The Chanukah Question: What Do You Light, Candles or Olive Oil?

When I was growing up, that wasn't a question.  When we remembered, we lit candles.  Yes, when we remembered.  I wasn't raised in a Torah observant family, but we did have a Chanukah menorah or two.  I even remember one so small that the only thing you could possibly light in it were birthday cake candles.

My parents who were traditional in a way, they knew what they and we kids were missing in terms of Judaism,  looked down on the few neighbors who had electric menorahs in their windows.  If you were going to have a menorah, it should be dripping with wax and not be light bulbs controlled by a switch.

My in-laws also lit candles. That was the modern Jewish American way.

Olive oil ready for Erev Shabbat and
Motzei Shabbat Chanukah 5774 lighting.

So, it never occurred to me that there was any other way to light lights on Chanukah.  But after a number of years in Israel I began to notice that many other people lit oil on Chanukah.  I don't remember exactly when or even why, but at some point I bought myself a very inexpensive Chanukah Menorah aka Chanukiya.  And then I bought a few more and some extra glass cups for them, and for over twenty years already I only light olive oil.

His and Hers Chanukiyot, night six
My husband still prefers lighting candles

I must admit that at first we tried buying various cheaper "Chanukah olive oils," but then I realized that they were fakes, just cheap oil with green coloring. Sometimes they didn't burn or when they did the house went black. I also heard about saving money by adding some water to the oil.  Of course only the oil burned, and if you were lucky you didn't get burnt or cut by the exploding glass cups that held it all.  So now, even when our money is very short I get good edible olive oil, like the Meshek Achiya olive oil produced in Shiloh.

It's hard to believe that Chanukah is almost over.

What do you light, olive oil or candles?

Rami Levy, Sha'ar Binyamin, Chanukah 5774

5th Day of Chanukah, Half is Over, Busy Day

I had a long day today and finally made it home close to 11pm.  I had to empty out the little glass bottles in the Chanukiya and fill them with fresh oil and the wick.  Then I said the blessings, lit the candles and sang.

It was worth it.  Such beautiful lights.  I shoot these without the flash, but using "automatic" setting.  My old trusty Cannon 620 is a nice old wise camera.  I can always trust it to adjust itself to the image and lightning.

I had a long day.  I went on an "adventure" with a neighbor.  We checked out the new shopping center in nearby Eli.  I photographed it and plan on blogging about it in the future. Then I went to work and before signing in went to speak to the guy/agent who does the Golan cellphones.  He wasn't in but he'll be in tomorrow.  I can't wait to finish with Pelephone which has taken outrageous and immoral amounts of money from us.  I plan on blogging about that too once we sign with a new company.  Then I went to work, which was hectic but ok.  Afterwards I walked over to the new "simcha hall" to say mazaltov to neighbors whose son got married.  I couldn't stay, because I'm in my year of mourning for my mother.  After that I caught the bus home and then walked up the hill.

Chanukah HH on "A Damaged Mirror" and More Jewish Blogging Carnival News

This week's Havel Havelim is hosted by A Damaged Mirror, which has also been doing a very interesting Parshat Shavua series; see her Miketz.

Bloggers and those who enjoy reading blogs are welcome to join our facebook page.  And feel free to send in links to your posts or those you think should be included in the premier weekly Jewish Israeli blog carnival via blog carnival. HH hosts have the final say in which posts are included.  Of course they can add whichever posts they like from that week.  If you'd like to host one, then please contact me shilohmuse at gmail dot com, thanks.

There's also a monthly Jewish blog carnival based on the subject of kosher food, the Kosher Cooking Carnival.  All aspects of kashrut are included from customs, halachot (laws,) recipes, news, and book/restaurant reviews. KCC is organized on our facebook page; links can be sent via blog carnival.  The Kosher Cooking Carnival includes blog posts submitted by bloggers and other chosen by the host. If you'd like to host one, then please contact me shilohmuse at gmail dot com, thanks.

Recently I have discovered another Jewish blog carnival, one dedicated to book reviews of Jewish books,  November Jewish Book Carnival.  Details of how to participate are included in the carnival post. I've even been participating in it, but not as host.  Being the "default" host  and "coordinator" for both Havel Havelim and the Kosher Cooking Carnival are more than enough blog carnival and hosting responsibilities for me.

Have a joyful, healthy and enlightening Chanukah!!!

Middle of Chanukah, Four out of Eight

On Frday I followed the directions Phil Chernofsky wrote in Torah Tidbits so that I wouldn't have to rush at at the last minute after Shabbat to get the oil ready for lighting.

