Maoz Tzur: The musical rock of my Hanukkah celebration
This Hanukkah will be my third as a mother and my second as a Jew.
Before I converted, I strove to observe Shabbat and the High Holy Days but pretty much ignored Hanukkah. It was just a minor folk holiday, after all!
Last year, my son, Li’l D, was barely a year old as Hanukkah approached. He was too young to appreciate it fully, but I found myself thinking about its celebration more and more as it approached.
I realized that “minor folk holiday” would be one he’d enjoy celebrating in his young years. By laying a joyous and loving foundation of Judaism for him throughout the year and including Hanukkah, I’d be helping instill in him the same passion that inspired me to embrace the faith.
Amusingly enough, I was a little apprehensive. With only a day or two celebrating the holiday with Li’l D’s aunties before he was born, I didn’t have a set of personal or familial traditions to pass on.
I did what I’ve done for many holidays over the years since I bought Rabbi Wayne Dosick’s book Living Judaism back in college. I consulted that as a baseline.
I made up a little list. I printed up blessings. I didn’t buy gifts, but I did make sure I had matches for the hanukiah my honey’s mom had bought me.
On the first night of Hanukkah, I managed print-outs, props and baby as I went through the steps each night. Li’l D wasn’t especially impressed with what I was doing. If anything, he looked confused.
After the first candle was lit the first night, I pressed the space bar on my computer to play Maoz Tzur, “Rock of Ages”:
That was when Li’l D found the magic of Hanukkah.
I lit the holiday candles. The song lit his holiday joy.
As this video played, Li’l D beamed and clapped. I didn’t have to hunt for words or papers that seemed to want to leap out of my hand. Instead, I could just hold my son close and sing along from the transliteration on the screen.
When Li’l D asked for “more,” I was happy to grant it. I rejoiced to do the same the next evening.
I sang more confidently. Li’l D clapped and laughed some more.
Each evening, I looked forward to the evening’s celebration a little more.
This year, Li’l D’s a lot less little than he was last year. He now sings along to his favorite song, or hums when he can’t lock on enough of the words to sing along to a given song. In addition to clapping, he now wiggles and dances to music he enjoys.
Hanukkah is now more than a “minor folk holiday” to me. It’s a sweet marker of time, both the year that’s passed since Li’l D and I last enjoyed Maoz Tzur together and all the years Hanukkah was celebrated before we, too, joined in the celebration.
As I look toward Hanukkah this year, I don’t expect Li’l D will be singing along to Maoz Tzur. I can already imagine him humming it and wiggling along, an imagining that’s unlikely half as sweet as it will be to actually witness these things.
I felt foundationless as I prepared for Hanukkah last year. This year, I look forward to strengthening the foundation Maoz Tzur helped me and my Li’l D lay, together.
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© 2011 Deborah Bryan. All rights reserved.
Duplication in whole or substantial portion is explicitly forbidden.
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I would like to thank Streit’s and Doni Zasloff Thomas a.k.a. Mama Doni, the lead singer/songwriter of The Mama Doni Band for providing each of the 16 bloggers involved in #HanukkahHoopla with a little cyber-swag. Their cross-promotional alliance is designed to celebrate Jewish culture with the young generation, a mission of both Mama Doni and Streit’s.
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Beautiful.
Thank you, Renee!
What a beautiful post about both parenting and tradition. You surely get IT, my friend. Enjoy the holiday and thank you for enriching mine.
Thank you for your lovely comment! This year, realizing I’d managed to misnote the starting date in my imagination, the first night was a flurry of trying to get everything in order, I told myself it’d all be fine once we got to the candle-lighting, and, of course, it was more than fine. Li’l D liked the song even more than last year, requesting “again” both nights before then seeing if he could watch some Mickey’s Clubhouse. And he loves the candles, so it’s even sweeter than last year!
This is so sweet and interesting–I’d been wanting to ask you about (or read about) your conversion to Judaism . . . love this story!
Thank you! I’ve been debating posting the Facebook note I wrote about the journey here; whether or not I do, I’m glad I captured so much history in that note. With my memory, it’s good to have it written down somewhere.
Wonderful, Deb. I loved the video, too. Here’s to Lil’D's wiggling and humming along to the song. Happy Hanukkah!
Thanks, Lenore! He loves it even more this year than he did last year (and the candle-lighting, too!), which makes it an even sweeter treat for his mama. ♥
Ah Deb!
“I felt foundationless as I prepared for Hanukkah last year. This year, I look forward to strengthening the foundation Maoz Tzur helped me and my Li’l D lay, together.”
I’m so glad that your new faith has given you that foundation upon which you can grow your family. I can picture you all wiggling and giggling together.
You. So. Nailed. This. ♥
The spirit of the thing is always in the music, right?
