This Hanukkah, Create Your Own Olive Oil Custom

Customs are not written in stone. They evolve. Over the past two years I've covered numerous Hanukkah customs from Jewish communities around the world: Hanukkah pinatas from Mexico, the Hassidic custom of the rebbe playing his violin on Hanukkah,  the origins of Hanukkah Gelt and more.
Now I've decided it's time to develop a new custom -- home-made olive oil for lighting the Hannukiah. I've even found a Youtube video created by ChallahCrumbs to help you get started.

Why olive oil? because it's a great way to connect kids with the Bible, Israel, and of course Hanukkah. For starters, how about the olive leaf that the dove brought back to Noah signaling that the flood had abated? The olive branch was the world's first peace offering.

Next: olives are one of the seven species.
Hmm...that could spark a whole discussion on agriculture in Israel past and present, plus serve as a segue to environmental protection. Then we have the uses of olives and olive oil in Biblical times: as a sacrifice, a cooking condiment, a medical ointment, a way for anointing priests and kings, and of course a means for creating light.  Which of course leads us to the Hanukkah miracle.

Sound oil right to you?





Olive oil photo credit 
Olives photo credit

Rosh Chodesh & the Libyan Candle Wick Maker

Is Rosh Chodesh a holiday or a special day? In the Bible it is clearly regarded as a holiday with a festive meal (what else is new in Judaism?). During the times of the Temple it was put on an equal footing with Shabbat, where in addition to eating a sumptuous meal the people refrained from all work. The latter continued to be practiced in the 20th century by many Sephardic and Ashkenazic communities.

Now we're into the 21st century and asking how we can continue making Rosh Chodesh relevant. The answer is clear. Today's frantic pace necessitates a framework for R&R. Which is why we should look to the past as to how this can be accomplished. Throw out the virtual and bring in the real with a custom of Libyan Jews who lit a special oil candle on Rosh Chodesh. Work was forbidden as long as the candle remained lit.

I like the idea of a designated Rosh Chodesh candle. It ties in beautifully with Shabbat. And I like the idea of an oil wick candle. It makes the decision of how long you want to take a break from your daily routine up to you. You pick the size of the wick and the amount of oil.

What do you say? Rosh Chodesh Kislev is 2+ weeks away. Hanukkah is 5 weeks away. True, there's no miracle with this oil lamp but a cause for celebration is always oil right.

Photo credit