One of my friends growing up was Jewish. I always thought it was so cool that the children got to open presents each night. We waited till Christmas. I didn't understand what the miracle of Hanukhah was about.
I am not Jewish but donate to the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews ifcj.org or 888-588-4325 There are many in need, but especially Holocaust survivors, that need food and warmth. Millions are spent on museums and memorials, while important, a lot needs to go for defense, and some elderly miss basic needs. Founder by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein. Shalom
Hi EC. The ministry that I support with is involved with IFCJ. Pastor will be in Israel this week along with Rabbi Eckstein to welcome the Ukrainian Jews that are being airlifted.
EC would you mind describing the traditional Holy Supper. What is involved in preparing and serving the supper. I am not Catholic so am not familiar with the traditions.
Hi Gloria, I couldn't describe Catholic or Jewish traditions. But each has very special customs and meals. Who can help us out with this? Ponders want to know. Eva can answer some of it when she drops by.
Froggy says "Hi" and "Ribbet", and hopes everyone had enough to eat for Thanksgiving. For me, I'll need to go on a diet quite soon! I just looked up the word, "ribbet." It says "the sound that a frog makes." Made me smile. Ribbet Ribbet...
I will get back here this afternoon with specifics. But for now-Holy Supper is an Eastern European tradition, not just for Catholics. The Polish word for the Christmas Eve Vigil is Wigilia. It is a mealess meal representing the four corners of the earth- forest, fields,orchards and sea. I have running to do today, prescriptions at Walgreens, Lowe's to order my aluminum attic stairs to replace the dry wood ladder, and Publix for supplies for this special dinner ! They have DH scheduled for pre-op the 22 nd and surgery on Christmas Eve, so not sure just how I am going to get this dinner together. Catch you later.
The Polish Christmas Eve Meal is called the WIGILIA Feast (my version, each eastern European county has their own traditional foods, but similar) It usually has 12 or 13 dishes and begins after the first star is spotted. It begins with the breaking of Oplatek, a transparent wafer similar to a communion wafer. The Father breaks off a piece, dips it in honey and it is passed around the table with everyone breaking off a piece a dipping in honey. This is a meatless meal. Next is a warm soup, either beet Borscht, mushroom or almond. The main dish is white fish, although one year, Mom used a lake trout caught by my uncle at his lake. The side dishes come from the field, orchard, and forest. Sauerkraut (Kapusta), potato, peas, beans and perogie (Varenyky). I take a short cut and use potato stuffed perogie and can usually find sauerkraut stuffed perogies made by ladies at the Russian church. Poppy seed is a must for peace and honey for contentment. Another shortcut, I use Pillsburg cresent dough, shape into little balls and after they are baked, roll them in honey and poppy seed, my version of Bobalky. Wish I had some of Birdy's horseradish to add grated beets (Cwikla) I sauté cabbage with buttered noodles, but technically, besides NO meat, there should be no dairy. With all the perogies, prunes are also on the list! But you can include them in the dried fruit compote. Red Wine, although in the old country they use homemade vodka. If you still have room, cookies, once a year I make Kolachy (Kulaczi), the delightful little, melt in your mouth, filled with sweet walnut paste, cookies. WESOLYCH SWIAT (Merry Christmas)
I don't know Holly, the generation before me, are all gone, and we don't have kids. My brother lives next door, but several years ago his wife informed us they will do their own traditions. . I won't get snarky, but her idea of dinner is a frozen french bread pizza. He gets a balanced, nutritious meal over here when she works late.
Just stopping by to say 'Hi'. We're fine on this end. Bambu didn't enjoy going to the vet, of course, but the end result is more good news than bad. His numbers are really good for his advanced age, but he does have problems because of that age. He now is on a prescription diet to hold off kidney disease and he has to take a laxative once a week for constipation and each day he takes a 1/4 tablet of Pepcid AC because he has acid reflux. Oh yeah, he also gets that Cosequin for Cats stuff for his joint health. Poor thing. I'm sure he just wants to be left alone to sleep in the sun.
