Matthew Monday: Chanukah

I haven’t had a Matthew Monday in a while.  He’s growing so, and he’s thirteen years old now.  Yesterday he woke up and said, “I think I grew overnight!”  And by golly, I think he did.  He’s going to be taller than me

Yesterday was the first night of Chanukah, and we celebrated at my mother-in=law’s house.  His grandma helped him light the first candle in the menorah.  Here are a couple of pictures.

 

 

Now, being the first night, only one candle is lit.  But the shamash, or “the attendant” candle, used to light the nightly candles.  In the most iconic menorahs, the shamash is usually in the middle.  In this menorah it’s over to the right side.

Here are some basics on how to light a menorah.

Chanuka, Oh Chanukah

Today is the first night of Chanukah.  What a blessing to have a Jewish side of the family.  Here is the blessing over the candles in English.  You can read it in Hebrew.

Blessed are you, Lord, our God, sovereign of the universe
Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us
to light the lights of Chanukkah. (Amen)


There are so many ways to spell Hanukkah in English that I just don't which to pick.  And now for your listening pleasure, here is a Hanukkah song, "Chanuka, Oh Chanukah, sung by a Theodore Bikel.  I've never heard of him, but he sings this wonderfully.  I've been to synagogue for some family affair, and I have to say the Jewish Cantors out do our Catholic choruses.

May God bless you all.