חנו כ"ה

Mazel Tov!!

It's the first night of Chanukah or
חנו כ"ה
if you prefer the Hebrew. Or just Hanukkah or the festival of lights.
Take your pick. Let's not discuss the 18 million different spellings either (turns out it's not actually mentioned in the Torah so I don't know if there is an official spelling).
It begins on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev (& you should know it's one of the less significant Jewish holidays).

If you know me well, you know I love Judaism. It might even be true that I wish I were Jewish. Except, I deeply believe in Jesus and his redeeming power...so it would never work.
I just love the traditions of the Jewish. Their views of family, observation of holy times & rituals is so beautiful. This book will make you love it too. It's a memoir of a womans journey from Judiasm to Jesus. She writes it in concurrence with the Jewish calendar, it's an incredible story.

Now, you might be wondering why I'm writing about Chanukah on my little nanny blog. Let me reveal another tidbit about "the-family-who-must-not-be-named" (formerly known as "the family who sucked my life away" but in an ode to harry potter, I find the new name more appropriate + I'm never going to name them, because that would be inappropriate).
The family who must not be named, is Jewish.
I love this.
Now, they weren't (could be now, you never know) the temple going type, who kept the Sabbath, ate kosher, or wore yalmukes.
I did get to participate in the menorah lighting each night last year though. I also had the chance to participate in a few shabbat activities through the year (I even know a little song I sing to the 1 Jewish kid in our class).

I'm thankful I was able to experience new things with 'tfwmnbn' - I truly did enjoy some of my time with them. Promise.

So, light a candle (or 8), play dreidel (don't forget the gelt), bake some challah and enjoy the next 8 days!

xoxo,
April
Happy Chanukah/Hanukkah/ Festival of lights!!

P.S. In other news, I cannot for the life of me, decide on a blog design. Ops!