Carole Levine December 25, 2024
This morning my youngest sister, Sue, sent me this picture:
I must admit that I really did not remember this image, painted on the living room picture window at our home in Dayton, Ohio. It was clearly my artwork. I knew from my art experiences in “window painting contests” at one of the local outdoor malls that this was something I had participated in… but always at Halloween, not in December! But clearly, this was my family. From right to left are: Mom, Dad, my brother Ron, me, my Grandmother and my sister Sue. Lighting the candles is my sister Kate (two years younger than me).
I still could not remember this artwork or when it was done. So, I called my sister Sue to investigate. Sue confirmed that this was our childhood home and indeed, I had most likely painted it. Fortunately, our mother always wrote dates and notes on the back of pictures. This one, Sue said, was dated December 1959! Which means that this piece of art was created when I was 10! I still don’t remember doing it, but I assume I had lots of help from my parents and siblings in executing it! After all, the Halloween Window Painting Contest were always done in teams. But none of that really matters… It brought back many happy memories of Hanukah’s past. It made me wonder at my talent as a very young artist. And it centered on family. And that, perhaps, is what was most important. All of my Jewish holiday memories center on family.
Growing up in a small town with a small Jewish population, our celebrations were always about family… And we celebrated Hanukah with my cousins (all of whom grew up with me in Dayton). We always gathered at our house on December 25th, even if it wasn’t Hanukah that particular year, to light candles, celebrate our Grandmother’s birthday (she was born on December 24th), and that was when she gave us her Hanukah presents (that she had been accumulating for the entire year). Those are memories I cherish. Here’s a picture of one of those celebrations of Grandma’s birthday/Hanukah gathering. The picture includes the entire set of Dayton first cousins, with Grandma. I am seated next to her on the right.
Our cousin, Michael (the tallest one in the back), recently passed away. Seeing this makes his memory and our Dayton holiday celebrations even more poignant. We had a wonderful childhood. I am truly blessed.
Wishing everyone most happy holidays and wonderful, warm memories. I hope we will all continue to make them.
