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Festival of Lights - The History of Hanukkah

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Education & Training

Hanukkah (also spelled Chanukah) begins tonight. 

Hanukkah is also known as the Festival Of Lights and is Hebrew for dedication.

Here is a good video that explains the history of Hanukkah.

http://www.history.com/video.do?name=culture&bcpid=1681694254&bclid=1675979339

I want to take this moment to wish a "Happy Hanukkah" to all of my friends, clients and prospects who celebrate this festive time of the year.

Hannukkah Menorah Moose

For some interesting U.S. stamps commemorating Hanukkah, check out the following post by Russel Ray: MC, SG, HH, HH, HK, and HNY - Part four: Happy Hanukkah!

 

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Gerry Khatchikian
Red Lodge, MT
ASA, TRC, SFR

I am invited for dinner tonight at one of my friends and client who celebrates Hanukkah.   I watched a video of Hanukkah foods (third video once you have clicked on the video link provided in the post) which featured the Latkes also known as potato pancakes.  I love anything that is made of potatoes: mash potatoes, french fries, potato salad, hash brown, chips (which I try an stay away from)...the whole spectrum when it comes to potatoes! 

I have never made or eaten latkes but I got the idea to make latkes and bring them with me to surprise my Jewish friend.  Wish me luck so that hopefully my first try at making latkes turns out good! 

Dec 11, 2009 08:21 AM
FN LN
Toronto, ON

Hi Gerry - That's new - a moose menorah!!!  But what would you expect in Red Lodge, Montana?

The Montana Jewish population is less than 0.1% of the total Montana population.  I just did some research for this comment and one estimate is that there are 850 Jewish people out of 936,000 total population based on some 2006 statistics.

Are you having apple sauce or sour cream with your latkes.  You never encountered any latkes in Montreal or Toronto or southern California? (not sure if of the likelihood in Atlanta).  Good luck with your first experiment with cooking them.

Don't forget to play with the dreidel, sing Hanukkah songs and tell us how much gelt you got. :)

Wish your friend / client a very Happy Hannukah all the way from T.O.

Dec 11, 2009 09:17 AM
Debi Boucher
Real Estate Showcase Photography - Woodland Park, CO
"Realtor Showcase" - Real Estate Photography/Virtual Tours

Good luck with the latkes, Gerry! They are VERY good - so is rugulah (I think I spelled it right), and a ton of other things my mother-in-law makes that are to die for! This is the cutest Hannukah Moose I have ever seen, Gerry :)

Debi

Dec 11, 2009 11:52 AM
Gerry Khatchikian
Red Lodge, MT
ASA, TRC, SFR

Marc,

I was hoping you would come by this post to see this very special moose or the hanukkah moose menorah!  :)

But please note that there is more than moose in Red Lodge.  I have not made any new moose sighting in the wirld since my moose chase back in early October.    Thank you for the research and statistics.   My Jewish friend here in Montana is a dear friend of mine.  She is very special and like family to me and know I can tell her that she is one in a thousand!

I don't remember encountering latkes before.  Would would have ever imagined that my first expereince with eating latkes woudl take place in Red Lodge.  I like my latkes with sour cream but my friend prefers with apple sauce.

I did play with the dreidel!  I rolled two dreidels at once and they both ended on the face with the same letter.  Those are incredible odds to achieve such an outcome on the first try (my actuarial mind at work here).  

My friend did make a prayer and I got to light up the first candle on the menorah (it was not a moose menorah but was one with a special design).  I was the lucky one to light the menorah as I was the youngest of the 4 people present at the dinner and celebration.

I did pass on your wish to my friend and she also saw your comment on this post.   It was a nice and unexpected surprise coming all the way from Toronto.   Thank you! 

Dec 12, 2009 05:01 AM
Gerry Khatchikian
Red Lodge, MT
ASA, TRC, SFR

Debi,

I knew this was avery cute menorah moose to share with my friends here on ActiveRain!   I will have to ask my friend to make me some rugulah the next time I see her.  We got another 7 nights to celebrate Hanukkah and I am sure I will get to see her again soon.  :)

Dec 12, 2009 05:06 AM
Mary Douglas
United Country Ponderosa Realty, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado - Red Feather Lakes, CO
REALTOR, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado

Hi Gerry, how fun to try new foods and be part of a Hanukkah celebration.  I liked this post very much ezpecially the moose menorah :-)

Dec 12, 2009 02:20 PM
c m
Colorado Springs, CO

Mmmmmm latkes...good with sour cream OR applesauce! I have tried my hand at making them, but they were not as good as the ones at IHOP!  But,  I am not a very good cook, so it was not likely the recipe's fault!  Wonderful that you  share in a friends observance, especially when her religious community is so small.

Dec 12, 2009 03:37 PM
Gerry Khatchikian
Red Lodge, MT
ASA, TRC, SFR

Mary,

I knew you would get a big smile from seeing this moose menorah!   :)

Trying new foods is something I always enjoyed.   Making it for the first time can be a challenge but my first attempt at making latkeswas successful and everyone at the table enjoyed them (especially me).  

Dec 13, 2009 05:33 AM
Gerry Khatchikian
Red Lodge, MT
ASA, TRC, SFR

Special friends are rare and it a pleasure to be able to share observances, food recipes and cherish the good times and be there for them when they need you and vice versa.  The latkes were delicious and I made so much that there was plenty left over.  My friend was right to tell me that they are even better when you eat them the next morning!  Mmmm indeed!  :) 

Dec 13, 2009 05:40 AM
Shoshana Shay
St. Pete Realty - Treasure Island, FL

Gerry, I love the moose menorah! Someone needs to make one that holds real candles. That would be cute! You brought up all kinds of memories of New York delicacies. I envy you real homemade latkes -- the frozen ones, although reminiscent of latkes, don't really make it. (BTW, I prefer applesauce with them.)

Dec 19, 2009 02:53 PM
Gerry Khatchikian
Red Lodge, MT
ASA, TRC, SFR

Soshana,

I agree that a real moose menorah would be very cute.   I enjoyed learning to cook and eating the latkes.   I made sure to try them both with apple sauce and sour cream.  

Dec 19, 2009 10:23 PM
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