children's story, a play or TV episode. I can't recall any Hanukkah present I wanted so much, though I do remember that 7 of the 8 gifts were usually small, like socks, books or dreidels. The eighth might be a bike or pogo stick. Spending a lot of money on gifts wasn't in my parents' DNA (or pocketbook!). Happy Hanukkah to you too, Leslie! I wish you were here to celebrate with us!
You're so sweet. I have lots of stories but, sadly, very few pictures. Our celebrations were like yours - small gifts for the first 7 nights and then the BIG gift. One year my brother and I each got a bike. It was my first big kid bike so I'll never forget it. Believe me, I wish I could be there to celebrate with you too!
Thanks, Domenica, and Happy Holidays to you and yours!
My family collected many menorahs, even some really ancient ones that burn oil instead of candles. Whenever we light them, we remember the stories, people and places behind them (or at least I do!). It’s another way of connecting with the many people we love who aren’t with us anymore and sharing their stories with each other and with the next generation.
Thanks so much, Amie! And yours too! The reference is not original--there really were Jews who put up a tree and called it a "Hanukkah bush." In my family, however, it was strictly verboten!
Thanks, Julia! I so wish I had more photos, but picture-taking was a much more laborious process back then, so mostly I just have my memories! Wishing you and your family a very, very happy Christmas and New Year!💕
Oh, dear Ruth! How you brought everyone to life and the lives they led--and lead! It's a singular blessing I found and read this today! Happy Hanbukkah and New Year and for all the days to come!
Thanks so much, Pat! Blessings to you and your family in the New Year! Thanks for your fine and thoughtful writing and for connecting and commenting. It means a great deal.
That was such a beautiful story about your Hanukkah traditions and I understand more how important it is to create all the beautiful food you do and have a joyous gathering.
Thanks so much, Patricia! We love sharing it with you and Chris! Wishing you both, as well as your niece and nephew and their significant others, a 2025 filled with joy, friendship, enjoyable travels, good health and great food!💕
Thank you for sharing your memories. I continued one of my/our family's Hanukkah traditions with my son earlier this month. When I was a small child, I helped my mother bake the family's traditional Hanukkah cookies. In my adulthood, I've kept up the tradition - baking with my mother during my college and early working years in Berkeley, then doing it on my own since the late 1980's. I bake cookies with my son now - a time for us to work on a project together, to schmooze, and just to be together. We do four of the family cookies - butter cookies, almond crescents (formerly hazelnut), cinnamon stars, and chocolate kichel. I hope it is a tradition he will want to continue when my baking days are done. May your season be filled with light and your stomach be filled with yummy treats.✡💙
Joe, thanks so very much for sharing your memories. I’m especially moved that you bake cookies with your son, as your mother did with you. Some of the cookies you mention are ones Ursula also talked about making every year with her children and before that with her mother—the cinnamon stars, butter cookies and nut crescents are ones I remember, but not the chocolate kichel. I shall have to look into those! I’m so excited that the cookie baking tradition is being passed on to the next generation. As you point out, the schmoozing that goes along with it and the rewards of taste and memory are really what the holiday is all about. Chag Sameach to you and your family!❤️🤗🕎
So many miracles in this story and all are worth remembering and celebrating ✡️🤍💙 What a blessing! Thanks for sharing and Chag Sameach! 🕎
Thanks so much, Betty! And Chag Sameach to you as well!🕎💙
Wonderful...too often Hanukkah is portrayed as the stepsister to Christmas when it's the beautiful, illuminating holiday bringing family (and community) together that you capture here. Having first generation parents and marrying the son of Holocaust survivors imprisoned as adolescents, I feel your gratitude and the *miracle of having precious things of heirloom quality carried to this new country to pass on to a next generation. Happy Hanukkah !
Thanks so much, Ellen! Your comment captures exactly the feeling I was trying to convey. It sounds like your background has many similarities to mine. Wishing you a very Happy Hanukkah and many blessings in 2025!💙🎉🕎
Then you”ll under how important nourishing others was to them- Peace, the joys of family, and good health to you, too!
Such kind wishes! Thanks so much, Ellen!
Hi Ruth, This is a good story, and I liked the photos of the old family gatherings. Have a happy Hanukkah, and good luck with your big get together. I hope to see you in January. Love, Denis
Thanks, dear brother! Always good to hear your perspective. Unfortunately the picture I have from that long-ago gathering shows only half your face (and about the same amount of mine!), but we all remember what it felt like to be there. Chag Sameach and much love! I look forward to seeing you very soon.💙
What a great recollection. Also, you are right in that my recollection of Christmas all these years, almost always is the gathering of family and friends and not the presents. Happy Hanukkah, Ruth, to you and family.
