Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, is a time for celebration, reflection, and unity. This year, I had the incredible opportunity to light the third candle of Hanukkah with none other than Mayim Bialik, and let me tell you, it was an experience filled with laughter, learning, and a whole lot of Jewish pride.
Ugly Hanukkah Sweatshirts: A New Tradition?
We kicked off our celebration with a twist on holiday fashion. Mayim wore an ugly Hanukkah sweatshirt, a playful nod to the popular ugly Christmas sweater tradition. It’s about time Hanukkah got in on the fun, right? And let’s not forget Mayim’s matching earrings – talk about commitment to the theme!
Jewish Identity in 2023: A Year of Challenges and Unity
Our conversation took a more serious turn as we discussed the significance of Jewish identity in 2023. Mayim opened up about the impact of recent events, particularly the October 7th incident, on the Jewish community. She emphasized the importance of unity and pride in Jewish heritage, especially during these challenging times.
Hanukkah Traditions: From Latkes to Dreidels
The Joy of Fried Foods
Mayim shared some of her favorite Hanukkah traditions, and unsurprisingly, food played a starring role. As she put it, Hanukkah is “the perfect evolution of a year-long love affair with potatoes and onions and frying food.” She even makes her own vegan, gluten-free sufganiyot (Hanukkah donuts) from scratch!
Dreidel: More Than Just Spinning
Here’s where things got interesting. We discovered that I had been playing dreidel wrong my entire life! Mayim broke down the rules of this traditional Hanukkah game, revealing that it’s not just about spinning a top – there’s a whole algorithm to it.
Lighting the Hanukkah Candles
The highlight of our evening was lighting the third Hanukkah candle. Mayim led the blessing, reciting it beautifully in Hebrew. We even added a little Yiddish flair with a traditional Hanukkah song.
Spreading Light and Joy
As we wrapped up our Hanukkah celebration, we reflected on the true meaning of the holiday. It’s about spreading light, joy, and celebrating our traditions, family, and culture. And sometimes, it’s about learning something new – like the proper way to play dreidel!
This Hanukkah, let’s embrace our heritage, share our traditions, and spread a little light in the world. Whether you’re frying up some latkes, spinning a dreidel, or simply enjoying time with loved ones, remember that Hanukkah is a time for joy, unity, and pride in our Jewish identity.
Chag Sameach, everyone! Happy Hanukkah!
