Feast of Lights -- some light during Hanukkah

Hi Adele,

I am doing a reading today at the Westdale Library in Hamilton from my y/a novel "Feast of Lights," set during Hanukkah (today is the 5th of the 8 days; this year Chanukah was Dec. 6-13).  Here is a short section -- hope it brings you some light.  Ruth, age 91, is great-grandmother to Sarah, age 12.  The picture shows my great-grandmother's menorah, which I have and light today. We used it for the cover of the book. It is the 7th day -- one more night, and candle, to come.

This is a special menorah, said Ruth.  I always liked watching the candles.  Sometimes I thought I could see pictures in their flames. My mother told us that her grandmother said we should always take care of it and then we would zayn mit glik -- go with good luck.

Wow! Sarah thought.  Ruth had seen things, too.  Maybe the menorah had always had the power to help people see what they needed to see.

(Ruth then sings an old Yiddish lullaby, "Raisins and almonds/everything sweet," which Sarah had heard earlier as she looked into the Hanukkah candles and saw relatives from a long-ago past.)

Everything sweet to you, Adele.
Ellen

(picture added, Dec. 20)