![]() ![]() How could anyone steal it? Her only concern was how she would light her candles. Her small body shook like a willow in a storm as she spoke about her most prized possession, her candelabra. He would be dressed in a special fur hat, called a streimel, with a magnificent long, silk caftan.Īll this came to an end when someone stole her menorah. Zadie stood like a Kohan, the Jewish high priest, when he lit the menorah. Imagine the 2-foot menorah lit with nine candles shining in its glory. All the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren came to Bubbie and Zadie's to receive holiday gifts of Hanukkah gelt and joined in the lighting of the menorah. Hanukkah was the happiest time for the family. He used it to fulfill the commandment of lighting candles for the holiday. Our Shabbos candelabra became a menorah.ĭuring the holiday of Hanukkah the prized candelabra was given to my grandfather. The candelabra was built in such a way that the candle holders could be removed and oil cups could be inserted for the special lighting on Hanukkah. Throughout the year Bubbie's candelabra was fitted for five candles.ĭuring the week of Hanukkah she added another branch of two candlesticks each, making a total of nine candles. As each child is born, another candle is added to the Shabbos lighting. The traditional custom for Shabbos eve is to light one candle each for the father, mother and children. In the middle was a stem for another candle. ![]() All year-round it had three branches of two candlesticks. Her candelabra was made of solid silver with a heavy silver base. When lighting the candles, Bubbie prayed for each family member. There were five generations in Bubbie's family. By the time she reached her 94th birthday, she had many married grandchildren who also had children. When she finished her prayer, we began our Sabbath.Īs our family grew, Bubbie spent more time with her candles. Bubbie looked like a queen speaking to the King of Kings, the Almighty God. Watch over us all.)We all stood by the Shabbos table in awe. Please grant my dear husband a livelihood and patience. May it be your will that they grow up to be good people and loyal to our religion. She spoke in Yiddish, "Her mein tiner tata kinder de eynikloch." (Dearest Father, God watch and protect my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She prayed for her husband, her married children and her grandchildren. When she finished lighting the last candle, she stood in front of the candelabra and clenched her eyes. With great fanfare she would light each candle. On Sabbath evenings, Bubbie would don a special Shabbos kerchief. ![]() The candelabra was a magnet that brought family and friends together. Her candelabra, which was 2 feet tall, wasn't just a candle holder used for the Sabbath and Hanukkah lights. My sweet grandmother is a small woman, barely 5 feet tall. ![]()
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