I was excited by the fact that I would actually get to spend Hanukkah with fellow Jews and get to see the Menorah being lit. So I arrive at 5:15 in the center of the ship, where others are beginning to arrive and I see a small table with latkes, challah and Kiddush wine (although neither the challah nor Kiddush wine was required- but a nice touch regardless). So 5:15 rolls by, then 5:30 rolls by. With a nervous confusion, the remaining families begin milling around wondering if there would actually be a menorah lighting and because dinner was happening soon (first seating at 5:45- and it was food!) - would it happen on time?

With no one taking the Hanukkah celebrations by the rein, I stand up. “Can anyone help me light the menorah and say the blessings?” With those words, I unleashed a Jewish flood. A hand was raised, a lawyer from Los Angeles who happens to be a member of Congregation Or Ami jumps up and volunteers to help. The 3^rd night of Hanukkah (our first on the ship) started with 20 people and by the last night of Hanukkah we had close to 100 people attending.

We created a community, affectionately dubbed “Congregation Bet Valor” (name of the ship), unlike any other community that I have ever been apart of. We now had instant friends- no matter where we went- there was always someone Jewish (sounds like a song, eh?). Every island we went to we knew someone, every activity aboard we had friends to sit with, and every meal we knew someone. My 7 day, 7 night adventure aboard the “Hanukkah boat” has provided me with new friends, a new sense of community and a feeling of pride about the Jewish people.