Tango Hanuka

Hanuka is upon us. This year it starts on Wednesday, December 21 and ends Wednesday December 28.

This is my Hanuka song this year.

Hanukah linda sta aki,
ocho kandelas para mi,
Hanukah Linda sta aki,
ocho kandelas para mi. O...

Una kandelika, dos kandelikas,
tres kandelikas, kuatro kandelikas, sintyu kandelikas, sej kandelikas,
siete kandelikas,
ocho kandelas para mi.

Muchas fiestas vo fazer, con alegrias i plazer.
Muchas fiestas vo fazer, con alegrias i plazer. O...

Una kandelika, dos kandelikas, tres kandelikas,
kuatro kandelikas, sintyu kandelikas,
sej kandelikas, siete kandelikas, ocho kandelas para
mi.

Los pastelikos vo kumer, con almendrikas i la myel
Los pastelikos vo kumer, con almendrikas i la myel. O...

Una kandelika, dos kandelikas, tres kandelikas, kuatro kandelikas,
sintyu kandelikas, sej kandelikas, siete kandelikas, ocho
kandelas para mi.


In Israel, the feast of lights, Hanuka, is celebrated differently than it is here, in North America. In Israel we feel the approach of the holiday by the aroma of fried doughnuts, those plump, jam filled "sufganiot" whenever you walk by a patisserie, or a bakery, or any coffee house. People get out their "menorahs" to polish and prepare for the the first night, they get the colorful candles that get more creatively elegant by each year, they wish one another Happy Hanuka, there are Hanuka songs playing on the radio. Some, traditionally minded people, prepare their "Mishloach Manot", gifts of baked goods to deliver to each other. My aunt is one of those but then, she likes to bake, and welcomes the opportunity to give. What we do not do in Israel is buy gifts for Hanuka. Gift giving are reserved for the two main high holidays: Rosh Hashana and Pesach (Passover). Instead, we give out chocolate money and new dreidels (svivonim). This would be the dreidel we give in the Diaspora. And this is what we give in Israel. What a difference one letter makes.

Such is the irresistible appeal of gift giving during the Christmas season that of course here in the diaspora gifting giving during Hanuka has evolved into an inevitability.

I am not complaining.

So, what what do I want for Hanuka?

Una kandelika
dos kandelikas
tres kandelikas,
kuatro kandelikas,
sintyu kandelikas,
sej kandelikas,
siete kandelikas,
ocho kandelas

And then maybe this or that and possibly the other ...

Beautiful Hanuka is here, eight candles for me ...

Chag Urim Sameach!