The main thing I remember about Hanukkahs from my past are my mother's potato pancakes (latkes). You eat them with applesauce. I've never tried to make them myself. I light my candles each night and say the prayer. That's about it. Since there was just my sister and me, my parents kept up the present each night business for longer than any of my cousins' families did. At some point, though, we just lit the candles, went to Temple, and exchanged all our gifts on the morning of the 25th. It was easier on my parents :)
Sis and I send our Blessings for your Hanukkah celebration. I set out a menorah for Froggy. We had a holiday party for the residence, and one of the Jewish ladies brought latkes. I didn't know to eat them with applesauce, but now I do. They were very good. Good news about Bambu. What we do for our beloved kitties! We had one that lived to 19 years, I think. And, yes, we had to give him the special diet food for kidneys. Cats don't like their diet changed.
Woggy, I was just remembering when you moved from your old appt to your now home. Was it 1 year ago or 2? I don't know how you did it but you managed to get the two of you moved and take care of Froggy too. Now you are in a good place I think. I pray that you sisters have a blessed Hanukkah and Christmas.
Gloria, it was two years ago since we moved to a much better location...even though it was only about four blocks. We get the morning sun, when we get sun. Seattle has been a little rainy lately.
Loved reading everyone's memories and traditions! This might sound weird, but here goes: I was raised in the Baptist church in a teeny little Oklahoma town. Not a single Jewish person lived there (to my knowledge), but as a young girl I read a lot and was mesmerized by Jewish traditions. I've been doing some genealogy research and found my great grandmother, Anna Greenberg. I have her picture, and we could be twin sisters. I wonder if DNA carries a spiritual component. Thinking about that is way above my head.
I rebelled against Christianity as a teenager. Spent decades reading spiritual texts of Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Celts, Mayans, Incans, American Indians ... and on and on. Read the Bible (Genesis to the maps) several times. After reading and thinking and meditating over years and years, I had a personal and spiritual meeting with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. At the time, I was 38 years old or so. Got baptized, as an adult, in the ocean, on Rosh Hashanah.
Love you for putting up with my meanderings. Ribbets and Hops to all Deer Frogs today!
One of my friends growing up was Jewish. I always thought it was so cool that the children got to open presents each night. We waited till Christmas. I didn't understand what the miracle of Hanukhah was about.
ReplyDeleteI am not Jewish but donate to the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews
ReplyDeleteifcj.org or 888-588-4325
There are many in need, but especially Holocaust survivors, that need food and warmth.
Millions are spent on museums and memorials, while important, a lot needs to go for defense, and some elderly miss basic needs. Founder by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein. Shalom
Hi EC. The ministry that I support with is involved with IFCJ. Pastor will be in Israel this week along with Rabbi Eckstein to welcome the Ukrainian Jews that are being airlifted.
DeleteIt might sound strange with all that is going on, especially with Iran, but I think Israel might be the safest place to be.
DeleteHi Gloria and EC...yes, Hanukkah is a very special celebration. It starts at sundown on Tuesday.
ReplyDeleteEC would you mind describing the traditional Holy Supper. What is involved in preparing and serving the supper. I am not Catholic so am not familiar with the traditions.
ReplyDeleteHi Gloria, I couldn't describe Catholic or Jewish traditions. But each has very special customs and meals. Who can help us out with this? Ponders want to know. Eva can answer some of it when she drops by.
ReplyDeleteFroggy says "Hi" and "Ribbet", and hopes everyone had enough to eat for Thanksgiving. For me, I'll need to go on a diet quite soon! I just looked up the word, "ribbet." It says "the sound that a frog makes." Made me smile. Ribbet Ribbet...
I will get back here this afternoon with specifics. But for now-Holy Supper is an Eastern European tradition, not just for Catholics. The Polish word for the Christmas Eve Vigil is
ReplyDeleteWigilia. It is a mealess meal representing the four corners of the earth- forest, fields,orchards and sea. I have running to do today, prescriptions at Walgreens, Lowe's to order my aluminum attic stairs to replace the dry wood ladder, and Publix for supplies for this special dinner ! They have DH scheduled for pre-op the 22 nd and surgery on Christmas Eve, so not sure just how I am going to get this dinner together. Catch you later.
The Polish Christmas Eve Meal is called the WIGILIA Feast (my version,
Deleteeach eastern European county has their own traditional foods, but similar)
It usually has 12 or 13 dishes and begins after the first star is spotted.
It begins with the breaking of Oplatek, a transparent wafer similar to
a communion wafer. The Father breaks off a piece, dips it in honey and
it is passed around the table with everyone breaking off a piece a dipping
in honey.
