Last year we spent Chanukah in New Orleans. This year we go down when it’s over. In the past we lit one candle and we kept the flames burning. Now we serve once again as the shamash to brighten up the darkness still felt by so many whose lives have not yet been restored. That shamash candle will bring them hope and a new beginning. More than that, we hope that it will restore their faith as well.
When my sons were younger, we would celebrate Chanukah in our own special way. Yes, there would be gifts on some nights, but there would also be two nights for “family” and two for “services” and one for tzedakah.
A night for family would be celebrated by using something we had bought for everyone to enjoy together – from a crepe maker to a ping pong table.
A night for services would involve each of us writing those things we would like other members of the family to do for us: chores, cleaning up, cooking, etc. We would each write three possible services for each member of the family to do, fold them up and put them in a cup. Then on two nights of Chanukah, each of us would pick one folded paper from the cup. If we were lucky, the third unpicked chore (the one we escaped from having to do) would be the worst!
And finally, the night for tzedakah would be the time we would contribute the money we might have spent for extra gifts and decide where it should be donated.
Why not try some of these ways of celebrating Chanukah and if you have a tzedakah night, donate it well!
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