The first time my daughter tried to cook latkes she ended up with a fireball. Which proves beyond a doubt she shares my DNA. Both Jewish drama queens with a genetic mutation–Alli and I come from a long line of Jewish mothers who can’t cook.
I had one Jewish grandmother who burned everything and one who never cooked at all. I never ate a homemade latke till I was married and got the recipe from a friend. How ironic that of the few dishes I cook well, most are Jewish recipes, and latkes are the JEW-el in the crown. Even more ironic, some of my favorite latke memories are from All Saints Episcopal Day School.
As someone who grew up in a kosher home, among the things I didn’t sign up for is that both of my children attended Christian schools. Alli went to a Catholic middle school and Daniel to All Saints; at night they would sit at the dinner table discussing whether or not they should each take communion. My father would roll over in his grave.
For Daniel, who was younger, the mixed messages were a little confusing, especially early on. He started at All Saints in first grade, and stayed for 8 years— the only Jewish kid in his class. Every day he went to Chapel and sang Christian hymns and learned the names of the Saints– and then after school he would learn to read Hebrew for his future Bar Mitzvah.
In the end they both learned a lot about Christianity, plus valuable lessons on tolerance and acceptance. And the learning process works both ways.
Every year during Hanukkah, the school Chaplain would add “The Dreidle Song” to the mix of Christmas carols sung during Chapel. And every year the Chaplain would call on Daniel to stand up in front of the entire student body, and Daniel would explain about the victory of the Maccabees over the Syrians, and why we light 8 candles during Hanukkah.
And then I would go into his classroom and cook latkes. I was never sure who had more fun–the kids or me, and I’m sure there are Jewish mothers doing this in Christian schools all over America.
Through this quintessential Jewish food, for the first time these kids at Daniel’s school got a taste of Jewish traditions. The tantalizing smell would drift down the hall and I’m convinced that many kids and not a few teachers would have signed up to convert on the spot. More than one classmate of Daniel’s went home and insisted that her parents buy a menorah and light candles. To this day they reminisce about the latkes.
More than 15 years later, our Hanukkah still has a “Christian” touch. Ever since they met in first grade, Daniel’s friend Christian got hooked on latkes. He still comes over every year to get his latke fix; one year he was so eager he even came a day early. I can’t think of latkes without thinking of him; and can’t imagine celebrating Hanukkah without Christian here.
As someone who believes food is the answer to everything—sometimes I think if the entire world could enjoy each other’s traditions, maybe food could be the secret ingredient to world peace—one latke at a time.
As a start, here’s a link to our family recipe–highly recommended if you’re not watching your cholesterol.
No matter what, or how, or if you celebrate—Happy Hanukkah to all.
I love that the school chaplain went the extra mile for your son the way he did. And how kind of you to make latkes each year. When I asked my son’s (public school) first grade teacher if I could stop in and talk about Chanukah promising to focus on the more secular aspects, like the dreidel game, she responded, “But if I let you do that, the other parents will want to come in and talk about their holidays.”
{smacks head into wall}
That son is almost ready for high school and I can look back and say that was the worst teacher he ever had.
Wish I could join you for latkes, but it sounds like I will have to do so virtually. Best wishes for Chanukah and the new year!
As a first time visitor may i say that i’m glad i found my way here. I now know my family may not be completely odd in the fact that when my two girls were younger, we decorated our Christmas Tree which was always hidden away in their bedroom with a Star of David on Top of it. After all we lived in a multi cultural area, the girls went to school in a non religious school, and not being ultra religious i wanted them to enjoy this time of year and the two wonderful events it brings. Now if they find this comment, yet again they’d say, ‘dad it’s so embarrasing you’re a blogger’..
I can’t understand teachers who don’t want parents to come in and add a broader perspective to their kids’ classes. Especially in first grade. Glad to hear his teachers improved since then. I can tell you that no teacher ever turned down latkes for the whole class—and though making them always felt daunting, (in those days, I shredded EVERY potato by hand !) it was all worth it.
So great hearing from you–Happy Hanukkah, Happy New year, and many latkes and nachas for all.
I’m really glad you found your way here, too– I think our experiences aren’t so “odd” or even unusual. When I was a kid growing up in a totally Jewish area, plenty of families had a “Chanukkah bush.” I can totally relate to everything you say (including how embarrassing it can be for parents to have a blog!) Thanks so much for commenting, and Happy Holidays—all of them!