This is a meatless meal.
Next is a warm soup, either beet Borscht, mushroom or almond.
The main dish is white fish, although one year, Mom used a lake
trout caught by my uncle at his lake.
The side dishes come from the field, orchard, and forest.
Sauerkraut (Kapusta), potato, peas, beans and perogie (Varenyky).
I take a short cut and use potato stuffed perogie and can
usually find sauerkraut stuffed perogies made by ladies at
the Russian church. Poppy seed is a must for peace and honey
for contentment. Another shortcut, I use Pillsburg cresent dough,
shape into little balls and after they are baked, roll them in honey
and poppy seed, my version of Bobalky. Wish I had some of Birdy's horseradish
to add grated beets (Cwikla) I sauté cabbage with buttered noodles, but
technically, besides NO meat, there should be no dairy. With all the
perogies, prunes are also on the list! But you can include them in the
dried fruit compote.
Red Wine, although in the old country they use homemade vodka.
If you still have room, cookies, once a year I make Kolachy (Kulaczi), the
delightful little, melt in your mouth, filled with sweet walnut paste, cookies.
WESOLYCH SWIAT (Merry Christmas)
This is the type of tradition that hopefully will be carried on by next generations.
DeleteI don't know Holly, the generation before me, are all gone, and we don't have kids.
DeleteMy brother lives next door, but several years ago his wife informed us they will do their own traditions. . I won't get snarky, but her idea of dinner is a frozen french bread pizza. He gets a balanced, nutritious meal over here when she works late.
Just stopping by to say 'Hi'. We're fine on this end. Bambu didn't enjoy going to the vet, of course, but the end result is more good news than bad. His numbers are really good for his advanced age, but he does have problems because of that age. He now is on a prescription diet to hold off kidney disease and he has to take a laxative once a week for constipation and each day he takes a 1/4 tablet of Pepcid AC because he has acid reflux. Oh yeah, he also gets that Cosequin for Cats stuff for his joint health. Poor thing. I'm sure he just wants to be left alone to sleep in the sun.
ReplyDeleteThe main thing I remember about Hanukkahs from my past are my mother's potato pancakes (latkes). You eat them with applesauce. I've never tried to make them myself. I light my candles each night and say the prayer. That's about it. Since there was just my sister and me, my parents kept up the present each night business for longer than any of my cousins' families did. At some point, though, we just lit the candles, went to Temple, and exchanged all our gifts on the morning of the 25th. It was easier on my parents :)
Sis and I send our Blessings for your Hanukkah celebration. I set out a menorah for Froggy. We had a holiday party for the residence, and one of the Jewish ladies brought latkes. I didn't know to eat them with applesauce, but now I do. They were very good. Good news about Bambu. What we do for our beloved kitties! We had one that lived to 19 years, I think. And, yes, we had to give him the special diet food for kidneys. Cats don't like their diet changed.
DeleteWoggy, I was just remembering when you moved from your old appt to your now home. Was it 1 year ago or 2? I don't know how you did it but you managed to get the two of you moved and take care of Froggy too. Now you are in a good place I think. I pray that you sisters have a blessed Hanukkah and Christmas.
DeleteGloria, it was two years ago since we moved to a much better location...even though it was only about four blocks. We get the morning sun, when we get sun. Seattle has been a little rainy lately.
DeleteLoved reading everyone's memories and traditions! This might sound weird, but here goes: I was raised in the Baptist church in a teeny little Oklahoma town. Not a single Jewish person lived there (to my knowledge), but as a young girl I read a lot and was mesmerized by Jewish traditions. I've been doing some genealogy research and found my great grandmother, Anna Greenberg. I have her picture, and we could be twin sisters. I wonder if DNA carries a spiritual component. Thinking about that is way above my head.
ReplyDeleteI rebelled against Christianity as a teenager. Spent decades reading spiritual texts of Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Celts, Mayans, Incans, American Indians ... and on and on. Read the Bible (Genesis to the maps) several times. After reading and thinking and meditating over years and years, I had a personal and spiritual meeting with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. At the time, I was 38 years old or so. Got baptized, as an adult, in the ocean, on Rosh Hashanah.
Love you for putting up with my meanderings. Ribbets and Hops to all Deer Frogs today!
Surfie, another wonderful story about your life. You better think about writing that book in 2015.
Delete