Thank you, Renee, for prompting this post. It’s such an honor to be part of your #HanukkahHoopla hop! ♥
The spirit of the thing is always in the music, right?
It really is, isn’t it? I remember a class I took on aging Jewish communities while in college. One of the facts that’s stuck with me is how even those afflicted with memory-damaging illnesses could always remember the songs, and would sing them with great gusto long after they’d lost their other memories. I hope I’ll be able to hold on to all my memories until the end, but it’s good to know there’ll be something sweet left over in any case. To tradition!
I’m totally going to be one of those old ladies in the Jewish home singing crazy songs. They’ll gently turn me in the other direction and say,” Mrs Jacobson, you know you shouldn’t be in Mr. Stein’s bedroom.” But I’ll just be singing some song I learned from summer camp.
I so, so, so loved this. I am actually not Jewish. My husband is. We’re raising our sons Jewish. But if I converted, I’d break my mother’s heart. So, I’m Jewish in spirit, but not in name.
I have fully embraced the “fun” holidays, whether or not they are minor; I do so in the hopes that it will help my sons love Judaism as much as I do. For Tu B’Shevat, we read The Lorax and talk about taking care of the Earth. We’re not terribly handy and haven’t made a sukkah to my liking, but being outdoors for Sukkot is a great time as a family. My favorite is Purim though. Not just for the costumes and the groggers and the loud behavior not just permitted, but encouraged at synagogue. But for Esther. Because I love teaching my guys about strong women.
I think your foundation is strong!
@AMegaliLife
Thank you so much for reading and sharing your own experiences! I’d love to read more actually, based on this.
Li’l D and still have not been in a sukkah! This will be the year we’ll change that. It’ll be appropriate since our synagogue is without physical home at the moment.
Purim I’ve celebrated with my son’s godmoms, but not since Li’l D’s been born! This year is going to look a whole lot different than the last, because (as you know!) this is part of a foundation that’ll hopefully carry the little guy through decades to come.
And me, too, of course. Hee.
Deb,
As always, your writing makes me tingle as I relate and “kvell” with you. I keep thinking how lucky Lil’D is to have a mom who is filled with warmth and thoughtfulness. How wonderful that you have created “a set of personal or familial traditions to pass on”—especially for this minor and yet important folk holiday (love that description too-spot on!). And, adding the video helps set a perfect Hanukkah mood for me.
Happy, happy Hanukkah to you, Lil’D, your honey!
Thank you so much for these sweet words, especially “how lucky Li’l D is.” I know he won’t always feel it, but I hope when he’s settled into himself a little further down the road, that’s how he’ll feel. ♥
As for the video? I love how much joy a 42-second song can bring! I didn’t expect it to have such a strong impact on the little guy, but I’m so glad it did.
What a wonderful post, Deb! Happy Hanukkah to you and your family!
Hugs,
Kathy
Thank you, Kathy! So far, it’s been a treat. Even Li’l D getting upset because we wouldn’t let him light the candles meant he was invested in our celebration.
You can tell him he can light the candles if he’ll let you hold his hand while he holds the shamash!
That’s pat of the fun — lighting the candles!
Let him do it on the last night! (after a big talk on fire safety)! It will feel like an extra gift!
Trust him Mamma!
Beautiful! Great imagery of Lil’D wiggling and dancing. I love those wiggly dances and little squeaky singing voices! The moments when I realize that I’m helping form my children’s connections to traditions, both in our immediate family as well as in the larger Jewish scheme of things, are just magical to me.
“Magical” is the perfect word for them. There were many wonderful things in my childhood, but feeling anchored was not one of them. In these moments with my son, I relish the prospect of his feeling anchored in these wonderful moments.
Love of God, thankfulness for all His gifts, and the joyful feeling of belonging to a faith community are the very best gifts you can give your son. Happy Hanukkah!
Exactly! That’s why I don’t worry too much about the presents. Li’l D doesn’t want for much on a day to day basis, so it almost feels like this is a chance to say: but here’s what really matters! Thanks, Peg.
Thanks for sharing your beautiful tradition. Peace love & joy to your family!
Thank you–and all the same to yours! ♥
A great story, Deb. And a most wonderful Hannukah to your and your entire family!
Thanks, John! Li’l D was “feisty” last night, but that didn’t do anything to diminish the joy of the season. Merry Christmas!
Loved the personal story of you making the celebration your own and also thinking about the generations who came before. I said this the other day, but I’m STILL so thankful to have “discovered” you via Renee.
Happy Hanukkah (and no prize necessary)
Nina, I was grateful to Renee before #HanukkahHoopla went up because I loved the idea so much! It turns out the only thing better than the idea is the reality, which involves such wonderful people. I’m so glad our paths crossed, too!
