As Hanukkah approached, I made plans to get out the menorah and say my usual half-Jewish prayers (i.e., the half of the prayer I remember, Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha’olam) but when I looked for the remains of last year’s candles I saw I had tossed them in one of my typical fits of pique houskeeping. Friday afternoon had me at my local supermarket, in the eponymous “Kosher” aisle, where all that greeted me were shabat and yahrzeit candles. I asked a worker in the checkout line, who told me, “Yeah, those colored ones? I don’t think we ordered them this year.”
Since holidays seem to bring on the grief, and hence, the anger, I decided I wasn’t done. I approached the manager. “You didn’t order Hanukkah candles?” I asked.
He shrugged. “Sorry.”
“There are Jews who live in this town you know,” I said. “It’s just as important as a Christmas ornament.”
“Well, hopefully they’ll come in soon.”
“Tonight is the first night,” I said. “Soon would be now. I guess I need to shop where my people are.”
Because I had no candles, on Friday I lit a votive in front of the menorah and said my prayers. Then came Saturday, when I could not bring myself to solve this problem in the ultra-conservative, ultra-Christian town where I live and where the supermarkets don’t deem it necessary to stock Hanukkah candles. But on Sunday we were close to the other supermarket in town, the one where I suspected the Jews shopped since the selection (and service) are far better. Sure enough, at the end of this store’s “Kosher” aisle were three remaining boxes of candles, all half price. Of course, I bought two of them, proclaiming to The Husband, “Now I have candles for this year and next.”
Not quite. Unfortunately, when I arrived home, this is what I discovered:
Note the highly ironic nature of the brand. “Promised Land” indeed. Of the two boxes, I was able to salvage one set of 44, straight enough to get me through the remaining five days. I lit them last night, and said my prayers, thereby proving once again the triumph of light over darkness, optimism over futility.
Happy Hanukkah friends!
Comments 19
Heh. Both of the supermarkets in my end of town don’t carry them, either! But, due to having gone through this in past years, I knew that the Albertson’s a mile or two west always does. Three boxes of (oddly limited in color) candles are now in my house.
Though I have to say, I sort of like yours better!
Posted 14 Dec 2009 at 11:33 am ¶That is the saddest batch of candles ever, poor little things. Glad you were able to find enough to get you through.
Posted 14 Dec 2009 at 12:23 pm ¶They’re Charlie Brown Hannukah candles!
I wish I had words of comfort. I just wish you didn’t have to hurt.
Posted 14 Dec 2009 at 12:53 pm ¶This sounds almost as pathetic as mine. I bought the candles — the Jewish store was out of the regular ones so I splurged and bought an $8 pack. But then the menorahs were nowhere to be found. So we’re making do with votive holders and tea lights from IKEA. Actually, it’s kinda nice.
They say flexibility is the key to mental health.
Posted 14 Dec 2009 at 1:07 pm ¶I’m stunned that the store didn’t even order the candles. Geez Louise. Even my little “white bread” grocery has them.
Posted 14 Dec 2009 at 1:40 pm ¶I can’t get over the squiggly candles. Perhaps they will make really fun birthday cake candles next year, and you will find a deep hardy laugh inside you then?
I’m sorry for the anger. I’m really sorry it has to be.
love.
Posted 14 Dec 2009 at 5:56 pm ¶Happy Hanukkah!!! I think the melty candles are just overacheivers…. they got a head start on you. I hope you have a good festival of lights
Posted 14 Dec 2009 at 6:41 pm ¶Thanks for sharing this story with us, Vicki. And the picture of those candles, which Chiron, the archetypal wounded healer, would recognize at once, as “perfect,” along with the anger, and the grief. Here’s to the light, and the lights we light from it, alone, and with each other, leading us through everything else. .
xo
Maria
Posted 14 Dec 2009 at 7:06 pm ¶Bad candle karma? Oh, well, I’m glad you were able to buy some new ones, at least! I’m just sorry it’s so difficult and painful. Thinking of you and sending love.
Posted 14 Dec 2009 at 7:49 pm ¶Here’s to the light —
xo~
Posted 14 Dec 2009 at 8:30 pm ¶Happy Hanukkah to you, dear Vicki. This post made me laugh –
Posted 14 Dec 2009 at 10:27 pm ¶Well,Hanukkah has a very special place in my heart,for many reasons but only one I’ll bore you with now.As a small girl,for 3 years running,I attended a Jewish school.This little Catholic girl could rock a Jewish prayer … and to this day,those years remain to be some of my most memorable ones ever.
And, to you Vicki and your heavy heart,tonight I send you peace.
Posted 15 Dec 2009 at 9:14 pm ¶oy vey–the picture of those candles says it all!!
but yes, as you say, light triumphs in the end!!! happy happy hanukkah to you, my dear friend!!! i wish you all could come over on friday to eat scrumptious and greasy latkes with us.
sending gobs of xxxxxx
Posted 16 Dec 2009 at 7:46 pm ¶Holy cow. Those candles are the end. That’s just pitiful.
Happy Hanukkah to you, wiggly candles notwithstanding.
Posted 16 Dec 2009 at 8:26 pm ¶Vicki, I think Ralphs was out because this Catholic who lives across the street from you bought a few boxes and made them be sold out. Got them for my Jewish step-kids, but also because Hanukkah candles make the *best* birthday candles (is that sacreligious?). Jewish step-kids weren’t interested, turns out, in having their step-mom make Hanukkah for them. Want some candles? xoxoxoxo
Posted 17 Dec 2009 at 3:12 pm ¶As David Brooks said so eloquently this week (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/11/opinion/11brooks.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=David%20Brooks%20channukah&st=cse), Channukah is more complicated than we like to make out, especially in a culture that has effectively made the holiday a mere second (and second-class) Christmas. By Brooks’ logic, those are the perfect candles. I can’t help seeing the sad beauty in them myself.
Posted 21 Dec 2009 at 6:56 pm ¶Happy Hanukkah, dear friend. I wish I could give you a hug and say a prayer with you.
Posted 22 Dec 2009 at 10:35 am ¶On our last day of candles, my husband went on a candle-run, in our ultra-liberal town. Imagine our surprise to realize that no candles were to be had in any of the three grocery stores we visited. A few were out, a few were unsure if they’d ever had them. Another pointed him towards sabbath candles.
He came home with birthday candles, and we settled in to make do. But, then, in our own little “miracle of the candles” and discovered a box in a high cupboard.
I’m glad you found candles to light.
Posted 27 Jan 2010 at 6:51 am ¶I came to this post very late – I haven’t been following you as assiduously as I ought.
Chanukah candles are a funny thing. Are they the harbingers of a time when Jews are simply too assimilated for supermarkets to consider their religious articles worth stocking?
Our Albertsons nearly stopped stocking Passover food a couple of years ago, and it was only a public protest by Chabad that shamed them into bringing it back. This past year, Trader Joe’s stopped carrying matzah.
People’s beliefs are their own. But their practices have consequences. If you don’t light Shabbos candles every week, and your neighbors don’t either, who can make money selling them?
Posted 07 Feb 2010 at 4:36 pm ¶Post a Comment