"Look! There's Mommy!" Lulu shouts pointing towards the stage set up on the Ellipse near the 30 foot Menorah.

"Yes. I see her." Mom responds gently, lowering Lulu's arm. "But let's not point."

"Okay, Bubbe." Lulu answers agreeably, before wrinkling up her nose. "But what's that?" She demands pointing again.

"Ah. . . " Mom looks at me in confusion before answering Lulu. "I'm not sure."

"It's a dreidel. " I tell them. " Well, a man dressed up like a dreidel."

"Dreidelman!" Lulu announces excitedly, racing through the small crowd towards Donna.

Mom looks at me for an explanation as we follow along, But I don't really know, this is new to me as well. When we catch up to Lulu, she's chatting away with the character.

"And I'd like some new clothes for my baby and some books and sparkly shoes." She's informing him as if he's a Jewish Santa. Oy vey!

The top doesn't say anything in response to Lulu's list but waves at her and then moves on to another group of children as he makes his way down the aisle.

"What was that?" I ask Donna, but she shrugs before taking Jonah from me.

"Don't ask me! I'm not Jewish."

"Well you're in charge aren't you?" Mom asks gently.

"Not really. The American Friends of Lubavitch sponsor this event. The First Lady is really just a guest as well."

"Ah, I see."

"Speaking of which, it's almost 4pm so let's take our seats. She'll be here any minute." Donna guides us over to the front row, where we have reserved seating. It's nice to still have connections.

Seeing Donna take her seat, everyone on the stage follows. A few minutes later, "the President's Own" Marine Corp band plays a rousing number and two men dressed as Macabee soldiers escort Helen onto the stage. Immediately, she walks to the podium and the band stops playing.

"Good evening everyone! We are so glad you could join us for the 32nd Annual Lighting of the National Menorah. Please join me in welcoming Rabbi Levi Shemtov to proceed over the ceremony."

Helen begins clapping as she steps back from the podium and the crowd joins in as the Rabbi makes his way to the microphone.

"Hanukkah Sameach! And thank you, we are so glad you can all join us tonight. We have a wonderful evening planned, including the lighting of the first candle by special guest Jacob Lew, Director of the Office of Management & Budget."

Mom makes a little noise of discontent under her breath at that announcement. "Not as special as last year." She mutters, causing Donna to grin wildly at me.

My mother is as polite as can be, but she's still a Jewish Mother and as far as she's concerned, I should be the special guest every year. Honestly, I'm a little surprised she wanted to come at all now that I'm no one important.

"But first, we have a special reading. Every year The American Friends of the Lubavitch sponsors an essay contest, and here to read his winning essay is Fifth Grader, Rafel Shifren, from San Diego.

Rabbi Shemtov motions a young boy up to the podium. The kid clears his throat then reads in a loud voice-

What Chanukah means to me,

Is the right to be free,

From the battle of light v. dark

To the miracle of the oil with only a spark,

With Hashem we believe,

Hashem is our master of all, including me,

It means to keep the Torah in your heart,

With it you shall never part,

But if you feel like you are drifting away,

Just got o shul and to hashem you'll pray

That's what Chanukah means to me,

The right of religion.

The right to be free.

"Oh! That was lovely! Just lovely!" Mom gasps, clapping loudly along with everyone else.

Rafel's poem makes me smile too. I remember being young and earnest at one point. I might not be completely dedicated but haven't given up on my faith altogether. And I want my children to learn about it. I glance over at Lulu and she's clapping along with everyone else.

She grins at me. "I'm going to do that someday." She informs me.

"Tell people what Hanukkah means?"

'Be on stage so everyone can clap for me!" She announces without guile.

Donna and I burst into laughter but my Mom just beams at her. "I'm sure you will, darling."

After another reading and a short prayer, two Rabbis and Jacob Lew ascend in a lift to the top of the Menorah and flip the switch that turns the first candle on. Even after participating last year, I'm not sure why the lift is necessary. I'm pretty sure it can be turned on from the ground. And it will automatically light up for the next seven nights anyway. I guess it's just more dramatic this way.

"I'm going to do that too!" Lulu announces. "Just like Daddy."

And I don't doubt it one bit. Lulu is destined for greatness.

When the ceremony is over we join Helen and the guests in a tent set up behind the stage for VIPs. Mom tuts a bit when she sees that the refreshment table has several trays of cookies instead of traditional sufganiyot. But Lulu squeals in joy.

"Can I have a cookie, Daddy?" She begs as she spots the star shaped cookies covered in blue sugar crystals.

"Yes. Just one." I tell her before shrugging at Mom. "At least they aren't shaped like ornaments or candy canes."

"I know. It's always been thus." Mom adds sagely, "the battle between tradition and assimilation wages on."

"It's the story of the dreidel." I agree with a nod.

Mom looks happy that I made that connection, before bursting into laughter, "And apparently, dreidel man!"