What an interesting thread! I learned a lot from it! Thanks fodorites & Happy Hanukah indeed!! Mazel Tov!

Meschpuheh(sp?) from Alaska! My mother's yiddish expressions are failing me, but she once ran into Ed Asner in the Russian Tea room, and that is what he told her!

Mishpuheh means "family." It has a warm cozy extended family-type connotation. Like, "What can I say? He's Mishpuheh!"

Some people ask about the right way to spell Hanukkah. Well, there isn't really a right one since it is translated from the Hebrew. Isn't it nice to have a word you can't spell wrong?

Oops! That should be "transliterated" from the Hebrew.

No right or wrong, but I think I'd spell it "mishpuchah" with a gutteral, back of the throat "ch" like that in "chaim."

Orcas and Marilyn~ Thanks. I think I was thinking of the word mensch, and mixed it up. I hope I spelled that one right, lol.

Is there the right way to spell? Sure! Pick any you like:

Chanukah
Hanukkah
Chanukkah
Hanukah

This is not important. What important is how you light the candles. And how you bless them.

Anybody knows which wine goes better with latkes?

I am lucky to have married a Jewish man, so I get to make latkes and have menorahs and spin dreidels with my kids. As to what wine I would serve, it would be something sparkling, or else a nice red that would go with the brisket.

I don't know what wine would go best but maybe a nice red...definately NO Maneschevitz! Ick, ick, and ick!

Happy Hannukah!!!

oops, did you notice that I, a true blue Jew, can't spell Hanukkah! Either that or I just can't type to save my life :D

Here's the Adam Sandler song Happy Hannukah--the first version (Happy Hannukah Part I) is better than the second (Part II). We're not Jewish but it is one of our family's favorite songs we play at this time of the year.

http://www.chanuka.com/songs.shtml

Oh, we LOVE Sandler's Hanukkah song; it contains our favorite lyrics ever:

Some people think that Ebenezer Scrooge is;
He's not, but you know who is?
All three Stooges!

"The irony of Hanukkah nowadays is that the holiday really commemorates the Jews' resistance to cultural assimilation ... while the modern western habit of gift-giving at Hanukkah is all about assimilation."

This seems completely appropriate, considering the contrast between the messages and sentiments behind secularized Christmas and the original religious event.

"You know you've on Fodor's a long time"... when you read a thread and find you posted to it 2 yrs ago. :-)

Opps, BEEN on Fodors

I need a gift suggestion!! Last year I gave a dear friend who is 75+ a large jar with a cross-stitched lid filled with chocolate gelt. Since last year he has found out that he is diabetic (I am Catholic so I have taken the guilt to heart!) What can I get him this year? I am looking for something small and meaningful, but under $20. Any suggestions?

Cross-stitched? :))

If you don't want to go with sugar-free candy (for example, Russell Stover makes lots) then how about a CD?

At 75+ the best gift is the gift of time - or at least this is what my 78-year-old father thinks - spend a day with your friend.

Sorry, can't help you with gifts - in my family we only give money to children (of any age!! ;) )

How about a gift card for a local restaurant for lunch or breakfast, or coffee coupons, or another appropriate gift is always a donation to a favorite charity of your friend's...perhaps their synagogue, a Jewish Community Center, or Jewish social service agency.

I thought of something else... is there a Jewish store or a community center with a gift shop in your area? They will have plenty of ideas!

Complete memory loss :) I was delivering gift baskets to those in need... and for people with strict diet, like diabetes, we had potted flowers.