And Rebecca's hands still smell like onions! Ugh!
Rebecca's been up to her elbows in latkes for the past two days! Yesterday morning, a hodge-podge of folks from the temple got together at Sassy Jewish Grandparents #1's house to fry some up. This was my first time making latkes, and who knew it was so much WORK? We peeled and chopped a small mountain of potatoes and onions (the job of peeling onions went to Paul, the only one of us who didn't cry!), mixed the batter, fried the latkes, and had drops of hot oil splatter onto the stove, the counters, the floor, and US! Still, it was fun.
When they were finally done, we ate a few, but most of them we delivered to eldery/ill members of our temple who weren't able to attend the latke dinner there tonight. I delivered to two old couples I'd never met before, and it made me feel pretty good to spread some holiday cheer. The second old lady was so surprised and kept exclaiming, "Latkes?! For me?! Oh, thank you!" One of my favorite Jewish songs is Debbie Friedman's "L'chi Lach." The chorus ends, On your journey, I will bless you / And you will be a blessing, l'chi lach. Being part of this temple has been such a blessing to me, but it's not often I feel like I get to be a blessing back. I just have so little to offer.
I also brought a plate of latkes to Grandma. The weather was horrible yesterday morning, but just as I started making my deliveries, the rain stopped and the sun came out. I was in a neighborhood with lots of ditches, and they were all full of rainwater and looked like the most beautiful little streams sparkling in the sunlight. I almost crashed Muse Watson staring at them!
And today, I spent the evening in the temple kitchen, helping make enough brisket, latkes, green bean casserole, and challah bread for our whole congregation! Our temple hosts an annual dinner on the Shabbat during Hanukkah and invites everyone to bring their menorahs and light them together. My mom gave me my own little menorah on the first night of Hanukkah this year, and it was a lot smaller and plainer than the others there, but I like it. And I loved eating and talking with everyone over the candlelight. But boy, am I exhausted after all that cooking and eating! Think I better sign off and crash into bed.
P.S. My mom called while I was typing this entry. When I mentioned that I'd brought Grandma some latkes, she asked, "How was she? Was she weak? Was she tired?" Then she complained about how badly our other relatives are taking care of her. Ugh. Way to kill the holiday spirit there, Mom.
When they were finally done, we ate a few, but most of them we delivered to eldery/ill members of our temple who weren't able to attend the latke dinner there tonight. I delivered to two old couples I'd never met before, and it made me feel pretty good to spread some holiday cheer. The second old lady was so surprised and kept exclaiming, "Latkes?! For me?! Oh, thank you!" One of my favorite Jewish songs is Debbie Friedman's "L'chi Lach." The chorus ends, On your journey, I will bless you / And you will be a blessing, l'chi lach. Being part of this temple has been such a blessing to me, but it's not often I feel like I get to be a blessing back. I just have so little to offer.
I also brought a plate of latkes to Grandma. The weather was horrible yesterday morning, but just as I started making my deliveries, the rain stopped and the sun came out. I was in a neighborhood with lots of ditches, and they were all full of rainwater and looked like the most beautiful little streams sparkling in the sunlight. I almost crashed Muse Watson staring at them!
And today, I spent the evening in the temple kitchen, helping make enough brisket, latkes, green bean casserole, and challah bread for our whole congregation! Our temple hosts an annual dinner on the Shabbat during Hanukkah and invites everyone to bring their menorahs and light them together. My mom gave me my own little menorah on the first night of Hanukkah this year, and it was a lot smaller and plainer than the others there, but I like it. And I loved eating and talking with everyone over the candlelight. But boy, am I exhausted after all that cooking and eating! Think I better sign off and crash into bed.
P.S. My mom called while I was typing this entry. When I mentioned that I'd brought Grandma some latkes, she asked, "How was she? Was she weak? Was she tired?" Then she complained about how badly our other relatives are taking care of her. Ugh. Way to kill the holiday spirit there, Mom.