Erev Chanukkah

I actually made it! The house is beautifully decorated and I had made latkes enough for the whole neighbourhood.

Wanting

When I was little, I was the only Jewish child in my school. I didn’t attend the religion classes (I had cheder on Wednesday afternoon – yeeha!), I didn’t dress up for St Lucy´s Day and I never went to Christmas events at all. Ever. I was invited, but wasn’t allowed to go.

When we got back to school after Christmas break, my friends were all telling each other what Santa had brought them and of course, I had nothing to add to that discussion.

On the phone with my childhood friend Maria the other day, she told me she had always envied me for getting so many presents for Chanukkah – 8 days of revelling!

Oh well, I guess one always want what one doesn’t have.

Gingerbread

Had a lovely evening baking gingerbread with I and J.

Of course, the issue was brought up but it seems like the tree at their (paternal) grandparents' house will do just fine like it always does.

Stressed out

Did I seriously believe I would have the time to update this blog AND plan AND fix everything for this kind of complicated combination of holidays?

I will never, ever again complain when Chanukkah falls at the beginning of December. I will however, start the process in August next year. That's what I'll do.

Lost in translation

This song would probably be all ruined if I translated it into Swedish.

I will just have to keep it for when my kids know English well enough to understand it.

Inflatables

We've been talking about trying to find a really big, beautiful, new Chanukkiah for the past 4-5 years. Accidently, meant as a joke & something we could laugh about, I showed my husband an inflatable one and he just can't get over it.
He wants one.

Picture found here!

Bush or no bush?

This year, my 6-year-old is asking - well, he's actually begging - for a Christmas tree.

The question was inevitable so I should have had a plan, but I don't. And in a certain way, I'm not totally against it either. After all, the tree doesn't really have any religious meaning and the thought of having a beautifully decorated tree to light up our house during the darkest season of the year, is quite tempting actually.

But then again, wouldn't a tree steal the Chanukkiah's thunder in a way? Even if I chanukkize it?

Found this tree here!

72 hrs

J's schedule came with great news. He has one 24hr layover in NYC and 72 hrs in D.C. right before Chanukkah.

Need to do some shopping then:) Oh, oh twist my arm!!

Shipping issues

Like I said in the beginning, it will be here before we know it. I received a mail from the Zion Judaica webstore the other day and instantly felt the need for a valium.

How on earth am I going to make it in time this year too? Usually I buy things for Chrismukkah online and have them send it to whatever hotel my husband has a US lay over, but this year he doesn't have even one stop in the US as far as we know at this point. To ship it all the way to Sweden cost about 3 times as much as the actual goods, so that's out of the question.

Need to solve this. Urgently, like.

Pitigliano - a Jewish jewel in Italy

OK, so I haven't been too engaged in updating this blog... But I have been busy traveling and spending time with my family and friends so I excuse myself.

We went to Tuscany in Italy for 3 weeks. I did bring my "Lonely Planet Guide" but bothered to open it only at the very end of the trip (I prefer traveling "playing it by ear" although it seems to be quite time consuming as we get lost every so often and arrive late wherever we're going...). However, by chance and on page 279 I read "Try to take a bad picture of breathtaking Pitigliano, then delve into its tiny Jewish quarter" I also found out that this little hill top gem is called "Piccola Gerusalemme" (Little Jerusalem). We went there that same day, becuase I felt I wouldn't want to miss it for the world - we don't go to Tuscany that often:)

I will now let the pictures speak for themselves. They were taken around the town, in the Jewish Museum and The Synagogue.

For more photos click on the slideshow named Pitigliano 2008 in the right column of the blog!

Time flies

OK, I know it’s only mid May and for most people, Chanukkah and Christmas are far, far away. I, however, am crazy enough to start my Chrismukkah blog right now, because I know for a fact that Chrismukkah will eventually come up and as always, I will be stressed out of my mind to get things done. So, welcome to my Chrismukkah-blog. Feel free to comment or send useful tips and/or links.