Tonight is the start of Chanukka 2022, or the year 5783 according to the Hebrew calendar. It’s the night when Jews celebrate the miracle of the oil when following a revolt against the Jews ancient Greek overlords, the Temple in Jerusalem was recaptured but the revolutionaries found that there was only one days oil left to light the Temple menorah however a miracle occurred and that one days oil burned for eight days. This was enough time to prepare a new fresh batch of untainted oil to feed the Temple menorah.
Today we celebrate the miracle of the oil but we also remember how a bunch of rag tag oppressed Jews decided that enough was enough and refused to bow down to the Greeks any more. The Jews of ancient Israel revolted against one of the most powerful empires of the ancient world and all it took was a few individuals saying ‘enough is enough. If a journey starts with a single step then the revolution that pushed back against the ancient Greeks started with someone saying ‘no’ to the Jews overlords. This should remind us that although we as individuals might be lacking in power, when we individuals say ‘no’ to our oppressors then it may embolden others to say ‘no’ as well.
In remembrance of the miracle of the oil Jews are commanded to eat either oil heavy foods or more often than not fried foods for the whole of the eight days of the festival. Chanukka means that I can eat a fried breakfast every day if I wish as fry ups, along with doughnuts and potato latkes are commanded for this period.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish all my many Jewish readers a very happy and joyful Chanukka. May the lights on your Chanukkia burn bright as you remember the miracles and heroes of old.
If you are going to have a “Full English” every day, just go steady on the “smoked meat” as Rabbi Lionel used to call it, and any meats extruded and tied off at each end & marketed by Walls.
Happy Chanukka
He was good was Rabbi Lionel ZT”L. Our full English’s involve veggie sausages, potato latkes, eggs, mushrooms, haloumi cheese and if we can get hold of it there is even a Kosher approved vegan ‘bacon equivalent’ although some of the mainstream bacon alternatives are much better than they used to be. I avoid vegan cheese as the last time I had it it reminded me of the sort of hard rubber that is used to make car steering bushes and tasted like I believe such stuff might taste like.
Thank you for the good wishes. Doughnuts await.
You can stop right there ! You are making me feel hungry
There’s a great doughnut recipe here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOixSa9sPXk
Don’t forget to drink plenty of health giving red wine if your going to indulge in a lot of cholesterol
You know it makes sense:-)
Wine is nearly always a feature of Jewish festivals, although not Yom Kippur LOL. Viniculture is so important in Judaism that brewing has been taught to secondary schoolboys in some Jewish schools. Yeah red wine is good. It’s my choice of wine if wine is wanted or commanded.