Best Latkes Poems
‘Twas the night before Christmas and I didn’t care;
I had dozens of latkes I had to prepare.
The menorah was ready, with candles to light,
Waiting there by the window, a wonderful sight.
The presents were wrapped and I lined up the dreidels;
The soup was a’bubble, with floating knaidels.
The applesauce waited to chill in the fridge
In a Chanukah bowl. (Yes, I tasted a smidge.)
The cookies were baked like my grandmother taught,
(So much better than any that anyone bought)
Shaped like candles and dreidels and six-sided stars;
There were plenty to fill cookie platters and jars.
When I suddenly sensed there was something the matter.
I raced to the kitchen – the oil was a’splatter!
For while I was fixing the festive display,
I should have been frying (not quite my forte).
The first batch of latkes was burnt to a crisp
And smoke filled the kitchen (much more than a wisp),
But tying my apron for take number two,
I ditched all the burnt ones and knew what to do.
I lowered the flame and reheated some oil,
Plopping spoonfuls of batter I wouldn’t let spoil.
Then I conjured my childhood and Chanukahs past,
When I had no idea years would fly by so fast.
And I pictured my nana and grandma, as well
As my parents, my grandfathers and Aunt Sydelle
And my brothers and sister and cousins galore
And my uncles and aunts I’ve not mentioned before.
While my latkes were frying, so crispy and gold,
I remembered how Chanukah used to unfold,
When we played with our dreidels and gathered our gelt,
In our family’s embrace and the love we all felt.
So I cooked the new latkes with patience and care,
Knowing that with my kids and my grandkids I’d share
All the pent-up emotions I’ve hidden inside
With a platter of latkes, now perfectly fried.
And to all who will celebrate Chanukah time,
I do hope there’s a lesson for you in this rhyme –
For the very-best feelings our childhoods instill,
Through traditions, our hearts and our bellies will fill.
December 7, 2022
The winter season brings in
the festival of light
in its wake
The battle which took place over a millennium ago
Still echoes in Jewish hearts
all around our blue orb
Shining eyes will watch
candles glow
Potato latkes will be
devoured
as soon as they leave the frying pan
As driedels spin
the commemoration begins
The struggle of brothers long ago
Brings light into the blanket of snow
HANUKKAH
Festival of Lights/ Feast of Dedication,
As a kid, Hanukkah
was the Jewish replacement for Christmas,
But even better!
We celebrated for eight nights,
Which meant eight presents!
It was the festival of lights
We ate latkes or potato pancakes,
We Played with spinning tops called driedels
Sang the driedel song
Opened one present each night
Filled up ona chocolate money called Gelt
Got all the adults to sing along
In our beautiful nine branched candelabra
Called a hanukiah or menorah
One Hanukkah candle was lit each night
An extra candle, called the shamash, or the "attendant"
Was used to light the others candles
Oh what a memorable sight!
Antiochus IV Epiphanes, invaded Judea
Came upon the Jews with a great army, took their City by force
soldiers plundered without mercy, slaying a multitude of Jews
Antiochus spoiled the Temple, stopping the ritual daily sacrifice
Judaism was outlawed, circumcision was banned, an alter to Zeus was erected
and pigs were sacrificed in the temple, the people lost their right to choose.
Antiochus's actions provoked a large-scale revolt
Maccabees fought a guerilla war, and won the battle
The Seleucid monarchy was crushed
The temple was purified and rededicated
Undefiled pure olive oil was required to light the temple menorah
Only enough oil for one night, yet the oil burned for eight, the people were hushed
Hanukkah, a celebration of struggle and liberation
Whether or not the miracle occurred
Is secondary to our continual struggle to survive
We place the menorah with candles burning
In a window, to show the world
We’re here, we’re free, and we are still alive!
I am from
I am from my mom’s jean jacket with leather lining, from levi’s and converse.
I am from the cracked blue painted walls and worn down white windows.
I am from the white calla lilies, the roses.
I am from yearly trips to Laguna Beach and stubbornness, from Patty and Camille and Marcus.
I am from the procrastination and determination.
From “clean up your damn room” and “take out the trash”.
I am from pseudo Hanukkah. From matzo ball soup, latkes, and no religious aspects.
I’m from Santa Ana and Europe, quesadillas and pizza.
From the two different families.
I am from Natural Bridges State Beach, Russian River Campgrounds, and Foothills Park.
Hanukkah is a time for presents, potatoes and dreidels,
Everyone has fun, even babies in cradles,
They can watch the dreidel spin, and spin and spin,
until they view stars in everything,
Little presents make days and nights happier,
with potato latkes adorning the tables,
The chidren spin the dreidels while
participating in all their activities
getting a rouse out of all their relatives,
The dreidel spins from the past,
the future and the present,
creating a joyous environment,
and a glimpse into the future,
Watching themselves spinning,
and spinning the dreidel until
they are very mature.
