Like the stories of the Jewish people in the Torah, each Chanukkiah (a Chanukah menorah) has its own story. This year, the Jewish community is expanding our communal story and asking you to share your special menorah and its story! How the menorah came in to being or came to you? A special memory that it brings up every time you bring it out to light? What makes this menorah special for you?

 

During this time of physical distancing, JFGI invites you to explore stories that fellow community members submitted about their special menorahs and they memories they hold for them. Please explore the digital scrapbook to try and spread a little light during this season.

 

Interested in submitting your story? Visit http://bit.ly/menorahstory to submit your story today.

 

Missed the Live Storytelling Event?

 

View the recording of the live Menorah, What's Your Story? from Monday, Dec. 14 HERE.

  • Judi Hastings

    "This chanukiah has moved with us for the several moves we have made during the 44 years since. We have acquired many new ones since, but none more meaningful than this one..."

  • Barbi Stenacker

    "My parents z"l acquired this chanukiah because I don't remember any Chanukahs without it. Each year as I use it, I picture it filled with straight, plain, orange candles, regardless of the fancy, colorful candles we use today and thoughts of our yearly family Chanukah party fill my mind..."

  • Hedi Pusztai

    "My father visited Israel in 1988, one year before the fall of communism in Hungary. He grew up without Jewish experiences but came home from Israel with the typical old-city souvenirs: a keychain with a Star of David, a kippah, a pen with a picture of the Dead Sea and... a heavy, iron chanukiyah.."

  • Marcia Goldstein

    "We are blessed with 6 grandchildren and starting at each of their first Hanukkahs, we purchased a Hanukkiah (Menorah) for them – keeping all 6 at our house for the grandchildren to kindle at our yearly family Hanukkah celebration..."

  • Ingrid Bellman

    "Received as a gift, this chanukiyah was purchased in Israel and ever since has given me the comforting feeling of home. This graceful chanukiyah has brought us much joy and we feel the warmth ..."

  • Michele Boukai

    "My mother, Ruth Ellen, was born in Germany in 1929. As a child she witnessed Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Glass, in November 1938. After attempting to escape to the US through Holland, she was detained and sent to the Westerbork transit camp, where these photos were taken"

  • Lori Moss

    Quite the extensive menorah collection Lori has about 85 menorahs with much of her collection started by her father-in-law, who would gift one to her each year.

  • Marcia Goldstein

    " Like so many families with children who have been in Jewish pre-schools, we cherish a wood & bolt Hanukkiah our youngest child made while attending the Hasten Hebrew Academy Early Childhood Program. Each year we need to reattach many of the bolts..."

  • Enav Elhaiany Perez

    One of the bat mitzvahs presents, the variety of colors on this menorah represents the way I see my Judaism, as a colorful and luminous way of life. This menorah usually stays on a high shelf in my bedroom, so when I wake up or go to sleep, I'm looking at it.

  • Maya Hirshberg

    This menorah is from eastern Europe. My great grandfather from my mother's side would light all eight candles every night. He believed that the miracle was so great that we need to remember it as well as God's greatness.

  • Josh Lodolo

    "For a little over a year, we lived in different cities, and since we couldn’t light the menorah together in person, we did so virtually. Each night we would connect on Facetime and light our respective menorah...."

  • Annette Gross

    "...When I told the owner the story and he roared with laughter. He said he'd had other Jewish customers, but none of them had ever had a story like this! From that day forward I have used an electric menorah!...."

  • Ronnie & Freddie Kaseff

    Depicting nine grand synagogues of Europe, the menorah displays the diversity of styles unique to each particular country or city as well as the unity and strength common to Jewish communities around the world underlying these stylistic differences.