And here is an article explaining the most popular and the second most popular way to spell- Hanukkah or Chanukah? The Festival of Light. 

Tuesday- the fourth night.

I was invited for potato latkes and the lighting of the Hanukkah candles at my friend’s house.  We taught together these past 6 years until I moved to the high school this year.  The first photo is her beautiful Menorah on the mantle. Her kids are grown up and out of town, too.  She and her husband and I sat by there fire and then she lit the fourth candle. It gets dark so early now as we approach the shortest day of the year.  The warmth of the fire and the glow from the colorful candles was lovely.

After we ate the latkes(served with sour cream and or applesauce)  Ann lit the fourth candle.

We left for an adventure, traipsing around Squirrel Hill, Murray Avenue and Forbes.  Up and down trying to decide where we should eat!  At least it wasn’t raining.   We had a nice evening, catching up on our families and school and mutual friends.  When we walked by the Giant Eagle supermarket and a young man asked if we were Jewish and she said, yes and he asked if she had candles.  Then we saw the table set up in front of the market with another young man cooking latkes on a griddle.  They had applesauce available and their organization had a big sign on the Menorah.  They told me they were “spreading light in the world.”  I asked if it would be okay to blog them and they gathered to gather for a group shot.  Pulled out the cell phone camera.  Yep, my camera was back by Ann’s house in the back trunk of the car.

Thanks Ann for including me in the candle lighting and for taking me on a good healthy walk around the neighborhood to find the best dinner.