Happy Chanukah - Happy Holidays 2011

Chanukah is an eight day holiday which begins on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev, which this year corresponds to Tuesday night, December 20th. (The Jewish Day begins at night!) Each succeeding night, for the next 7 nights, an additional candle will lighted, until on the 8th night, 8 candles will be burning brightly. It marks the miraculous victory of the Jews, led by the Maccabees, against Greek persecution and religious oppression. 

In addition to being victorious in war, another miracle occurred: When the Maccabees came to rededicate the Temple, they found only one flask of oil with which to light the Menorah. This small flask lasted for eight days. In order to commemorate this miracle, we light a Menorah for the eight days of Chanukah. (Torah.Org)

The photo above is that of our son, Dr. David Lazan, who is gazing at a photo of a Chanukah lighting ceremony at Camp Westerbork in Holland in the War World II year of 1943. The current photo was taken on a visit to Camp Westerbork during the summer of 2010. 
Pictured to the very left of the photo is my brother, Albert Blumenthal, David`s uncle, who was 9 years old at the time. Albert is squeezing in, close-up, to get a good view of the candles being lit. This would be the last time that any of these children would be able to participate in another Chanukah celebration for several years. Most pictured here never did - having been shipped out to concentration and extermination camps, destined never to return.

Albert and I were among the lucky ones to survive, and able to recount those horrendous years of captivity.

Chanukah 2011 will be very special and unique for our family as 5 generations will participate in the candle lighting, from our newest and youngest member, Leah Tova, 5 weeks old, to my beautiful and courageous Mom, almost 104 years old.

We have much for which to be grateful. The “ man with the mustache” and his followers did not win. They never will! 

For a clearer view of the original photo, please click the following link. You will be able to see one of the girls wearing the infamous yellow star each of us was forced to wear. www.yadvashem.org/yv/en

Best wishes for a joyous Holiday Season, and a healthy, happy, peaceful 2012.
Hugs,
Marion & Nathaniel