Why is the Torah compared to a fig tree? The fruit of most trees – the olive tree, the vine, and the palm tree – is collected all at once, while that of the fig tree is collected a bit at a time. So, too, regarding the Torah. Today a person learns a little, and tomorrow she shall learn much, for the Torah cannot be learned in a single year or two.
(Babylonian Talmud 53b)

Oh, and did you know that the Torah is compared to a fig, too!
Because every fruit has in it something inedible: dates have pits, grapes have seeds, pomegranates have skin. But every part of the fig is good to eat.
(Yalkut Shimoni Joshua 1)

Using Gematria, the Hebrew T U is made up of a Tet, which has the numerical value of 9 and Vav which has the value of 6. Together the two letters equal 15. Tu B’Shvat occurs on the 15th day of the Hebrew month, Shvat. Shvat is the 11th month of the Hebrew calendar usually coinciding with January/February.

The Chanukah menorah has eight branches of light plus one additional branch, called the Shamash שמש.  The Shamash candle sits apart from the others and has one very important job.

It’s job is to light the other candles.  It is the helper candle or the starter.  Without it, we would have no light in the dark winter season of Chanukah.

What can you do to #BeTheShamash ?

A few years ago, over 10,000 people participated in my #BeTheShamash campaign, pouring light into cracks and crevices up and down this world. (what’s a Shamash?) This year, let’s continue the journey together. We are collecting *sparks*: art projects, stories, images, quotes, teachings, your kind of magic to bring light into the world.

Email Shira@ShirLaLa.com with the subject line #BeTheShamash to add to the collection.  I will post them on Blog Sameach and also share them throughout Chanukah!

Once upon a time at the very, very beginning, when the seasons changed for the very, very first time,  everything in creation paid very close attention.

It was just round this time of year when Bear noticed that the Sun’s strong beam went down earlier than usual.  ”It’s a little colder today,” said Bear to Elephant.

“Yes it is,” agreed Elephant, “We should sit a little closer to each other today so that we stay warm!”

And that night Elephant sat a little closer to Bear.  They shared a hot cocoa and there was something special about its chocolatey goodness.

The next eve Elephant remarked, “Look how Sun is going down earlier and earlier!” Then, Tree pointed out that “the nights are get darker and darker” and Waterfall jumped in to say, “and longer and longer.”

“I know! Let’s light a candle tonight!” said Tiger excitedly.   Monkey agreed and she ran to get their favorite colorful candle which they lit together.

That night they sat together in warmth and a little candle light. They shared another hot cocoa and mmmm, if it wasn’t just a little more delicious when they shared it together.

The next night, Sun went down even earlier and it soon became even darker. “Let’s light two candles tonight!” suggested Chicken, and that night they huddled close with the light of two candles. And of course, hot cocoa. With extra marshmallows which were extra delicious.

The next night arrived even earlier and so they lit a third candle.  And every night following, they added one more candle to brighten up the very long and dark wintery nights.  On the eighth night, the darkest yet, they gathered for hugs and hot cocoa, marshmallows and maybe even a touch of whipped cream.  By the nightlight of their candles, they told their favorite stories. They sang their favorite songs. They played night time hide and seek until it was finally time for bed.  And they slept easily and dreamt golden dreams all through the longest night of the year.

The very next evening, Mountain couldn’t help but notice that the sun lingered just a bit before the nighttime Stars began their twinkle dance. “Perhaps tonight, we need only seven candles,” suggested Mountain. “Yes, that sounds like a good idea” agreed Cricket.  And that night they lit only seven.  The next evening, the sun dazzled in the sky for even longer and they lit only 6 candles.  As the season changed and the days grew longer once again Elephant, Tiger, Monkey, Rabbit, Chicken, Cricket and all of their friends lit fewer and fewer candles.

And to this day, every winter when the days grow short and the nights long, we shine our Night Light to illuminate the darkness.

-based on a winter solstice folk story
Adaptation by Shira Kline (c) ShirLaLa 2013

image from “NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day”

In preparation for Chanukah, my students and I explore light and dark.  Below, some art projects based on these themes.

Teacher Preparation:
Vocabulary words:
“Or” light
“Choshech” dark
“Ner” Candle
“Nerot” Candles
“Ner Tamid” eternal flame/light
“Shamash” – helper

In the story of Chanukah, the Macabbees dedicate the Temple by lighting the Ner Tamid, a light that stays lit always.  That means it’s still lit today.  That is a pretty special kind of light.  What does this kind of light look like?

