As noted several times on this blog, Judaism gets the best holiday. Tonight we gathered together at Shauli and Anat's where it turns out there is a genuine religious reason to eat jammy donuts and potato pancakes.
Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, celebrates the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabees kicked out the Greeks (everyone wants to live in Israel!) According to Rabbi Shauli the eight candles represent the days that the oil in the temple lasted when the Maccabees finally got hold of it, and all that oil is commemorated in the frying. Donuts and religion, a winning combination in anyone's book.
Rabbi Shauli educates and entertains.
He and Amir light the third candle from the shamash (that's complicated...)
Fini, demonstrating her complete command of Spanish, English, and Hebrew, leads the singing.
Zero transfats.
