Raggamuffins and Latkes

Who is that, you might ask? One of the celebrants at today's Chanukah party thrown by the wonderful people at The Ark. He was at a table full of rastas, and the man pictured above exhuberantly danced the afternoon away, and new all the words to both Hava Negliah and Hatikvah.

For all of the chatter as of late about Chanukah's meaning ( and those who question the validity of such a holiday) it was nice to see, in action, what the festival really does mean when not overly intellectualized. Before you do anything else, please consider making a donation to The Ark, an amazing organization providing health and social services here in Chicago. Today they provided a band, hot meal, and real (read, not chocolate) gelt for the packed crown who attended the Chanukah party. The audience was primarily elderly, seemingly recent emigres from Russia and Eastern Europe. A group who in many urban areas in the United States has faced significant economic troubles since coming to the United States over the last twenty plus years. Speaking to a board member from ARK, she informed me that the Russians make up only 30% of the population of Jews who utilize ARK's services, yet were by far the predominant group at the party. Others felt ashamed to ask for help in such a public manner. It made me wonder if the Russian immigrants, used to relying upon a government body for rations were less apt to feel self-concious? Most importantly, I managed to NOT spill food on anyone (though I came very close on a few occassions).

As the afternoon wound down, a short, elderly Russian woman made the "come here" signal with her finger. Let's be honest, those of us who have Russian lineage know how brash and direct the Pale crowd can be--I witnessed some volunteers dealing with this, in fact, today. I wondered to myself what possibly was wrong with her meal? She waved for me to come closely, not so different than my grandmother used to do, and whispered in my ear..."Zay mir gezunt boychik...zay mir gezunt." (Good health to you, young man...good health to you) and kissed me on the cheek.

Shalom aleichem...irie..fit 'n frock.