• Friday - ideal to set up for Friday lighting - and Motza"Sh - early in the day (Friday), to be ready to light before and after Shabbat without last-minute delays. Suggestion: Set up for 3 candles and 4 candles, as in the picture, and have another shamash ready for Motza'ei Shabbat lighting. Matches ready too. Don't worry about the right-to-left, left-to-right issue.

Here at a better angle:

It really was helpful to have the cups in and the oil poured before Shabbat. Then when Shabbat was over, all I had to do was to light a match.   We light the Chanukiya, Chanukah menorah after  making Havdalah.

Here are tonight's candles and all burning brightly.

Chag Urim Sameach

May You Have an Enlightened Chanukah 

PS Yes, my husband lights candles and I switched to olive oil years ago.  I just use a candle for the shammash.

Very Public Chanukah Menorah Lighting

One of the things I enjoy about my job, working at Yafiz, Sha'ar Binyamin is the public Chanukiya lighting on Chanukah.  The mitzvah is to light your Chanukah menorah at the entrance of your home. It's supposed to be in a very public place to publicize the miracles G-d did and always does for us.

Rami Levy always sets up a giant Chanukiya at the entrance of the stores, the discount supermarket and Yafiz. I was working last night, and a short while after they had announced Arvit, Ma'ariv Evening Prayers, there was an announcement inviting people to come to the entrance of the store for candle-lighting.

Some of the managerial staff then came out to light the Chanukiya, and people gathered around listening and taking pictures.

Chag Urim Sameach

May you have an enlightened Holiday 

Visiting Other Blogs, No, Not Havel Havelim, Just a Round-Up

This morning when I took a quick look at the blogs on my blog rolls of both blogs I saw so many interesting posts.  So, instead of blogging of my adventures, I'm going to list the posts I suggest you read and share. It's not that I've been living a dull life, but sometimes we should listen to others.  I was going to blog about my frustrating day yesterday trying to get a better cellphone deal, but since the story isn't yet over, I guess that should wait.

Yesterday I took some gorgeous pictures riding the light-rail as the winter sun slowly rose in the sky, but I don't think you really want to see an entire post of them.  So, let's get on with the show.  I have a busy day today.

• Another Reason Not to Help the Goyim

• Happy Double Holiday

• YaYeshev:If you will it, it is no dream

• death of Arik Einstein on Haredi websites

• Chanukah is about our defeat over the Liberals

• No, We Don't Do The Thanksgiving Thing Here in Israel

• Cultivating Religious Leadership

• Soldiers “R” Us: the warm, fuzzy army

• Where's the Wild Blond?

• THANKSGIVING Chanukah-5774
•  We Have Plans

• Chag Sameach!

As I indicated in the title, this isn't Havel Havelim.  The next one will be posted on A Damaged Mirror during the next few days.  Join our facebook group.

Chag Urim-Chanukah Sameach

May You Have an Enlightened Holiday

Front Row in The LightRail

Many times when I take the train, the Jerusalem Light-rail, I try to be in the first car/carriage or whatever I should call it. That's so I can get to where I need to go as quickly as possible.  When the train isn't too crowded I also get a great view.

In the area near the Old City, with the Damascus Gate on the left, the tracks were laid on grass.  IMHO, it's gorgeous, like riding on a bright green carpet.

The "Losers"

I'm a member of a photography group. Every week there's a theme, and we're supposed to photograph and send in a suitable picture.  This week we're required to send in a picture taken from below.  So I spent a couple of days pointing my camera up and getting very strange reactions from people who spied me doing it.

I took a lot of pictures while walking around my neighborhood, at work and also in Rami Levy when to and from the WC.  A fellow worker thought the project interesting and set up this pagoda for me.

Her shot of it with her smartphone was much more successful.

The pictures posted here are among the rejects, the losers.

I've already sent in my choice, and you'll have to wait until Sunday night Israel time to know what the picture is.  Here's the runner-up.  I do love this picture, but the one I chose is even more unique.

Thanksgivukkah, Esser Agartoth's Havel Havelim and Some Double-Holiday Videos

First of all I must thank Esser Agaroth for his excellent pre-Chanukah Havel Havelim.

Join our International Jewish, Israeli blog community. If you would like to submit a post, you may do so through our on-line submission form, hosted by Blog Carnival. If you would like to host, please join our Facebook Group.  Any questions, please contact me at shilohmuse at gmail dot com, thanks.

Chanukah is the Jewish Holiday of  thanks, Thanksgiving?, for a couple of reasons. The first is that the name of the historic heroic figure in the holiday's background story is יהודה Yehuda, Judah, which means thank you to G-d.  The name first appears when the Jewish Matriarch Leah, wife of Ya'aqov (Jacob) gives that name to her fourth son to show her thanks to G-d.

