Throughout the eight nights of Hanukkah it is traditional to play a sort of gambling game with the dreidel, a little top with Hebrew characters on the side which indicate how many pieces you may take out or must put in. But the game only works because at the start of each round each player contributes to the common pot. You never know how much you will take out; you only know that the game is possible because each person contributes.
What will you put in for the common pot of a community today?
I am volunteering my time as an usher at a holiday concert tonight. I also make it a practice to over-tip the servers when I eat in restuarants during this season, remembering that they can use a little extra to help with their celebrations and gift giving.
The cops in this town collect toys for local children who may not get much for Christmas. Today we wrapped them, my fourth year in a row. I’m fascinated by the process. Everyone has a place at a table with tape, scissors, and a huge roll of gift paper on a metal roller. Gifts have been bagged by family and coded with age and sex of each child. Christmas music and doughnuts add to the fun.