Sharing the Light

It is the season of Chanukah, of telling the story of the miracle of the oil and the bravery of the Maccabees, of coming together to light candles and sing a few choruses of “Rock of Ages.” We kicked off our Chanukah celebration a little early today, making latkes with our elders and, of course, eating them. The smells of oil and onion filled the building, as did some lively debates on sour cream vs applesauce. Let me tell you, that is a polarizing question!

We have always cooked with our elders for special events. Over the last year, we have made it a regular activity with big programs monthly and smaller ones weekly.  Whether it is cookies or pizza, stuffed peppers or quick breads, we come together, create delicious dishes and share them.

As I helped with the latke making this morning, I was struck by the joy on the faces of our elders and staff. Initially, as I saw each elder with a metal box grater in front of them, I felt a little bubble of anxiety. I remember my mother invariably catching her finger on the grater and laughing about it, “not being a real latke without a little blood in it!” But there was no blood shed this morning. There was, however, lots of effort and concentration, laughter and conversation.

We grated and then squeezed the water from our potatoes and onions. We added flour and spices, we mixed and we fried. And then everyone enjoyed. Some talked about the way they used to make latkes, others shared their holiday traditions and the ways in which they celebrated.

Regardless of the words spoken, regardless of the ability to fully participate or just watch and partake in the finished product, we saw the same thing that we always see when we cook. We saw that food is a great trigger for memory, that the activity involved in preparing food is often familiar, a kind of muscle memory that endures.  We also saw, and always see, light in the eyes and faces of our elders.

It is the season of light, and we are grateful that, today and every day, we find ways to help the eyes and faces of our elders to shine. As we often say, age is just a number and our goal is, and will always be, to make aging an enriching and fulfilling experience. It is the least that these elders, who have done so much for us, deserve.