Chanukah Stories

In September 1990 I went off to defend a country that I was prohibited from entering. The “Jewish” on my dog tag remained as clear and unmistakable as the American star on the hood of every Army truck . . .

It didn't blow out, there was no smoke, it just was not there anymore. It was as if it just flew off...

The candles are burning low and he is staring at them. Flame meets flame and a soul ignites . . .

"It's Chanukah," cried Nachman, "the festival of miracles! We'll do the mitzvah the way it should be done. Not in some rusty can fished out from the garbage..."

Night was when a creature's true colors were revealed, they use the cover of darkness for their darkest deeds

He slowly tries lighting the fourth and fifth. I close my eyes for the miracle, but there is none.

During the Iranian occupation of the American embassy, Rabbi Hershberg was scheduled to travel to Iran

There are 50 states in the US, said the Rebbe, and all but one allowed Jewish inmates to light Chanukah candles

My best friend was a girl of my age named Jeanette. One morning when I came to play, I saw her family being forced at gunpoint into a truck. I ran home and told my mother. “Don’t worry,” she said, “Jeanette will be back soon . . .”

My very own roommate, Jen, the Japanese-American, looked at me and said, loud and clear, "Bad Jew… off to the showers with you!"

She is a small woman, barely five feet tall. Her two feet tall candelabra was more than just a candle-holder

It was just a postcard with a simple message, but to me it was a wonderful Chanukah present

He climbed up the steep mountainside, searching for help. It was an arduous climb, particularly because of the scorching sun

My father's version is both melodic and mournful, complete with crashing crescendos and lilting liturgy. It is emotionally evocative of both the highs and lows in Jewish history...