Hanukkah is the eight-day Jewish feast celebrating the rededication of the Jewish Temple in the 2nd century B. C. The Temple had been desecrated by invaders and spiritual abominations carried out through the worship of false gods. After Judas Maccabee, the great Jewish warrior, had driven out the foreigners, he rededicated the Temple through an eight-day period of prayer and celebration.
This happy time is also called the Festival of Lights and uses the famous Menorah. This well-known candelabrum has eight candles, one for each day of the Festival, and one additional candle should anyone need to light something in the house. The eight candles are level, with the ninth candle being elevated over the rest. The Menorah is one of the most famous symbols of the Jewish religion. Hanukkah can fall at any time from late November to late December. Patricia Polacco has written a touching account of a Hanukkah from her childhood. The name of this lovely story is "The Trees of the Dancing Goats."
The snow is beginning to fall and all the families outside Union City, Mich. start preparing for the religious holidays occurring in December. Almost all the families begin chopping down Christmas trees and getting ready to celebrate the birth of Our Lord. But the author’s family is Jewish; they commence getting ready for Hanukkah. However, since most of their neighbors are Christian, they often assist their Christian friends preparing for Christmas celebrations.
As the festival draws nearer, the family eagerly anticipates the joyful time of Hanukkah. Shortly before the feast, young Patricia visits her best friend Cherry Kremmel. When she arrived at the Kremmel house, she finds the entire family in bed with a fever from an epidemic. Patricia watches helplessly as Cherry lies in bed groaning in pain. When Patricia returns home, she is immediately quarantined by her family so that she can’t spread the epidemic. But the dangerous fever spreads throughout the area.
Fortunately Patricia has not contacted the illness and begins looking forward with anticipation to the Festival of Lights. While the older women start preparing baked chicken and potato pancakes, Patricia’s grandpa busily carves beautiful little wooden toys for the children. As the first candle is lit on the Menorah, the family joyfully embraces the beautiful holiday.
But after a while Grandpa wonders about all of the Christian neighbors in the area unable to prepare for Christmas. Ideas for helping them get ready for Christmas form in his mind. When he tells the family about this idea, they respond with generosity. The women start cooking again, and he and his grandson head into the forest with an ax. Soon the plan is complete.
What does Patricia Polacco’s family do for their sick neighbors? What is the cost and joy of friendship? How does the young girl learn that charity is such a blessing to the giver? Have you ever gone out of your way to help someone? Have you discovered the joy of giving? To find out the answers to these questions, go to the library and check out this delightful story "The Trees of the Dancing Goats" by Patricia Polacco.
This beautiful tale is another gift from Patricia Polacco. She is one of the most poignant and endearing author/illustrators in the field of children’s literature. You will love reading this story with the children in your family. It teaches us the great joy of charity. Enjoy!