Nine hundred plus are on our ship,
A Viking ocean cruise,
And of the people we had met,
We were the only Jews.
So we were quite surprised that on
Our list of day's events,
Menorah lighting made the grade
And what that represents...
Is Chanukah! For every night,
We light a candle's flame
Consecutively; by day eight,
Our freedom we proclaim.
At six p.m. we showed up and
Were pleasantly surprised
To find another couple
And some Chanukah supplies -
A challah,* Chanukiah,**
Yarmulkes*** and kosher wine;
Jelly donuts, plates of latkes****
And a lit menorah sign.
Some pamphlets held the blessings
And a few more people showed.
We sang and lit the candles;
Their electric flame-bulbs glowed.
How wonderful to celebrate
An ancient joyous rite
With a bunch of strangers linked on board
On Chanukah's first night.
*a special twisted bread
**a special menorah (candelabra) used on Chanukah
***skullcaps worn by men
****potato pancakes eaten on Chanukah
I love Jewish food,
So does my tum,
It makes my mouth water
And delights my tongue.
I worked in the City.
Of London years ago
London brings back memories,
That I treasure so.
I used to pass a Jewish Deli,
As I walked along the street,
The smells coming from that Deli,
It smelled marvellous to eat.
A little bell tinkled as I opened the door
The aroma of Wally in spiced vinegar
It was a smell not to ignore.
These pickles were in a huge barrel
Made of wood and copper,
You placed your hand into the tub
And hope to find a whopper.
One of my favourite Jewish foods
Is chopped liver
The thought of it now
It makes my taste buds quiver.
Upon the shop counter, I spied,
Mozzah and Gefilte fish
It was hard not to purchase
Every single dish.
I adored Latkes,
Flat Potato Cakes
Just thinking of the flavour
It makes my stomach ache,
Freshly baked Bagels,
A bread roll shaped like a ring
Solly, the deli owner,
Sold everything.
I will always remember shopping.
At Solly's old-fashioned deli,
I have fond memories of his shop
And so does my belly.
Light the candles, flames so bright
Chanukah's here eight days and nights
Spin the dreidel 'round and 'round
Potato latkes frying, yummy sounds
A few coins for the kinder
Precious silver gelt
Chanukah's a minor festival
~ deeply felt
Happy Thanksgivukkah!
Latkes and turkey!
Protocol here is
A little bit murky.
It hasn't happened
For thousands of years
And we'll all be dead
Before it reappears.
So watch all your football
And spin your best dreidel.
Slurp up that pumpkin soup
With some kneidel.
Savor these holidays;
Celebrate twice,
'Cause having Thanksgivukkah's
'Specially nice!
O Chanukah, dear
my problem is clear
You arrived way, way
too early this year
What's a fellow to do
your candles all through
Potato latkes all eaten
dreidels spun, weather-beaten
Still no snow on the ground
yet to come Christmas sounds
While holiday gifts they are wrapping
Chanukah's tucked away, napping
Alas and alack, please make up your mind
never again to fall so far behind
12/25, Chanukah! next year, do you hear
if you expect me to be of holiday cheer
Potato latkes* sizzle
in pure olive oil
pancakes fry up brown
One scrumptious bite
~ assimilation drowns
_____________________
*'Latkes' are synonymous
with (potato) pancakes.
~ As the Dreidels Spin ~
Game, set and match
Here comes a fresh batch
of potato latkes, as the dreidels spin
Up comes a gimmel -- You win
Maccabees mean Victory
so many menorahs to see
Let's dance the hora and sing a song
It's Chanukah time ~ we all get along
**Chanukah**
Colored Candles
Luscious Latkes
Songs and Prayers
Love and Heritage
Dreidel Playing
Peace for Israel
**Chanukah**
12/13/2022
Potato latkes, fried in oil
Are eaten every year
When calendars remind us
That our holiday is here.
To keep up the tradition,
There are choices we must make –
Buy them frozen in the market,
Use a mix (that’s a mistake!)
Find them in a local diner
Or, if you have time and space,
Gather all of the ingredients
And your cookware in one place.
Then you peel and grate potatoes
With an onion, egg and salt,
Plus you have to squeeze it dry;
(To leave some liquid is a fault).
Add in matzoh meal to thicken
While your oil heats in a pan;
Next, you fry them ‘til they’re golden
Or the closest that you can.
If you’re lucky, all your efforts
(For it is a lot of work)
Will be worth the energy you spent
(With compliments a perk).
Just as long as you eat latkes,
Get them any way you’ve chosen.
Since I spent all morning grating,
Come next year, I’ll go with frozen.
Archie did cartwheels for Veronica
Jughead even played his harmonica ~
But Veronica’s Jewish
Leaving two suitors bluish ~
Steinberg made her latkes for Chanukah
_________________________________
'Latkes' are potato pancakes, a traditional
Chanukah treat.