The Spark of Hanukkah: Lighting the Seventh Candle
As the seventh night of Hanukkah rolled around, comedian Tiffany Haddish found herself in a temple, ready to light the menorah with her friend and a rabbi. The atmosphere was electric, filled with holiday cheer and the promise of new experiences. Tiffany greeted her friend with a “Shalom” and showed off her Hanukkah sparkle – press-on nails that would reflect the candlelight throughout the sanctuary. “So the candlelight can reflect off my nails and radiate throughout the sanctuary.” Tiffany quipped, demonstrating her knack for adding humor to every situation.
Discovering Jewish Roots: A Comedian’s Journey
As they chatted, an interesting revelation came to light. Unlike her friend, Noa hadn’t had a bat mitzvah yet. This sparked an exciting idea – Tiffany could organize one for her! The prospect of celebrating this important Jewish milestone filled them both with enthusiasm.
Tiffany’s journey to discovering her Jewish identity has been unique. She shared, “My grandma used to always say, ‘You know, you’re Jewish, right?’, ‘You probably get that from your Jewish side.’, ‘That’s the Jew in you.’, ‘You’re a Jew, you’re Jewish.’ It didn’t make sense to me.” It wasn’t until she met her father at 27 that she truly understood. He was an Eritrean Jew who had to hide his identity due to conflict in his homeland.
The Joy of Hanukkah: Family, Traditions, and Presents
When asked about her favorite part of Hanukkah, Tiffany shared how she’s created her own Jewish family. “I live alone, right? And everybody in my family is not necessarily participating in what I’m participating in. So I have my own family. I have my own Jewish family if you will. And so I go from house to house every night and it is so much fun. And I’m learning how everybody does Hanukkah a little differently.”
Embracing Jewish Identity in Challenging Times
This year has been particularly challenging for the Jewish community. However, as Rabbi Yoshi pointed out, more people are learning about Judaism, converting, and showing support for Israel than ever before.
For Tiffany, embracing her Jewish identity brings joy and a sense of belonging. She explained, “Every time we would get to the prayer, every time there would be a certain song, my whole heart would fill up. And I felt like my soul felt happy, felt joy, felt like a hug around me on the inside like I’m where I’m supposed to be.”
Lighting the Menorah: A Symbol of Hope and Resilience
As they gathered to light the seventh candle, Rabbi Yoshi reminded them of the significance of Hanukkah. In the darkest time of the year, we bring light. It’s a powerful message of hope and resilience, especially relevant in these challenging times.
They recited the blessing together, and Tiffany, in her characteristic style, added her own touch: “Hanukkah, Hanukkah, Hanukkah, ah, ah. Hanukkah, Hanukkah, Hanukkah, ah, ah. That’s the song I made up. Bringing a little something new to it.”
Conclusion: A Celebration of Light, Identity, and Community
As the candles burned brightly, Tiffany couldn’t help but feel a deep connection to her heritage and the Jewish community. This Hanukkah celebration was more than just lighting candles – it was about embracing identity, finding joy in traditions, and coming together in both good times and challenging ones.
From discovering her Jewish roots to potentially planning Noa’s bat mitzvah, this Hanukkah has been a journey of self-discovery and community for Tiffany Haddish. It’s a reminder that even in the darkest times, we can always find light – in our traditions, in our communities, and in ourselves. Happy Hanukkah to all who celebrate, and may the light of the season bring warmth and joy to everyone!
