Wishing all a safe and hopeful holiday!
We did a video chat candle lighting with the son last night and sang songs and spun dreidels. He opened one of the many practical gifts I’ve been streaming his way (towels and sheets), and we showed each other our seasonal decor.
Earlier I made latkes - I’m not used to only making a couple of dozen. Usually I’ve been frying for family parties or school parties or friend parties. It was quicker, but still as many steps.
Happy Hannukah! Tough year. My high school senior is isolated from us in our walled-off basement, and my husband is right now quarantined in the master bedroom, because his workman came down with Covid (they were both masked and distanced as much as possible, so it will probably be fine). First night we just quickly lit the menorah outside on the deck, masked and distanced. But tonight, it was a bit warmer out (only 38 degrees and calm), so we had outside on the deck menorah lighting and then Friday night rituals, followed by latkes for dinner, then just sat and talked outside together/apart for another hour. It was so nice to just be able to sit outside and talk together, as a family. Such a hard year, but I’m grateful we had the chance to be together outdoors.
Happy Hanukkah to you as well! I’m really missing the large Hanukkah party we host every year. It seems kind of lonely to make just enough brisket and latkes for our little family of three.
My son ordered in a traditional meal. The smallest package was for 6 people. He gave part to a couple in his building. As his wife is a vegetarian, I suspect he will have his fill of brisket for quite some time.
Neither my son, nor daughter, married someone Jewish, but my daughter is running a Jewish household, with my SIL’s approval. My son, even when younger, identified as Jewish; while synagogue wasn’t important to him, family holiday dinners were. Well, said son brought my husband to tears when we received a video of him lighting the Hanukkah candles the first night with his 26 month old daughter; prayers in Hebrew and recited correctly!
Last night we get a picture of my DIL and GD lighting the candles as my son was on call, with the following caption-“The shiksa managed to handle the second night without burning the house down.” You have to know our family, and my DIL; I laughed out loud when I read that. That my DIL bothered to do this while my son was not home, was so warming to us. She comes from a rather religious family that was not excited with her dating, then marrying someone Jewish. I know her mother likes my son, not so sure about her dad. 
You better treat that DIL like the shiksa goddess that she is, for purposes of maximizing shalom bayit. If you’re very, very nice to her, and show her how wonderful celebrating the holiday cycle and Shabbat can be, you never know what could happen.
@snowball So funny and heartwarming!
I was talking to a newly married shiksa friend the other day who described with great enthusiasm how she’d decorated the house for Hanukkah. Her Jewish husband was startled to come home to an elaborately decorated home complete with a Hanukkah bush. After mentioning the Hanukkah bush she paused and asked, “I decorated it with Jewish ornaments I found on Etsy. That’s okay, right?” So cute! I replied that it was a little goyish but still okay. 
In the event I was misunderstood by @parentologist as I am having trouble understanding your reply; my DIL referred to herself as a shiksa, it was not my term for her. Also, we all get along very well, and are close. Prior to Covid, the kids would fly to us for the holidays if possible, usually at least one at the minimum. Both my husband and my entire family live in our same city; only my kids and one cousin on each side live out of state. Our holiday celebrations are large, whichever family we are with.
Both my granddaughters will be exposed to each of their parents traditional, both religious and secular. While my daughter will raise her daughter Jewish, it hasn’t be stated about my son’s daughter. My guess is she will go to church with her mother; no idea about Sunday school. When my children were young, they had several friends with parents of different religions; they were referred to as half and half as they followed both parent’s traditions. I believe that is what my kids will do, although one will go to Hebrew School and the other most likely will not! The funny thing is, my son’s daughter has the most Jewish name, including her first name. We joke that her name sounds like the sisterhood president’s name back in the 50’s! We really were stunned that she was giving a Jewish biblical first name to go with her very Jewish last name! She will stand out if she goes to Sunday School at the church, even if it is a very progressive church 
Sorry if you misunderstood me. I realized that she was referring to herself, and it was funny. It sounds as if you have an excellent relationship with her. It’s a classic (and often true) stereotype for the shiksa (or shaygitz) in-law to wind up being the parent who is more instrumental in forming the child’s Jewish identity. Your welcoming her with open arms, as you do, can only yield good returns for your child and grandchild.
During Chanukah I only had a brief visit with my daughter. She will be spending three days with me starting on Sunday, the first time she’ll see my apartment, moved to on 3/31, and just before she gets crazy-busy with her second semester of medical school (very secular Jewish mom’s brag!). We will make latkes together! These are the ones I brought to her place, consumed on the 5th night of Chanukah.
Missed this thread. We zoomed with the kids for eight nights which was nice. Normally we would not have celebrated at all.