What if the song, “This Little Light of Mine” is about the Ner Tamid in each one of  us?  Hold your Ner Tamid over the place in your body where you feel it.

Our hands can make the shape of the Chanukiyah (special menorah used on Chanukah with 9 candle holders).  How  do we  use our hands to send light out into the world?
*vocab game: Wiggle one finger  like a candle flame and say “Ner.”  Wiggle two fingers and say “Shabbat Nerot.”  Wiggle eight fingers, overlapping the thumbs together like this picture and say “Chanukah Nerot.”  Wave all ten fingers with palms facing up and “Birthday Nerot.”  Wave your hand like a giant flame in front of your heart and say “Ner Tamid.”

What if on Chanukah we think about darkness.  Where is there darkness in the world?  Students made these Chanukiyot, dedicating each night’s candle to a different kind of darkness they feel in the world or a place where they want to send their light.  My favorite part of this is that the student takes on the role of Shamash.  

What if on Chanukah, we honor the light in the world. What does the world’s light look like? What does our light look like when we send it out into the world?

What does your personal, internal Ner Tamid  or source of light look like?

Use your Shamash to light the other candles!

 Click on the shapes below, print them out, and start decorating!      

Shira’s Famous Family Recipes

Latkes and Applesauce and don’t forget a little sour cream and then of course there’s sufganiyot (doughnuts) too.

Making Latkes and Applesauce with your children is the perfect way to celebrate this holiday together.  A little messy, but a LOT of fun! Play ShirLaLa Chanukah music to make it a party!  Or practice the Chanukah blessings with Shira, here. 

Crispy Chanukah Latkes:
(serves 6-8 people)

• 6 medium potatoes
• 1 large onion
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 3 tablespoons flour
• ground black pepper (to taste)
• 2 – 2 1/2 tsp salt (or to taste)
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• plenty of canola or vegetable oil for frying

Take out your grater and 3 bowls.

1. Grate those potatoes. Keep the skin on! It adds color, flavor, and everyone knows it’s good for you. You can do this in a food processor or a hand grater. I find that smaller gratings work better than larger.
2. Grate the onion right along with the potatoes and mix everything up in the 1st bowl.  Here comes the fun part, especially fun with your kids.
3. Pick up a handful of the grated potato and onion mixture.  Squeeeeeze out ALL of the liquids by pressing your hands together into the 2nd bowl, dropping the dried out pancake of potatoes and onion into the 3rd bowl. Finish squeeeeeeezing out all of the potatoes and onions.  This is a great job for your little ones.
4. Here’s a little latke secret: after a few minutes, all of the potato starch will sink to the bottom of the squeezed-out water bowl. Drain the water, carefully reserving the starch.  Scoop up the sticky starch and add it to the potato/onion mixture.  At this point, some like to throw half of the potato mixture back into a food processor with a chopping attachment so that a portion of your potatoes is grated and a portion is chopped very fine for a creamy middle.
5. Mix the eggs, flour, pepper, salt, and baking powder into the potatoes and onions.
6. Heat the oil up in one or two frying pans. Give it a few minutes and test to see if the oil is hot enough by dropping a pinch of potatoe into the oil. It’s hot enough when it sizzle sizzle sizzles. Fry those latkes.
7. Pick up a good handful of the potato mixture, pressing the mixture between your hands lightly to make a pancake shape.  Give it one more squeeze to let out any more liquids and place carefully in the oil.
8. Fill your pan with several more latke pancakes.
9. Fry until golden brown on both sides.
10. Drain on paper towels or newspaper and then keep heated in the oven at the lowest temperature until it’s time to eat!

Applesauce:

You can get this started while you make your latkes.  It will all be finished around the same time.

• 8-10 apples and pears.
  (I like to use a combination of about 6 Granny Smith, McIntosh, Honeycrisp and Gala apples plus 2 or 3 pears)

1. Peel most of them, core, and cut them all into small chunks.
2. In large, heavy-bottomed stock pot, combine apples, cover and set over medium high heat.
3. After about 5 minutes, reduce heat to moderate and simmer, covered,stirring occasionally, until apples are very soft, about 40 minutes.
4. Remove from heat and blend with whisk, breaking up any remaining apple pieces.
5. I like to leave the apple sauce a little chunky. Of course  you can also pass the applesauce through a ricer, food mill, or fine-mesh strainer, or even mash it up with a potato masher. Although the flavor of the apples and pears alone is sublime, if you like, while the applesauce is still warm you can add spices like cinnamon and/or nutmeg, and my mom always adds a touch of cognac or brandy.

Can you find all of the Chanukah words?