Hanukkah Celebration, 2025 Here at THD

Last Sunday, Yesterday Afternoon, December 14, Cantor Rabbi Richard Botton held his annual Hanukkah Ceremony here at THD ( see brochure above). More than 50 THD Residents attended the Lighting of the Menorah. Dick sang a few songs and along with his iconic solo from Man of La Mancha- The Impossible Dream. There was snacks after as well as beverages. At the bottom of this are the traditional foods serve during Hanukkah.    If you are not Jewish, here's why Hanukkah is celebrated worldwide. 

Hanukkah celebrates the miraculous rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem by the Maccabees in the 2nd century BCE, commemorating their victory over oppressive rulers and the miracle of a single day's worth of oil burning for eight days. It's a festive "Festival of Lights" emphasizing religious freedom, marked by lighting a nine-branched menorah, eating oily foods like latkes and donuts, playing dreidel, and giving gelt (money or chocolate coins). 

I took some photos during the celebration as follows:

I already consumed the potato fritters ( Latkes) when I took this photo.   

Traditional Hanukkah foods are primarily fried in oil to commemorate the miracle of the oil lasting eight days, with the most iconic being 

latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts), often served with applesauce or sour cream. Main dishes often include savory Ashkenazi foods like brisket, roasted chicken, and noodle kugel, with sweet treats like rugelach, babka, and chocolate gelt rounding out the festive meals. 

lFried & Savory (The Oil Connection)

• Latkes: Crispy, shallow-fried shredded potato pancakes, traditionally topped with sour cream or applesauce.
• Sufganiyot: Deep-fried, jelly-filled doughnuts dusted with powdered sugar, a popular sweet treat.
• Other Fried Items: Apple fritters, vegetable fritters, or even schnitzel might be served. 

Main Dishes & Sides

• Beef Brisket: A classic, slow-cooked centerpiece for the holiday meal.
• Roasted Chicken: Another popular choice for a festive main course.
• Kugel: A baked pudding, often noodle-based (noodle kugel), sometimes sweet and sometimes savory.
• Challah: Braided egg bread served with meals. 

Sweets & Treats

• Rugelach: Rolled pastries with fillings like cinnamon, nuts, or jam, often with a cream cheese dough.
• Babka: A sweet, braided bread or cake, often with chocolate or cinnamon.
• Hanukkah Gelt: Chocolate coins, often given to children, sometimes played with during dreidel games.
• Dairy Dishes: Sometimes enjoyed to recall the story of Judith, with cheese playing a role in the victory. 

Why Fried Foods?

Eating foods fried in oil, like latkes and sufganiyot, symbolizes the small jar of olive oil in the Temple that miraculously burned for eight days, not just one, celebrating the Festival of Lights. 

My Photo of the Day-Poinsettia from My neighbor Across My Apartment, 

 Sandi Green, Thank You very. very Much!  

A perfect Christmas Decor: