Gimel's Adventures with Hannukah Sam

"Uuuunn --- cccle!"

At the shout Gimel lifted her sleepy head barely high enough for a blade of grass to squeeze through and peered through her fluffy white paws.

"Not again," she thought." If that nephew's here I know what it means. It means eight days and nights with no lovely lap to sleep on while Sam goes trotting off to tell the tale of Hannukah. He should know it's more fun being with me!”

She curled tightly into a ball that looked much like a giant earmuff.

"Now this, this is fun.”

Two knees began to twitch beneath her and then, in her left pointy ear, she felt a tickly breath and heard Hannukah Sam's melodious voice.

"Gimmmmel, my sleepy princess. We've had a nice time relaxing and reading the Torah together. But now young Ray is here and we've got to be up and about!"

Gimel dug in her claws into the soft lap below her. “I don’t think so,” she thought. “Not this year." She wasn’t going to be left alone. Not again, for heaven’ sake!

“Owww!” said Sam. "Now Gimel, my beautiful girl. Be reasonable."

[Sam stands and Gimel's furry body is still attached to Sam's mid-section and legs, her head facing the floor.]

"You know our big trip is no place for a kitty. We need to be verrry quiet and well, my dear -- even your purr could blow the roof off a small cottage."

[Ray bursts in]

"Are you ready uncle? Can we go? Now? Can we?"

"Yes, yes, very soon. Maybe you can give Gimel a little attention and get our hats and vests while I fix us a snack for the road. I made a most wonderful and tasty gefilte fish stew!"

Ray froze. He hated being rude, but as he imagined the gefilte fish -- those boiled fish patties that look like something you'd scrub a tub with -- he couldn't help turning a slight shade of green and saying, "Blecch!"

"Oh, I forgot. Most of you children think gefilte fish is about as good to eat as an old sock. All right then. Peanut butter and banana sandwich for you, yes?"

Ray nodded at his uncle as he disengaged the annoyed cat. He kissed her tummy and held her at arm’s length.

"We've got to go tell the story of Hannukah, furball. You know we'll be back! And being the magical cat you are, I know you'll find ways to have fun while we're away."

Gimel gave Ray a look that would have toasted a bagel, but Ray didn’t seem to notice as he rushed to a nearby closet and opened the door.

[There are two closets. One labeled 'Hannukah Sam;' the other labeled 'Nephew Ray.']

Ray pulled out two shimmering caps and vests and placed them on a table. It was clear that these were not your everyday clothes. The magic in them was practically bursting from the seams!

"I better go help uncle, "said Ray.” I don't want too much peanut butter and I especially don't want him sneaking any of that -- ugh! -- gefilte fish! – on my sandwich!”

After Ray left, Gimel thought about what she could do. The thought of being left alone again was unbearable.

"I don't think I can stop this silly trip. So. I'll just have to go. Hmmph! Noisy indeed! Why I'm the quietest kitty-cat I know! Of course, I don't actually know any other kitties, but still. Now, I know my magic is a bit rusty, but let's see what I can manage."

Gimel took a deep breath and gathered all her magic around her to squeeze her large furry body into Sam's little hat that he called a yarmulke.

[After several strange attempts (one foot and her head stick out; her tail and an arm stick out) Gimel disappears into Sam's cap.]

Sam and Ray return, Ray with a lunchbox stuffed with snacks, and Sam with a big, big, BIG pitcher.

"Time to fill my travel cap."

Sam laid his cap on the table, not realizing his beloved pussycat was inside, and began pouring all the awesome contents from the pitcher into the wondrous cap. The cap looked quite small but really it could fit more than you could fit in your whole house!

Ray loved to watch the delightful goodies that poured from the bowl each year -- all the cool stuff they'd share with boys and girls like him. Steaming potato latkes! Gold-wrapped chocolaty coins they called gelt! And of course dreidels, tops kids could spin and play a game with. Sam buttoned his vest around his trim waist and put on his traveling cap. Ray did the same.

"Ooof!" [Ray holds up his uncle as Sam practically collapses under the weight of his hat.]

"Why is the hat so heavy this year? OH! I know. Extra applesauce in the latkes."

"And now," said Sam.

"And now," said Ray.

Holding hands, giving each other a smile and nodding, they shimmered out of view of Sam's comfy sitting room and into a darkened room across the world. As their eyes adjusted to the light Sam whispered to Ray.

"The little girl in that bed is Lily. I'll start the Hannukah dream while you empty some goodies.”

Walking to Lily’s bedside, Sam leaned over in a position much like praying. The magical historical story took form right over Lily's head.

In her sleep, Lily learned of the terrible King Antiochus the Fourth of Jerusalem who lived long, long ago. What a dimbulb that guy was! He thought that Jewish people shouldn’t be allowed to be Jewish just because he wasn't Jewish.

"Since I believe there are many gods," said the King, "everyone must believe there are many gods. After all -- I am the king and let's face it -- you don't get this job by being a dunce."

"Hmmm," murmured Lily in her sleep. "I wouldn't be so sure of that."

The King sent in his soldiers and horses to the huge sacred Temple where the Jewish people prayed. They left the place a total mess, erected a statue of one of the god's the King liked best, and told the Jewish people "No more being Jewish! Or you'll be verrry sorry."

Meanwhile, Gimel, that stowaway, was peeking out of Sam's yarmulke, watching the dream. It was so exciting! How could they have left her home all these years?

The Jewish people knew that their very lives could be in danger if they didn't listen to the King and do everything he asked. Still, they said "This is ridiculous!" They left their homes and went up into the hills to decide what to do. They agreed they just had to fight to defend their beliefs since this King would simply not listen to reason.

The fighters called themselves the Maccabees, which means 'hammers.' The two leaders, Mattathias and his son Judah, said "We must be strong, like a hammer, and overwhelm the King and his soldiers. We don't want to fight – but they won’t listen. What they're doing is wrong."

And what do you know? After a hard fought battle that group of Jewish people won!

When the Jews went back to the Temple they saw they had a lot of cleaning to do. The place, to put it mildly, was a wreck! As they cleaned they found a tiny bottle of holy oil to light the lamps. Too bad they only found enough for one day. They really wanted God to know how grateful they were.

But what do you know? The oil lasted for eight glorious days! A miracle! A miracle Jewish people recognize every year to this very day by lighting the menorah.

Hannukah Sam closed the magical dream with his special rhyme.

"Hannukah is about miracles,

The miracle of light,

And the miracle of winning,

A seemingly hopeless fight."

Gimel couldn't contain herself any longer. She was so happy for the Jewish people!

"MROWWR!! MROWWWWRRR!"

"Huh?" said Lily, as she sat straight up in bed. "Who are you? ‘ But Lily could see who it was. “I don’t believe it! It's Hannukah Sam! Are you really Hannukah Sam?"

"Oy!" said Sam.

"Gimel!" said Ray.

"Gimel," said Sam, "you have some chutzpa, you naughty cat! Didn't I ask you to stay home?"

"Hmmph! You're not happy to see me?" thought Gimel. They certainly didn’t seem happy. "But I'm such a beautiful kitty with such a delicate meow. These silly humans."

The door to Lily's room burst open, and in, like a sonic boom, came Lily's mother Sally. She had a big kosher pickle in her hand and it looked like she was good and ready to bonk someone with it!

"What's going on?" she asked.

Her daughter pointed out Sam with a flourish. "It's Hannukah Sam!"

"Whaaat?"  She leaned way over to peer at Sam.  "I think you’re right. Well, no need to bonk you if you’re Hannukah Sam."

“Yes,” said Sam, “it’s me.” And to show Lily and Sally that they needn’t be afraid he drew out some magic from his yarmulke that turned into gelt and dreidels!

Sally and Lily had no doubts. And since Lily was not the kind of girl who missed a chance to share an idea, she spoke right up with what was on her mind.

“You know, Hannukah Sam,” said Lily, “I've wanted to ask you something for years now."

“Yes, bubee?”

"I know you come to the houses of all the Jewish kids. But what about my other friends? I have friends who are Catholic and Muslim and Protestant and Unitarian -- oh— and a bunch of other neat religions! Shouldn't they hear the story too?"

“Uncle,” said Ray , "May I answer this one?"

"Certainly nephew, yes."

"My uncle and I have only one week each year to remind Jewish kids of the Hannukah miracle. We rely on you and other Jewish children to share the story. Then kids from other religions will also share their special stories and celebrations with you! It's a pretty good system, I think."

Lily thought for a moment and then nodded and smiled. She seemed to agree.

"Now," said Sam. "We must say shalom. We've got sooo many children to see. And since we've got Gimel with us we're going to have to figure out how to keep her quiet. Now that could be another miracle, I'm afraid."

"Well," said Sally, "maybe we can watch your beautiful kitty while you make your rounds. And then when you come back to get her I'll make some lox and bagels and some of my famous gefilte fish stew!"

Sally had said one of the only things that would have stopped Sam dead in his tracks at that moment. “"What? You like gefilte fish?"

Ray and Lily looked at each other. These grown-up meshugges were going to get together and eat gefilte fish stew? Complete yuck!

Ray and Sam left Lily and Sally and Gimel and went all around the world to tell their tale. When, at last, they came back they found Gimel was happy because Sally had told her over and over what a beautiful cat she was. Sally and Sam ate almost an entire pot of gefilte fish stew while Ray and Lily looked on in horror!

"You are the only lovely woman I ever met who likes gefilte fish," said Sam.

Ray and Lily looked at each other.

"I think they're a perfect match," said Lily. And she was right.

The next year Sam and Ray had a lot less work to do because they had plenty of help from Sally and Lily. And even Gimel came along because she crossed her kitty heart and promised to be a good quiet kitty. (Hmmmph. Do you think they should believe her?)

So. On Hannukah night you just might remember a dream you had about Hannukah. You don't remember? Think hard. Don't you remember hearing an enormous

"MROWR!" And then four whispering voices saying

"Gimel! Be QUIET!"

When you’re snuggled in bed on a Hannukah night,

You might think that you've just had a dream,

You'll think that you probably made it all up,

But no, it’s not what it seems.

The dream arrived with magical help,

From a gentle and kind sort of man,

That dream was brought to you personally,

By a man named Hannukah Sam.

"MROWR!"

Oh. And Gimel, too.

END

Contact: Ellen Metter

BrowserPress(at)Yahoo.com

Gimel's Glossary

bubee - This is a Yiddish term of endearment, a sweet word that a parent or adult might use with a child, like the words 'sweetheart' or 'dear.' It's a short form of the word bubeleh.

chutzpa - This word means 'audacity' or 'insolence' in Hebrew. It's used to describe someone who is not afraid to speak up or take action even when it might not be a comfortable - or sometimes polite - thing to do. Depending on how its use it can be either a compliment and an insult!

dreidel - A four-sided top spun when playing a traditional Hannukah game. The four letters on the top are nun, gimel, hey, and shin. These are the initials of the Hebrew phrase "A great miracle happened there."

gefilte fish - These are boiled fish patties made from either carp or whitefish. A lot of people, including Sally and Hannukah Sam think they're scrumptious. Many others (usually children) think they're yucky. They look yucky.

gelt - This word comes from the German word Geld which means money. Ray and Hannukah Sam give the dreaming children gold-paper covered chocolate coins.

gimel - Gimel is the third letter of the Hebrew and Yiddish alphabet. Hannukah Sam named his cat Gimel because she showed up on his doorstep, over a thousand years ago, on the third night of Hannukah.

kosher - Foods that are kosher are considered ok to eat based on certain dietary laws.

latkes - Mmmmm! Latkes are wonderful tasting little pancakes, usually fried. Lily particularly enjoys potato latkes made with potatoes, an onion, eggs, and matzo meal, but some people like to make them with apples, cheese, or anything else that catches their fancy. Unlike gefilte fish, latkes are a favorite with just about everyone!

menorah - The menorah is the branched candelabrum the Jewish people light on the eight evenings of Hannukah. The center candle is called the shamus. This is the candle you use to light the other candles. Nowadays, menorahs sometimes have light bulbs instead of candles. That makes it less dangerous when mischievous cats like Gimel are around who might knock over the candles! The Hannukah menorah is lit at sunset and placed in front of a window for all to see. Hannukah Sam reads the Torah near a menorah which is not lighted. The menorah is not something you’re supposed to read by.

meshugges - This means 'crazy people!'

shalom - This word means 'peace' in Hebrew and it's a common way to say both 'hello' and 'farewell.'

Torah - The Hebrew pronunciation for this word is TOE-rah, the Yiddish is TOY-rah. The Torah contains the first five books of the Bible, called the Five books of Moses or the Pentateuch. These writings are placed on a big scroll, a fine parchment roll. The Torah speaks of the Jewish faith, morality, ethics, values, laws, social thought, and culture. A portion of the Torah is read in the synagogue or temple every Monday, Thursday, Sabbath, and holiday. It's quite festive after the reading of the Torah is completed each year. The scrolls are paraded around the temple seven times. Then the reading begins from the beginning again! This symbolizes the belief that the Torah, and its worship and study, has no end.

yarmulke - The yarmulke is the little, round, close-fitting cap that Hannukah Sam wears – and, of course, his happens to be a magic one. Jewish men often wear yarmulkes in the synagogue, during religious study or prayer, and at events such as weddings and funerals. Very traditional, or Orthodox, Jewish men wear yarmulkes almost all of the time. Covering the head is seen as a sign of respect before God.