Genesis Chapter 29 בְּרֵאשִׁית
לה וַתַּהַר עוֹד וַתֵּלֶד בֵּן, וַתֹּאמֶר הַפַּעַם אוֹדֶה אֶת-יְ--ה עַל-כֵּן קָרְאָה שְׁמוֹ, יְהוּדָה; וַתַּעֲמֹד, מִלֶּדֶת. 35 And she conceived again, and bore a son; and she said: 'This time will I thank the LORD.' Therefore she called his name Judah; and she left off bearing.

The Al Hanissim "Because of the Miracles" Prayer, added during the eight days of Chanukah is also a Prayer of Thanksgiving to G-d for making it possible for the small seemingly weak Jewish People to defeat the mighty Greeks.  So, to be precise, we Jews have had a Thanksgiving Holiday thousands of years before there ever was a United States.

This year's rare calendar coincidence has inspired many American Jews in the states and some ex-pats, too. Here are a couple of clever videos.  Enjoy!

The first is a very clever one from Stand with Us.


Sorry, but as cheery as that video is, it doesn't hold a candle to Benji Lovitt's brilliant holiday special.


Enjoy them both!

Rami Levy, Not Just a Supermarket and Politician..

I'm not sure that there's one of these in every branch of the Rami Levy Discount Supermarket, but the shul, beit knesset, synagogue in the Sha'ar Binyamin Branch is very popular.

There's no Ezrat Nashim, women's section, so I haven't dovened there, but I have borrowed the books for Mincha, the afternoon prayer and for Tehillim, Psalms when I've somehow forgotten mine.

It's nicely furnished with high quality-looking seats.  Throughout the afternoon and evening, there are calls on the loudspeaker for men to come and pray.  Besides that, there are set times, and some men come in especially to join in the dovening with a minyan.

Rami Levy doesn't market himself as a religious person, but he offers the Torah observant Jews the services, no pun intended, they need.

He's a member of Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat's party and a city councilman.  I hope that Levy uses that sensitivity to the needs of the Torah observant also in that position.

Stuffed Eggplant, The Ironic and Easy Recipe

If there's one thing you can say about my cooking mode, it's "easy."  You can also use synonyms like "simple."  I have these very vague memories about once making stuffed eggplant many years decades ago, and I never tried it again.  It would require following a cookbook while cooking, which isn't on my multi-tasking menu.  But then I bought these gorgeous gigantic eggplants in the shuk, Jerusalem's Machane Yehuda-Open Market, and they just cried out to be stuffed.

The only problem was that I really didn't know how to stuff eggplants.  So I called out to facebook friends for help, and Risa of Isramom sent me a link to a recipe, davka, based on something I had served her. Ironic isn't it?  I didn't know whether to feel flattered or stupid.  Click on or paste this for her recipe. http://isramom.blogspot.co.il/2010/11/low-carb-recipe-inspired-by-lunch-with.html I made mine a bit differently.  I'll explain with the photos I took.  The moral of this being that there are no real rules to making stuffed eggplant or most other things. Just enjoy and use what you have in the house.

Ingredients I used

• 1 very large eggplant (a few small ones would be perfectly fine, too)
• 1 medium onion, cut small
• a few pieces of fresh garlic; you won't get arrested if you use the powdered stuff
• some cooking oil
• a can of crushed tomatoes, or tomato sauce or paste, or cut up a few ripe tomatoes
• 800 grams or a couple of pounds (or less) of chopped meat or poultry

First I sliced the eggplant in half and then cut the "inside" out from the eggplant.  You need a sharp knife and a grapefruit spoon to do it easily.

Place the empty eggplant shells in the baking dish.

Put the cut vegetables in the pot and add the onion, garlic and oil.  Saute a bit and then add the crushed tomatoes and after that the chopped meat.

Cook a few minutes stirring well and then stuff the eggplant.  If you end up with too much of a stuffing mixture, then take out some other vegetables to stuff. I used peppers, but you can use large tomatoes or squash or even just bake the mixture as a meatloaf.

Bake in a hot oven until well cooked. Remember that you've already partially cooked the meat so it shouldn't take call that long.

Enjoy!  We ate one of them on Friday night, and it was delicious!

Hidden Corners of the Shuk and Bargains

Recently, I've been doing a bit of shopping Wednesday noonish in the Jerusalem open air market, Machane Yehuda aka the "shuk."  Wandering around looking for bargains, I've found them plus pleasant spots I had no idea existed.  If you want to save money, this is definitely the way to shop, even on a Wednesday when prices begin to edge up.

