First, a wonderfully uplifting message from Marc Gellman.
CHANUKAH:
12/07/2023
DURING THIS FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS . . .
. . . can our lights shine bright? Do we show who we are? Or . . . do we hide out of sight? It’s a time for our menorah to be in clear view, to remind this generation that we are a Jew. Show our pride this Chanukah and what we can do. And in the game of dreidel, may the GIMEL spin to you (may you be successful).
When I was a young kid, the rabbi told my class that we should display our menorah by the window so that passers-by could see it. Nowadays, for too many of us that may be worrisome to do. But why is that? Have things really changed from when I was growing up? I don’t think so.
I don’t see that things have changed. What I do see is that we have just begun to actively question, “Who are our friends and who are our foes?” And it is the latent antisemite, who was amongst us when I was a kid and who is still amongst us today, that knows who our foes are.
It is important during these troubled times to show who we are. Even with a chilling fright within us, we must stand strong, look our foe straight in the eye, and fear not their bite . . . as we display our menorah in absolute clear sight.
A THOUGHT FOR TODAY . . . Happy Chanukah . . . SHABBAT SHALOM!
For more information about the author, please visit: marcgellman.com
To continue with the story of Chanukkah and latkes, Judea was eventually captured by the Romans. Some of the Roman rulers could care less about various religions of the occupied territories, or provinces, as long as the taxes were collected regularly and accurately. Some others, however, persecuted Jews relentlessly; Emperor Hadrian even earned the nickname “Destroyer of the Jews.” Once again, all Jewish learning was forbidden, once again brave little bands of fighters rose again their oppressors. And once again, my inquisitive four-year-old brain put a story together that went like this:
Children were given a dreidel (spinning top), with four sides. On each side there was a Hebrew letter: Nun, Gimmel, Hei, and Shin. They were also given some coins so that when Roman soldiers, who were notorious gamblers, would come across a group of kids sitting with their teacher, they would find an innocent game of top going on and even be invited to participate. In reality, the letters were an abbreviation of a phrase Nes Gadol Haya Sham (a great miracle happened there), and the dreidel served as a visual and kinesthetic aid for a lesson on Chanukkah.
The silver dreidel you see on most of my Chanukkah-related photos is not real. It cannot be used to play (don’t think the grandkids haven’t tried!). It’s not made by Frank Meisler, even though the style is similar. It doesn’t open, and there are no surprises hidden inside. Still, it is very precious to me because my father, may he rest in peace, brought it for us from Israel. Every year I make delicious Retchene latkes, my father’s favorite kind, and this year I’ll have them on my table again, and we’ll drink a Lechayim to my father’s memory.
Contrary to a cute and very popular song, we, as kids, had a tin-plate dreidel, made by my great-grandfather, and it was spinning perfectly. Even though we were given Chanukkah gelt (money, not gifts!), we were not allowed to use it for gambling; instead, we had to use roasted walnuts. The rules of the game are very simple:
You start by placing your bets – equal and agreed amounts. Then you take turns spinning. If it lands letter Nun up, it means “nichts” (“nothing” in Yiddish), so nothing happens, and the dreidel passes to the next person. If it lands on Gimmel – “gantz” (“everything” in Yiddish), you just got lucky, and you take the bank. If Hey – “halb” (“half”) shows up, you are only half-lucky; you take half of the bank, which is better than none! And if you hit Shin – “shtel” (“put in”), you have to add to the bank. Incidentally, in Israel, where the great miracle of Chanukkah did happen, the dreidels have a letter Peh, for Po – here, instead of Sham – there.
You don’t need to know Yiddish to see a little discrepancy here: Yiddish is one of the Jewish languages of the exile; it simply did not exist before the destruction of the second Temple by the Romans. Some scholars figured out elaborate Gematria (numerology): the four letters, added in a certain way, equal 358, which is the numerological equivalent of the word Messiah. Others suggested that the letters stand for the names of the four kings who have tried to destroy the Jews in Ancient times. Surprisingly, however, the game is only a variation of the German “trundl” game which, in turn, is a variation of the English Totum, or Teetotum game (“totum” means “all” in Latin), where the rules were the same, represented by four Latin letters.
Chanukkah gelt, though, is really related to education. Says the Talmud that Chanukkah lights are holy, thus are not to be used for any mundane purpose, such as counting money. Another visual and kinesthetic lesson for all times: don’t count your Chanukkah gelt in front of Chanukkah lights. Chocolate coins fall under the same rule. Walnuts, or any other nuts, in Yiddish are called “nisim” – another reminder of Nes Gadol, the great miracle of Chanukkah. And because nuts there were aplenty, but potatoes did not exist yet (for explanation, please see But Hannah Did Not Have Potatoes! Latkes with a Tropical Twist.), the all-around favorites in our family were Retchene (buckwheat) latkes that have a subtle nutty taste.
