By Liraz Levi, Federation Community Shaliach

It’s been three months since I arrived in Rockland and I can’t believe how the time has flown! The sun disappeared, the leaves fell down and winter is here. I guess it’s about time to get a real winter coat.

It’s funny to think that I already know my way around here, that I experienced being in Rockland Bakery on Sunday, went to the city for a weekend, shopped for my Israeli products in Evergreen, and that I have my favorite Starbucks coffee already! By the way, in case you’re wondering, I’m good with their holiday season design.

Speaking of the holiday season: combining it with the weather outside, it makes me miss home.

Walking in Israel a few weeks before Chanukah is great – you get to see the new “invented” sufganiyot (jelly donuts) and experience the different tastes. It reminds me that last year at this time, I had Jewish American friends staying at my place in Israel for winter break. I took them to the port in Tel Aviv on a windy day and I told them they had to try the special sufganiyot. After waiting in line for something like 20 minutes they had the chance to take a warm bite, and I could tell from their faces they were satisfied.

Coming from a big family (my mom has nine siblings, so I have 32 cousins on just that side of the family), every Chanukah is a festival. All of us gather at my grandma’s house for a party and barbecue. The young kids usually scream Chanukah songs, trying to make a “Holiday Concert” to earn small gifts, while my aunts join them, making my grandpa mad. He’d tell everyone to be quiet because of the neighbors. Unfortunately, I guess this year the tune will be a bit different, as my grandpa passed away last summer.

Another solid memory that I have from each year is the candle lightning. My mom buys the special sufganiyot for the first night candle, and then we start our “ceremony,” getting ready to light the hanukkiya, but it always takes at least an hour until we’re actually lightning them. At first we’re waiting for my dad to come home from work. By then my brothers and I lose patience, so we go to work out. As my dad is coming back, he’s calling us to come home. When we eventually get back, one of us decides to take a quick shower “cause it’s so cold” and while everyone is waiting for that one person, someone else decides to use the waiting time to do something else. At the end we find ourselves in the kitchen, away from the menorah, and my dad gets upset and tell us to come over already. There’s always an argument in the background at that point, that gets cut off when we start lighting the candles and singing the blessings. Then we sing Chanukah songs for a few minutes in a goofy way, smiling to each other. It’s that pure moment of joy at the end of day that for us that marks the beginning of the holiday.

Wishing you all Chag Sameach!
— Liraz (currently at Dunkin’ Donuts, looking for a sweet substitute).