Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto

Beyond Eating Animals to Celebrate the Holidays

Bill Landauer
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Palo Alto, CA

All too often holidays can turn into times for eating animals, maybe even overeating, and getting gifts. Although gifts can be nice, please keep in mind the true source of happiness is from a place inside your self. I am not against getting gifts, but it is important to keep in mind that there are much more precious things that are a part of the holidays. And of course the best “things” about the holidays are not “things”. The holidays can be a special time to connect and grow closer with family and friends.

Let me mention a little bit about my personal background. I grew up in a Jewish family where we celebrated Chanukah. My wife and I continue this tradition. My reflection today tells a story showing the nice feeling that my wife, Laurie, and I have at home celebrating the nights of Chanukah. I invite you to close your eyes now, and keep them closed until I let you know to reopen them.

Picture this scene: Tonight, December 17^th, is the third night of Chanukah. You are joining us in our ritual. I hear the knock on the door and let you in, greeting you with warmth and friendship. Then Laurie and I and you sit down at our table where the menorah is set up with 4 candles, 3 candles for the third night of Chanukah, and 1 candle, the shamash, to be used to light the 3 candles. The room lights are turned down low so the candles will burn brighter. Laurie uses the shamash to one by one light each Chanukah candle as I recite the prayer:

Baruch ata adonai,
eloheynu melech ha-olam,
asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu
l’handnik ner shel Hanukkah.

Once the candles are burning, we hold hands and sing Chanukah songs. One of our favorites is Dreidel. The words are: I have a little dreidel, I made it out of clay and when it’s dry and ready, then dreidel I will play. Oh dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, I made it out of clay, and when it’s dry and ready, then dreidel I shall play. Now, there is some eating too. Tonight we will serve latkes (potato pancakes) with applesauce. After our meal, we play the dreidel game. Each player takes a turn spinning the dreidel. If the dreidel lands on nun, nothing happens. If the dreidel lands on gimmel, the player wins the pot, heh takes half the pot, and shin means the player adds two pieces of gelt to the pot. The pot consists of Chanukah gelt. Gelt is the Yiddish word for money. Today, chocolate in the shape of coins is wrapped in foil to represent coins. The pot diminishes as we each sneak a piece of the chocolate gelt to eat during the game.

After the game finishes, we just sit and talk, relaxing next to the menorah, sharing our hopes and dreams, or just talking about what we did that day. It is a wonderful time to just be together, enjoying the warmth of the holiday that originates from inside our own hearts. When it is time for you to go home, we wish each other a fond farewell until your next visit. Please open your eyes now.