Hop-py Hanukkah

Last week our middle son was thinking about what to do to enter the Hebrew school's creative menorah making contest. He's the creative one in the family so, if anyone had a chance, he would. Looking at some empty beer bottles (washed, and on the drain board drying) gave him an idea.

Eight Heineken Light bottles, and one Samuel Adams bottle (some retrieved from the recycling bucket in the garage) would be the candle holders. My husband, the beer aficionado -- and the one with the tools, materials, and mechanical ability -- was only to happy to help. He used some impressive wood glue to attach the bottles to a leftover piece of plank, suitably sized. Then he made a pedestal out of other wood scraps. My job was to find candles. Luckily, Target had some white pillars which served the purpose with only a little shaving at the bottom.

Yesterday was the contest. They had a Hanukkah celebration so we were all allowed to go and see. The other menorahs (eight of them) were mostly boring by comparison, except for one that was made from rubber ducks and birthday candles. Very nice colors, but none was as outrageous as my son's. He took first prize.

I was a bit worried that his invention might seem a bit flippant or irreverent as far as the religious authorities were concerned, but my fears vanished when one of the Rabbis came over to ask whether we used light beer because it's the Festival of Lights. :-)

Happy holidays to you and yours, whatever you're celebrating!