Travel Diaries:1970s Palestine. Episode 28

Thursday December 16th 1976

Chanukah begins. An eight-day festival, so much better than a single day of Christmas. Should have been born Jewish. It celebrates the miracle that one day’s worth of oil lasted for eight. This kept the menorah lit for the second temple rededication during the Maccabean revolt against their oppressors. The Seleucids (a Hellenic culture) had banned certain Jewish practices, which led to this rebellion.

At 17.30 all Kibbutz lights were turned off, and the walkways were lined with candles in paper bags. Everyone gathered at the main outside meeting point where eight flaming torches burned. The first candle of the menorah was lit, to be followed by the second tomorrow, and repeated daily until all eight are ablaze.

At supper, the Hadar Ochel (dining room) was decorated, and doughnuts appeared by the trayful. I spent the rest of the evening with my Kibbutz family, where Margalite fried more doughnuts for us, serving them with jam and a dusting of sugar.

Friday December 17th 1976

Final preparation for the Sinai Safari. We leave very early in the morning. Got a letter from AJ who’s going with his family on a Christmas cruise to Africa. We’re both on the move, but to quite different places ..the story of our life.