Channuka

I love this time of year with all its indulgences and family time. Here in Jerusalem people everywhere are lighting their channukiot (channuka candelabras) in their windows. Yesterday we passed a house where they had seven channukiot lit in the window. Totally awesome and so beautiful. T and I light one each, so from the outside of our window you will be able to see two of them shining brightly.

I love the progressiveness of the eight days of the holiday - the first day we light one candle, then second two etc - today is the third day, so we lit three candles. (The lone candle in the middle, which is a bit higher up than the others, is the candle we light the three candles with, and is not counted towards the three.) It makes you feel how the days are going and really being able to enjoy and take part in each and every one of the days of the holiday.

During Channuka we try to do extra nice things all week - so we see a lot of friends, eat especially nice food, play games and indulge a little extra. I always make candy and cookies for Channuka - usually I make quite a few different kinds, at least seven, but this year I made five; peanut brittle, pecan brittle, sugared pecans, peanut clusters and oatmeal, chocolate chip and cranberry cookies. Maybe I will make some more during the next few days? I've been toying with the idea of making sirupsnipper, but I'm not sure yet. I guess the next days will tell.

Happy Channuka!