Singing songs and lighting the menorah
All of the guests at the Chabad of South Hills’ recent Chanukah luncheon had smiles on their faces and many clapped along to the songs sung by Rabbi Mendel Rosenblum.
Each Chanukah, the Chabad organizes a holiday lunch for Jewish senior citizens living in the South Hills. This year’s luncheon was Dec. 23 at the Jewish Community Center of the South Hills in Scott Twp. and included traditional favorites such as tuna salad, egg salad, rolls, tossed salad and of course everyone’s favorites, deep-fried latkes and sugary deep-fried doughnuts.
The holiday festivities opened up with some folk songs, including the holiday standard, “I Have A Little Dreidel.” Then, Rabbi Rosenblum lit the seventh candle on the menorah, which is Hebrew for lamp. Rosenblum talked to the audience about the importance of having faith that things will work out for the best.
“Two thousand years ago, when the Jews went to temple, they found they only had enough oil for one day,” Rosenblum said. “But, the menorah remained lit for eight days. The Jewish people had faith. Their job was to light the menorah. The important thing is when you start something, God will add to it.”
Chanukah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday that celebrates the rededication of the second century Before the Common Era. (B.C.E. is a non-religious alternative to B.C.)
To honor the holiday, the menorah has nine candles. Eight of the candles are for remembering the miracle of the oil and the ninth candle is called a shamash, which is Hebrew for attendant. This candle is bigger and usually found in the center of the menorah.
Besides singing songs, the 30 or so at the luncheon played games and were quizzed on the Hebrew letters on the four-sided dreidel; Nun, get nothing; Gimmel, take the whole pot; Hay, take half the pot, and Shin, pay two into the pot. Anyone who shouted out a right answer was given a paper dreidel for their table.
Hilda McNabb of Crafton said she came to the luncheon to get back to her roots.
“I had been away for 50 years,” she said. “I am coming back to the Jewish life.”