Oh, thanks so much, Carolyn! I’m glad it’s that way for you too. The commercialism of the holidays can be overwhelming, but the kindness, love and memories of family shine through if we are lucky— and I know that I am, and I think you are too.
Merry Christmas and a healthy, happy 2025 to you and your family!❤️
So beautiful, Ruth, and I love seeing the pictures of your family. Bringing the Menorah from Germany really touched me, such continuity and history for your family. Happy Hanukkah, my friend! ❤️ ps — the fruit cake is almost gone! 😆
So glad, Jolene! That menorah was very special and now resides in my brother’s home in Ohio, to be passed on to his kids someday. I’m so happy the fruitcake hit the spot. Merry Christmas and a very happy, healthy 2025 to you and yours. I think we will finally make it to your fair city when we embark on the Route 66 trip—most likely next April!🧑🎄💝🥂
Cannot wait!!! 🚗
It was lovely to read about your family history and the photo of you and Sam together is so nice. Happy Hanukkah Ruth.
Thank you, Marg! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas! Wishing you and your family a happy, healthy 2025. I hope it will be a year full of great books, good food and continuing friendships across the miles. Thanks for your excellent blog, your kind and thoughtful comments and your many terrific reading recommendations.
I also don't remember specific gifts, but I remember getting everyone together, a tradition I do to this day. One high"light" is 10+ Chanukiahs going at one time.
Chag Chanukah sameach!
Hi Loren! Happy Hanukkah! I can't believe you have 10 Chanukiahs lit at once! That was actually probably true at our house at one time--or maybe just 7 or 8. They've been divided among the countless descendants now, but we still have some five or six going at our Hanukkah table. It really is a bit of a spiritual high to witness that much light on a dark night. May it bring joy and hope to your home and hearth.
I love the story and of course the pictures! I miss the celebrations we used to have when we were children but what special memories I have. When I was about 5 I desperately wanted a Tiny Tears doll. We got one present each night, of course, and each night I hoped she would be there. Finally by night 7 when she still wan't , I decided it would probably be my 8th night gift. It wasn't. I was happy with what I did get but my mother knew I was disappointed. She explained that the stores didn't have any when she went shopping but that she had ordered one and it would be delivered the next day. I sat on the front steps waiting for the L.S. Ayres truck. When it arrived, the driver brought her to me and said I couldn't open it till Christmas. I just smiled and ran inside to spend time with my Tiny Tears. Thanks for always stirring my childhood memories. Happy Hanukkah to you, Jeff and the family!
Oh Leslie, I just LOVE this story! I don't think I ever had a Tiny Tears doll, but I just looked them up and the vintage ones sell in the vicinity of $500! Your tale might make a great children's story, a play or TV episode. I can't recall any Hanukkah present I wanted so much, though I do remember that 7 of the 8 gifts were usually small, like socks, books or dreidels. The eighth might be a bike or pogo stick. Spending a lot of money on gifts wasn't in my parents' DNA (or pocketbook!). Happy Hanukkah to you too, Leslie! I wish you were here to celebrate with us!
You're so sweet. I have lots of stories but, sadly, very few pictures. Our celebrations were like yours - small gifts for the first 7 nights and then the BIG gift. One year my brother and I each got a bike. It was my first big kid bike so I'll never forget it. Believe me, I wish I could be there to celebrate with you too!
Happy Holidays, Ruth from us both!
Thank you both! I hope your holidays are wonderful and that 2025 brings you many more interesting and fun adventures.
Love seeing the family photos, Ruth ~ I’m especially curious about the one with all the menorahs. What a beautiful array. Happy Hanukkah!
Thanks, Domenica, and Happy Holidays to you and yours!
My family collected many menorahs, even some really ancient ones that burn oil instead of candles. Whenever we light them, we remember the stories, people and places behind them (or at least I do!). It’s another way of connecting with the many people we love who aren’t with us anymore and sharing their stories with each other and with the next generation.
I love this story, Ruth, and had a good chuckle at the reference to a Hanukkah bush. May all your candles be bright.
Thanks so much, Amie! And yours too! The reference is not original--there really were Jews who put up a tree and called it a "Hanukkah bush." In my family, however, it was strictly verboten!
I loved reading this, Ruth and about your family celebrations and how lovely to have those photos. Happy Hanukkah.
Thanks, Julia! I so wish I had more photos, but picture-taking was a much more laborious process back then, so mostly I just have my memories! Wishing you and your family a very, very happy Christmas and New Year!💕
Thank you Ruth
Ruth,
I love reading about your family history. What a beautiful story weaving Hanukkah throughout the generations.
Best
Susan
Thanks, Susan! That's so kind. I hope you and your family have the happiest of holidays. Our love to all of you!❤️