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Dec. 16, 2011
Dinner with the Kraut family
Being warmly welcomed creates positive Chanukah memories.
RICKI SEGAL
Since moving to Winnipeg, my children and I no longer live in the same city and my husband and mother are residents of the Sharon Home. Chanukah, once a happy time, had become a sad time. I am, however, very fortunate to have friends and family that include me and make me feel very much a part of their celebrations.
One year, one of my wonderful friends, Harriet Kraut, invited me to her family’s Chanukah party. I didn’t know Harriet personally very well, as I knew her primarily though shopping for my grandchildren at her children’s clothing store, Much More, and also when, later, I found myself shopping at Swank’s, the clothing store at which Harriet worked during her semi-retirement.
I was ever so delighted when Harriet invited me to her family Chanukah celebration. I spent the entire day looking forward to the big event, thinking about all the delicious food, but also feeling a bit apprehensive, as I didn’t think I would know any of the other guests at the party.
I decided to take a cab, since I wasn’t sure where the house was and didn’t want to chance getting lost. The cab came promptly at 5:15 p.m., as Harriet said the party would start at 6 p.m. What I didn’t realize was that 6 p.m. was actually Standard Jewish Time, meaning that the party would start sometime between 7 and 7:30 p.m.
As soon as I got out of the cab and began walking towards the house, I could smell a delicious aroma permeating the air. I was determined to ring the doorbell. The thought ran through my head that if I had gotten the wrong house, I would just walk through the door and eat the people’s food anyway.
When I saw that there was only one car parked in the driveway, I realized that I was the first one to arrive. Arriving first is a classic faux pas; I tried never to be the first one to arrive, revealing how excited and anxious I was to attend the party. Oy vey! What would Ann Landers have to say about that?
I bravely rang the doorbell and was greeted by a lovely young lady who was Harriet’s daughter, Ashley. Harriet was in the kitchen, and I sat down at the table. As I watched her slice up the turkey, all of my anxiety dissipated and I felt as if I belonged there.
After what seemed like just a few minutes, the other guests began to arrive. No one came empty handed and the mountains of food began to pile up. I could even hear the table groan, as the food was piled higher and higher. There was enough to feed the Russian army – and most of Winnipeg.
The friends and family that began to arrive were warm and friendly towards each other, and even to me, a virtual stranger. I couldn’t help noticing how everyone interacted, and the love and care that the children and grandchildren showed
towards their parents and grandparents; the love, care and understanding they exhibited to those family members who weren’t well, and my heart began to swell with pride to have witnessed some of these precious moments. There, at this wonderful gathering, the Kraut family practised the first of the Ten Commandments: honor thy father and mother.
The food was served and every morsel was more mouth watering than the last. There was turkey, stuffing, potato latkes, perogies, a huge salad, grilled vegetables, chicken fingers and many more delicious dishes.
After the meal, we lit the Chanukah menorah and together we recited the blessings. After, some of us Peretz School graduates began to sing Yiddish Chanukah songs, which brought me back to my school days. Among these wonderful people, I truly felt the warmth and love and the true meaning of Chanukah. My Chanukah with the Kraut family will live on in my memory for many years to come.
Ricki Segal is the author of My Zayde and Other Memories of Growing Up Jewish. Two dollars of the sale of each book is donated to the Alzheimer Society of Canada. She can be contacted at [email protected].
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