I don't buy all that much, because there's a limit on how much I can carry, but if I had a wagon I'd really stock up.  I shop after my Matan studies, so I also have books with me.  Also it's hard to take a wagon along to my studies.  But if I ever need to just go in to shop, I'd do it with something to wheel and a backpack.

It's a real bargain, because I don't pay extra bus/train fare.  I can squeeze in the shopping within the 90 minute free transfer time after getting on the bus near Matan and then taking a bus or train to my next stop to get to the bus station or trempiada home.

Detective Work, The #25 Bus Stop Near The Shuk

For the longest time, ever since buses in downtown Jerusalem had been rerouted to facilitate the light-rail, I've been searching for a #25 bus stop in Machane Yehuda. One of my sons even tried finding it on a google map, but it ended up going in the wrong direction, so I took a #8 that day.

Now why is the #25 so important?  It is an express route to an important location in Pisgat Ze'ev, just across the street and around the corner from the new "trempiada," where I can pick up rides and the Shiloh #148 bus or the Sha'ar Binyamin #143 bus.   I usually find myself transferring buses to catch it at the "Buchari shuk," just past Geula/Kikar Shabbat.  The latest "bus fare laws" include free unlimited transfers for 90 minutes.  The quicker I can catch the bus, the better the chance I can do all I need on one bus fare.  A few weeks ago, I went over the 90 minutes by two minutes which meant that I had to pay again.  Catching the bus in the shuk gives me an extra twenty minutes or so, plus that way I get a good seat and don't have to schlep my bags as much.

Yesterday, by chance aka siyate d'Shmaya, the Hand of G-d, while I was walking to Rechov Agrippas on my way to shop in the shuk I spotted the #25 as it entered the street near the back of the Clal Building. There was a lot of traffic, so I was able to see it turn at the street on the side of the Clal Building and then go through Kikar Davidka (Square.)  I filed that information away and did my shopping.

Then I walked back to the back of the Clal Building and waited for the bus.  I was well within the maximum ninety minutes after hopping a bus in Talpiyot, which was good.  I knew that I'd make it to the Pisgat Ze'ev trempiada early enough for the 2:05 to Shiloh which goes up to my neighborhood or a ride, whichever came first.  Of course, I took pictures on the way.

There's nothing like those Jerusalem buses.

Homework, Deja Vu

Today when I was babysitting for the grandkids, my grandson was doing his homework.  He's in the first grade.  He seemed to be having a good time filling in the missing letters to make words and then draw a picture of the object to prove that he understood what he had written.  On occasion he asked an older sister if a specific word had one of two similar sounding letters.

Then he seemed stuck, saying he couldn't do one of them.  So I asked to take a look and I saw that he was doing it incorrectly. The workbook exercise he was doing was actually much, much simpler.  All he had to do was to fill in the letter they gave per line, then read and understand what the word was and draw a picture to prove it.

When his mother was a year older than he is, she failed an entire section of an IQ Test for making a similar mistake.  She was supposed to complete a word with the missing letters and then draw a picture to prove she knew what she had written.  She invented objects that combined two words.  The educational psychologist who explained the results to me gave me examples, which were brilliantly creative.  But no points were given for that entire section, and she didn't get into the gifted program.

Watching my grandson quickly do his homework once he didn't have to struggle and wasn't challenged at all gave me some clues as to why I always hated doing homework as a kid.

Art Fun, Searching for Jewish Symbols

Yesterday I was at the Israel Museum with a friend.  They have this totally mesmerizing paintings by European Jewish artists, even those on Christian topics.  I don't usually go for that type of art, but my friend and I couldn't get over the amount of Jewish symbols and ritual objects in this large painting.  We had great fun trying to point out the Jewish symbols and ritual objects.  How many can you find?  Please reply in comments, thanks.

Here's the introduction of what was written in the Museum newsletter:

Europe's Pioneering Jewish Artists Celebrated in New Exhibition

Maurycy Gottlieb, Jesus in Front of his Judges, 1877-1879 

Jerusalem, August 29, 2013 – The Israel Museum, Jerusalem, presents an exhibition exploring the work of fourteen pioneering Jewish artists living in 19th-century Europe. Each of these artists, representing the first and second generations of Jews to enter the art world previously closed to them, straddled the fine line between maintaining their Jewish origins while pursuing a field in which they depicted nudes and even Christian subjects for their patrons. Making an Entrance: Jewish Artists in 19th-Century Europe also challenges the long-held premise that the "first Jewish artist" was Moritz Daniel Oppenheim, protégée of the Rothschild family, and presents the works of the lesser-known artists Salomon Pinhas from Kassel and Jacob Liepmann from Berlin, who worked in Germany at the very beginning of the 19th century.