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8 Days of Hanukkah - My gift to you on Day 1

I just want to take a minute and say Happy Hanukkah to everyone that celebrates. Christmas has a way of overshadowing this Holiday, but it is just as important for it's Religious and Cultural Reasons as Christmas is. So, for everyone that celebrates Hanukkah please accept my best wishes.

I remember my very first Hanukkah Meal...I had no idea what to do, nor what was the significance of the foods and the message being given. To put it mildly I was overwhelmed, and embarrassed because I didn't want to be an embarrassment to my friends. However I did learn something and most importantly I shared the meal and the time with some very good friends. So for all my new friends, both the ones I've met and the ones I haven't Happy Hanukkah to you and your family.

This picture is one I took while in the Jewish Quarters of Budapest. I went there a few times, and will never forget an exhibition I saw at the Jewish Museum. The exhibit was so powerful that it burned a hole in my soul, and every time I go to Europe I make it a point to go and give my respect to the ones that lost their lives in the war.

Hanukkah Wallpaper

Download this Wallpaper to your computer just right click

and then click Set as Background.

My Gift to you on this first day of Hanukkah.

By: Kathy McGraw ~Riverside County CA ~ Real Estate Consultant

Posted by Kathy McGraw, Riverside County CA Real Estate on 12/21/2008 02:17 PM

Comments (22)

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22 Comments on 8 Days of Hanukkah - My gift to you on Day 1

DEC

Kathy I appreciate the reminder. Honestly I get so wrapped up in my own celebration I forget others. Great gift and wonderful post.

Love the photo - I've always wanted to go to Budapest.......!.....And I've never celebrated Hanukkah and would love to!

Kathy, what a beautiful picture of the synagogue in Budapest and thanks for the Hanukkah wishes. We're heading off to a public menorah lighting in Alexandria tonight and a Hanukkah festival celebration with our congregation, friends and family.

Nannette- I understand, so many people do :)

Liz- Budapest is a wonderful place, we'll have to go there on our 80 day trip :)

Brian-Have a wonderful time...I love the lighting of the menorah. This synagogue is the largest in Europe and second largest in the World...that is one thing I learned while I was there. Enjoy...and Happy Hanukkah to you and all of your family :)

Kathy, thanks for remembering all of our Jewish friends. I've never been to a Hanukkah feast, but have participated in other Jewish celebrations like Passover and Purim. I had a disabled Jewish friend who had me light his menorah for him once. Quite an honor!

Linda- That was quite an honor..and I too have done Passover, but not Purim. Hanukkah gets lost sometimes to the other Holiday Celebrations so wanted to make sure I had this up before sundown :)

Kathy

Happy Hanukkah to yu

Sincerely

Tom Braatz

Happy Hanukkah Kathy. That Budapest architecture is incredible.

Happy Holidays and Happy Hanukkah Kathy! I love your photography!!

Kathy--I should know more about Hanukkah but do not. My niece recently converted after graduating in Jewish Studies from Scripps. We send her holiday gifts at the same time as the Christmas gifts to our other relatives. Thanks for the reminder and the wishes to all. You are very thoughtful and kind!

Kathy I never had a Honukkah meal, but it is something that I hope some day I will get to experience.

What a beautiful picture! I saw something on tv once. I think they had loads of food and kept eating and eating MANY courses.

DEC

I can only imagine the splendor of the Jewish Quarters in Budapest. I'm sure you saw things that words cannot translate. Thanks for your gift! ~GBU~

Kathy - You're aweswome, thank you for the Hanukkah gift, and "Happy Hanukkah!"

Thanks for the Hanukkah post. I guess the world is more focused on Christmas but that's just is accepted I guess. I never understood why when I go to the store for lights and decorations ...there always in the front in this little area while all the Christmas decorations take up two rows. Oh well....have a happy holidays!

Neal - I went to get my husband a Hanukkah card yesterday from Walgreen's in Destin- there was one card to choose from.

I just lost all my comments to you guys.....Do Not misspell the fruit thing as itwill make you loose all your comments...grrrrrrrrr

Tom & Gary- Thank you both.....and I agree on the Architecture, it is beautiful.

Monica-thank you....in Europe the Architecture is so phenomenal- I have so many pictures but most of them are on film :)

Teri-I had a friend convert to Judaism, she had to take classes. Maybe if all of us took classes on different religions and cultures we would all be more tolerant, and understanding.

George- Maybe one day my friend.....you never know what happens in life.

Sally- Anything more than a one plate microwave meal is a lot of food to some of us LOL :)

Elizabeth- My 2nd trip to Budapest was the 10th year celebration for the fall of communism. There were displays throughout the city, but the one at the Jewish Museum was the one that hit me the most. It was one about the Children of the Holocaust. this is the one that burned the hole in my soul......hours I spent reading the writings, and trying to make sense of a senseless world.

There are several synagogues, but this one is the largest. It's the largest one in Europe and was almost destroyed during the war. The Nazi's had used it as a horse stable, and after the war it almost was destroyed. Several prominent Americans including the actor Tony Curtis made it a mission to save it, and financed the restoration. It was through their efforts that it is here today.

Wendy-Thank you, and happy Hanukkah to you and your family. I have a question though.....several people on here wished me a Happy Hanukkah thinking I was Jewish I guess, and I know they aren't so do I still say Happy Hanukkah. It's embarrassing when we don't know the proper thing to do.

Neal-My one and only retail job was at a boutique doggie store. I remember how happy some customers were to find Dredels and other toys and clothing to commemorate Hanukkah. You are right though because Christmas articles overshadowed the Hanukkah ones, but we were small enough that everything was in eyesight :) Acceptance.....:) Happy Hanukkah to you and your family my friend.

Wendy- yes the choices can be rather limited in some areas. I blame that on the person/people that order the stock.....

Kathy - Yes, it's still cool to say Happy Hanukkah! You're right, they think you are Jewish! It's interesting, in a way, because most Christian people think (correctly) that most others are Christian, too. So, people will tend to say "Merry Christmas." if someone says "Merry Christmas" to me, thinking I am Christian, I just say it back! I don't correct them. I absolutely wish everyone a wonderful holiday, whatever is special to them. It's all cool!

Kathy - Europe has some incredible architecture and since I don't live there anymore I do miss it a lot. Although I'm not Jewish, I do commend you to write a blog about Hanukkah. Thank you and Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas to you.

Wendy- Thank you, and I liked your comment so much I just put it in my newest Post :)

Petra- America is so new compared to Europe. I traveled all over Southern Bavaria and Austria as well as many other countries...and I must say we have very little to compare with the Architecture. It is indeed beautiful. Thank you for the wishes and Happy Hanukkah Merry Christmas to you too :)

JAN

Beautiful photo Kathy. I was once invited to a Jewish friend's Hannukah dinner and ceremony - it was just wonderful, as I'd studied previously the meanings. Thanks for the reminder of this lovely occasion!

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