As in all my latkes recipes, the constant is non-dairy prostokvasha, or clabbered milk (for recipe, click here). You can substitute any non-dairy (or dairy, if you are so inclined) buttermilk, kefir, or yogurt. I use eggs, but egg substitutes will work. Add some agave to sweeten them, a little baking powder, salt and pepper, and a dash of cinnamon. Add your wet ingredients to buckwheat flour and mix everything together really well. You will get a thick and sticky batter, more like soft dough than your usual pancake batter. As long as there are no lumps, that’s how it should be. Fry them for about five minutes on each side in a lightly misted with oil frying pan, medium heat. Hint: when you flip them, press lightly on top to flatten them, otherwise the middle will remain uncooked. Some batter will be squeezed out, but don’t worry – it’ll fry. Remove them to a plate lined with paper towels to blot out excess grease.
Meanwhile, you can use a few minutes to make berry sauce. I happen to love blueberries, especially when they are in season, huge like cherries, and juicy. But you can use cranberries, or any berries you like. Just throw them into a saucepan, cover with sweet light red wine, add agave to taste, and bring to boil. Then reduce heat and let them simmer until they start bursting. Gently squash them, but gently! – or else you’ll be splashed, you’ll look funny, and your kids will laugh at you. Now, stir and let them simmer some more, as the liquid evaporates to the consistency you prefer.
INGREDIENTS
Latkes:
- 1 cup buckwheat flour
- 1/2 cup protokvasha (clabbered milk) or any buttermilk, kefir, or yogurt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 egg or substitute
- 1 tablespoon agave
- A pinch of cinnamon
- Salt and pepper to taste
Berry sauce:
- 1 pint fresh berries
- 1/2 cup sweet red or pink wine
- 1/2 cup or more agave (to taste)
PROCEDURE
- Add baking powder and cinnamon to buckwheat flour, add the rest of Latkesingredients, mix thoroughly.
- Preheat frying pan to medium, lightly mist with oil. Spoon batter onto frying pan, fry for 5 minutes on each side. When turning over, gently press down. Remove, blot excess grease with paper towels.
- Place berries into saucepan, add wine and agave, bring to boil, reduce to simmer. In about 10 minutes, when berries start bursting, gently crush them, stir and continue simmering until liquid evaporates to desired consistency.
- Serve Latkes with sauce on the side.
Have a Happy Chanukkah – enjoy!
Nice 👌
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Happy Chanukkah, Dolly!
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Thank you so much, dear Linda. Sending blessings your way!
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A neat ruse to foil the Romans. I bet Shira is still making the latkes.
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She is now 11 and has progressed to more complex recipes, but yes, latkes are still in her repertoir.
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Happy Hanukkah!
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Thank you so much, darling!
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All of your latke recipes make me hungry and someday I want to try latkes, I’ll bet they are scrumptious. I pray you are having a blessed and beautiful Hanukkah.
I am praying for the peace of Jerusalem.
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Latkes are delicious, all of them, according to my grandchildren LOL.
Thank you so much, dear Mimi, and thank you for your support and your prayers.
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Happy Chanukkah, Dolly!
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Thank you so much, dear Eugi!
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Hope you and your family are having a wonderful Hanukkah, Dolly! ❤ ❤ ❤
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Thank you so much, dear Anna.
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I didn’t know the dreidel opened up to reveal prizes. I only knew it as a spinning top toy! You always impart some new piece of knowledge, Dolly.
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Oh, I am sorry if my statement was misleading. Dreidels do not open up, unless they are decorative metal sculptures made by a reknown architect and sculptor Frank Meisler. Most of his metal, especially silver, miniatures have movable parts. When they open up, they reveal something meaningful. They are quite expensive, as opposed to my simple silver dreidel, gifted by my father, may he rest in peace.
https://frank-meisler.com/judaica
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As always, an interesting, informative read and a delicious recipe. Many thanks my dear friend. 🙂
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Thank you so much, dear Jeanne; I am so glad you like it.
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I do. I am learning more and more about the Jewish culture and traditions through you all the time. 🙂
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Thank you for your interest, darling.
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Always. 🙂 🙂 🙂
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😻
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It has been a while since I just sat and read the story and your friend’s Shabbat Shalom. Incidentally during the first few minutes of Christmas Day, just past midnight here. My wife refers to a top made of wood spun down on a lathe as a “dreidel” but it really isn’t. I’m always happy to learn more—Dolly is an excellent teacher! By this date, is there any Chanukkah left, to say have a happy one?
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Dear brother, I thank you for a wonderful comment. Chanukkah is over, but I will take your good wishes any time.
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Well, here they are! ❤
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Thank you! 😻
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