Ho Ho Ho Hannukah

Years ago my boss' grandson came to visit her jewelry store with her husband. The holiday season had been brutal. We had yet to make a sale. While her husband parked their Landrover, Jeri taught the six-year-old how to open a safe and once the handsome lad opened the steel cube she asked, "Did you get a Hannukah gift for your mother?"

"I wanted to, but I don't know if I have enough money."

"How much you think you have?"

"$2."

"That's a lot of money. Let me see what we can find."

"I like those." Matthew pointed to a pair of sliced sapphire earring rimmed by gold.

"You have a good eye." Jeri pulled out the earrings. They cost $100. "You said you had money."

"$2." Matthew proudly emptied his coins on the counter. The boy was a goy, but his father was ein bissen Juden on his paternal side and as an Irishman I have a strong respect for tradition.

"$2 and seven cents for the tax."

"Tax?"

"Yes, that's what the government charges, so we have roads and TV and lights."

Her husband and I exchanged a glance. We shared another opinion about taxes, but this was Hannukah, a night for good thoughts.

"Today, they sung a new song," interjected his grandfather.

"Ho, Ho, Ho, Hannukah."

"Do you know how to sing it?" I asked from my chair.

My youngest son in Thailand was the same age as Matthew.

Six.

I hadn't seen Fenway in over two years nor Fluke, Noy, or Angie, but I knew they loved their mothers same as Matthew loved his. The six year-old looked to Jeri and his grandfather. A smile broke over his lips and he chanted, "Ho-Ho-Ho Hannukah."

Jeri sniffed back a tear. She wanted grandchildren of her own. We are life. We are light. She kissed Matthew on the cheek.

"You're a good boychek." Jeri handed over the earrings in a pouch.

"Thank you. My mommy will be so happy."

Matthew left with his grandfather. Jeri stared at me.

"What?"

"That was our first sale of the season."

This afternoon a 68 year-old man had refused his wife a fancy-yellow diamond, because he said he didn't have the money. I believed him, but Matthew gave his every penny to make his mom happy and I was happy too, because I would have done the same for my mother and so would Jeri.

Ho-Ho-Ho-Hannukah.

Oi Vey Hanukkah

For centuries Hanukkah has traditionally celebrated the victory of the Maccabees over the Alexandrine Empire, although the real battle was between the orthodox Maccabees and the secular Jews favoring the social liberalism of the Greeks. The latter were the losers and the former rededicated the Temple by lighting the eternal flame. Miraculously the oil burned eight days, instead of the expected one day, and menorah candles are a lasting reminder of that victory for the the forces of conservatism

This rite born out of conflict remains a contentious holiday.

My Jewish friends fight with their family throughout the eight days of Hanukkah. They curse those members who don't give gifts and old ills are brought up at the festive tables like the ghosts of Scroogestein.

After eight years of Obama the far right galvanized the religious fundamentalists to accept Donald Trump as the Orange Jesus. They ignored his affairs, piss perversity, financial corruption , and bald-faced treason, and so many sins, since he backed the Zionist State of Israel to the hilt with the blessing of the Hassidim. The goy celebrated Hanukkah, serving tref from McDonalds. And no one cared, since Trump pledged his support to our influential ally in the Mideast.

Go Zionist death squads.

Get revenge on the Palestinians, even though no one of them or their brethren had operated the ovens at Dachau, unlike the Sonder Commando burning their kindred souls.

Kill all the Palestinians on Hanukkah to bring back the Messiah.

What a Hanukkah Cabal.