Nes Gadol Hayah Sham – A Chanukah Story

נ (Nun), ג (Gimel), ה (Hei), ש (Shin), which together form the acronym for " שם היה גדול נס " (Nes Gadol Hayah Sham– "a great miracle happened there")

Chapter 1: Night 1, 28 November2021

"On the first night, we say three blessings; the blessing over the candles, the blessing for the Chanukah miracle, and the Shehecheyanu," Ziva lit the shammus candle and began reciting the blessings as Tali and Anthony stood next to her. Tony was standing across from her holding baby LJ, who was asleep. The twins were on Tony's left side, watching wide-eyed. Last year they had been not quite a year old and uninterested in the ritual.

"Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam
asher kidishanu b'mitz'votav v'tzivanu
l'had'lik neir shel Chanukah."

"Amein," Tony, Tali and Anthony replied in unison.

"Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam
she'asah nisim la'avoteinu bayamim haheim baziman hazeh."

"Amein," the twins joined in this time.

"Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam
shehecheyanu v'kiyimanu v'higi'anu laz'man hazeh."

"Amein," the family said together. Ziva then lit the single candle in the menorah as her family watched.

"Three days ago we celebrated Thanksgiving; tonight we also celebrate thankfulness for the great miracles that have been the tradition of our people. But we also celebrate thankfulness for what we have. Tali?"

"I am thankful for my family," Tali responded. "Grandpa, Uncles and Aunts, cousins, my sisters and brothers and Ima and Abba."

Anthony spoke up next, "I am thankful for good food to eat."

Ziva looked to Tony as he shifted LJ in his arms. "I am thankful for our five miracles; Tali, Anthony, Rivka, Beth and LJ," she spoke from the heart. She had locked gazes with her best friend as she spoke and each felt a tear slip.

Tony nodded, letting his tear run down his cheek. "I am thankful for all of you. My five children, who I would not trade for anything, are blessings in abundance. Ziva, my best friend, my soul mate, my wife, you are my world and my everything. Ani ohev otcha."

LJ shifted in his Abba's arms and opened his eyes. Tony looked down on the newest miracle he and Ziva had created and grinned. "Hey, big boy, welcome to your first Chanukah!" LJ yawned and looked around before letting out a wail. "I think someone's hungry!"

As Ziva took the baby, Tony served the latkes and applesauce to plates for the kids, putting one in front of each child at the table. Both Rivka and Anthony reached towards the basket of sufganiyot in the center of the table. "Eat what is on your plate first," Ziva admonished her two. She knew that if allowed, both children would fill up on the sugar coated jelly filled donuts and not eat anything else.

LJ was nursing under the shawl Ziva had placed over her shoulder and partly over him. Tony served Ziva's food and then sat down with his own plate. He watched the kids devour the latkes and applesauce. He took a bite; not bad for his first attempt to make the traditional foods by himself. He hoped Ziva agreed. He watched as she put a forkful of potato and applesauce in her mouth. She grinned at him.

"Tony, these are delicious! Did you add a touch of Italian parsley to the latkes?"

"Yep; had to do it my way," he smiled, glad that Ziva approved of his addition to the recipe.