All photos by Ella Alpert '22
The familiar smells of latkes frying and brisket baking, tastes of powdered donuts and the sounds of cheerful family members gathering around nine glowing candles are the details and aspects that make up the perfect Hanukkah.
But what was normally a season of holiday joy, family and friends looked very different this year. Like every other holiday, event and gathering of 2020, Hanukkah was affected by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Normally, Jewish families come together to celebrate with a meal, games, gift giving and lighting the Menorah. This year the holiday started the evening of Dec. 10 and ended the evening of Dec. 17, and, at least for my family, the eight nights of celebration were spent at home with no extended family.
On Thursday, Dec. 10, the first night of Hanukkah, my family kept the celebration pretty simple since it can be hard to celebrate the holiday during the week. My family lit the candles and ate the traditional holiday dessert, sufganiyot, also known as jelly donuts.
On the second night, my family had a game night. We played dreidel, a traditional Hanukkah game, and Trivial Pursuit, one of the gifts we received that night.