Happy Hanukkah, Deb! Building traditions for our children…I think it’s so important, whether Christian or Jewish, if this time of year is a time of contemplation in one’s life. Traditions are what we remember as we get older: the songs played, the decorations hung, the food made. I’m trying to do the same with Maycee in our faith-teaching her why we celebrate. Blessings to you! I listened to the song “Rock of Ages” sung in English by Marc Cohn (not sure if it supposed to be a literal translation of Maoz Tzur), and it’s beautiful, too.
I haven’t heard that, but I’m going to give it a listen very shortly! (The only thing standing between here and that listen is listening to the song’s from Rivka’s Hanukkah post, as it happens.
)
I love the thought of you and Maycee learning and discovering new meaning in Christmas together. She’s lucky to have the mom she does, and I’m lucky, too, to know her mom. ♥
Renee, Deb and other guest bloggers, I’m enjoying the HanukkahHoopla very much–as one raised Christian/Catholic but now mish-mosh New Agey, I enjoy learning about the traditions and beliefs of various paths. During my ESL teaching days, my students learned about similarities and differences around the world and I learned much from them.Fortunately, there are many terrific children’s books about Hanukkah that I was able to use. The story of Hanukkah is an inspiring one! ( and no prize needed)
Where did you teach? I taught in Japan, but not at the level where I got to discuss similarities and differences! I shared some of the symbols of major holidays, but didn’t get to really delve into what they meant save for in my rare adult classes. I’m enchanted by the thought of what that might have been like!
I only have a couple of Hanukkah books so far, but I was thinking of taking Li’l D down to the bookstore to choose a few more. I’m not sure he’d give ‘em any love given how much he loves his light-up Hanukkah book.
Hi Deborah. That is a lovely story. Although Chanukah is a minor holiday it is hard not to get excited. The look of wonder and magic on the faces of our children is priceless.
Exactly what you said! I feel a little guilty for how quickly I dismissed it when I think of Li’l D’s joy in it. I’ve learned, though.
Lovely. Truly.
Thank you, Galit, for reading and commenting!
Oh boy, now I get to leave a comment to see if WP resolved my email/comments issue. Lovely post!
It worked! Thanks, Renee. ♥
I love the stories you share of your growth and of Li’l D’s growth with you. Your love jumps from the page every time I read your posts and warms my heart. Happy Hanukkah to you both! ♥
Your love jumps from the page every time I read your posts
That’s the same feeling I get when I read your posts–love for your daughters, and love for people! It’s a blessing to read you, and be read by you. With tears of thanks for knowing you in my eyes, I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas!
Happy Hanukkah to you, Li’l D and Ba.D! I knew reading this post would fill my heart with warmth and the holiday spirit, and I was not disappointed
You know what else is good for filling a girl’s heart with warmth and the holiday spirit? YOU! Your posts, your comments, your emails, your smile. Thank you for being you, and being here. ♥
Very beautiful post! Thanks for sharing your feelings about Hanukkah and what the holiday means to you and your family.
Thank you for reading, and commenting! I’m glad to have documented what it means to me now, so I can compare that against what’s yet to come.
happy hanukkah! this hannukah hoopla thing is great!
I LOVE it! I’m so grateful to Renee for putting it together, which was no small feat. Happy Hanukkah to you, too!
As always a beautiful post! I wish you and your family a very Happy Hannukah!
Thank you! The first three nights have been a blessing. I’m excited to experience the remainder!
Hi Deborah,
Thank you for reminding me to add more music to our Hanukkah celebration. Whenever I feel like the kids need a little more connection to Judaism I pop in Oy Baby 1 or 2. They are getting a little old for it now, but the tunes are gorgeous and I find we all end up singing along.
I’m so glad that you are finding your traditions as you go–as Lil’D gets older he’ll add his own, too.
I haven’t heard of Oy Baby before, but I’m going to check them out in short order! Thank you so much for pointing me that way (with a sweet image from your family, ♥ ), for reading and for commenting!
Very cool, enjoyable post – again! Your style goes down smoother than eggnog!
Your style goes down smoother than eggnog!
Tee-hee! I could say and am saying the same about yours! Merry Christmas, Hook!
What a lovely share… Since my kids are half Jewish, we celebrate both Hanukkah and Christmas in our household… I love the candle lighting. Happy Hanukkah!
What an inspiring and beautiful event and holiday. Just looking at those candles brings so much hope that better things will come. Stay blessed my friend…
If you have not already won cyber-swag from another #HanukkahHoopla blogger and would like some of your own, please let me know (by follow-up comment here) by 7 p.m. PT tomorrow. I’ll use any follow-up comments to select the winner via random.org. Thanks!
hi! i realize i’m really late to responding here, but I haven’t won any cyber-swag from another #hanukkahhoopla blogger. do you have anything left?