The Nice People Thread, No.16: A Universe of Niceness.

silverspirit

I am not Jewish but love the family ethos and togetherness and ceremony and food.

LydiaJ

Happy Hanukkah to all NP who celebrate it.
Would one of the Jewish NP perhaps be happy to tell us all which story from Jewish history it commemorates?

silverspirit

I agree lydia, would like to know more

silvercar

The story of Hanukkah

The festival reminds Jews of a time over 2500 years ago when Antiochus, a Syrian king, tried to make the Jewish people worship Greek gods. A statue of Antiochus was erected in the Jewish temple and the Jews were ordered to bow down before him. The Ten Commandments forbid Jews to worship statues or idols and so they refused.

A small group of Jews called Maccabees rebelled, and after a three year war they recaptured Jerusalem from the Syrians. But the temple was all but destroyed.

The Jews had to clean and repair the Temple, and when they were finished they rededicated it to God. They did this by lighting the lamp (Menorah) - which was a symbol of God's presence. Only one small jar of oil was found, enough for one day, but miraculously the lamp stayed alight for eight days.

----

The celebration is that the oil lasted for 8 days not 1, so that is why we light a chanukiah, adding a candle each night until on the 8th night all the candles are lit.

As it was the oil that lasted so long, it is traditional to eat foods made of oil. Latkes are like potato fritters and doughnuts are fried in oil.

silverspirit

Thank you silvercar

Pyxis

Yum yum!

Latkes and doughnuts! Yum!


I had some treatment on my poorly leg today, and on the way home bought a rhubarb pie. Thought it would be nice heated, and then with some cream.


But then, I forgot the cream.

Leg won't cope with going out again.

Pasta arrabiata just ain't the same without rhubarb pie and cream to follow.





Edit... hang about..... aren't latkes Greek? :eek:

ivyleaf

Thank you silvercar

ETA Aren't gifts exchanged too, or is that just for the children?

silvercar

ivyleaf wrote: »

Thank you silvercar

ETA Aren't gifts exchanged too, or is that just for the children?

Yes, mainly for kids but often for all. Anyone would think Chanukah had turned into Xmas!

To put it in perspective, this is really a minor Jewish festival; there are no specific services at the synagogue or extra laws for this one. I've heard it described as the Kardashian of festivals, a lot of attention and not much substance.

There was a miracle in that the oil lasted 8 days not 1 (explained to the older kids as imagine your mobile battery lasting for 8 days), and that's about it. A good excuse to gather round, light candles and eat.

Spirit_2

michaels wrote: »

Well that was a cheerful read.

Somehow although my door is about 9 feet wide when I ask for a quote it is more than the advertised price for a 14 foot 'double' door....

Plus do I just replace like with like or go for a sectional door which is supposed to be better/longer lasting and/or do I get the door put in between the opening rather than behind it to give 20cm more garage space in case I get a longer car in future?

We are replacing our garage door with a remote operated up & over sectional door. It is going behind the opening.
OH wants this for my benefit. He has been dissuaded from widening the door by reducing the existing front pillars and having a wider lintel . I don't park my car in the garage now, but it would fit just fine if I did.
OH's Defender would never fit as the rafters are too low. I feel it is a bit of a white elephant, our existing wooden double doors are in need of replacing but this seems an unnecessary contraption.

micheals, I have to pay the balance before they install it in the next fortnight so have paperwork to hand with details as follows:
Large rib Woodgrain 2260mmx2050mm. Cost £1552.80

michaels

Spirit wrote: »

We are replacing our garage door with a remote operated up & over sectional door. It is going behind the opening.
OH wants this for my benefit. He has been dissuaded from widening the door by reducing the existing front pillars and having a wider lintel . I don't park my car in the garage now, but it would fit just fine if I did.
OH's Defender would never fit as the rafters are too low. I feel it is a bit of a white elephant, our existing wooden double doors are in need of replacing but this seems an unnecessary contraption.

micheals, I have to pay the balance before they install it in the next fortnight so have paperwork to hand with details as follows:
Large rib Woodgrain 2260mmx2050mm. Cost £1552.80

Thanks Spirit and lovely to see you posting. We would ideally have that type of door. As our opening is both high and wide we coudl have the door 'in between' which would make the garage up to about 20cm longer without making the opening too small.

The price you have sounds competitive for a local supplier, possibly you can get a bit cheaper using an online company but they will probably disappear within a few months rendering any warranty worthless.

Because our door is bigger and not a standard size our quotes are coming in above that even from the internet cowboys

WE get a lot of value out of having the car in the garage out of the rain/ice/heat and having an automatic door so you don't have to get out of the car outside at all - I was thinking it probably gets on average at least 8 up/down cycles per day so 3k pa, 30k in 10 years which sounds like a lot compared to others who might just do it twice a day.