#high stakes dreidel will be played!

[dharmasharks]

hello friend! i would love to hear about "keep a candle burning" if you'd like to share! <3

Hi hi friend! Thanks for asking! I have some festive modern stucky for you for Hanukkah bingo, provided I can get my shit together in time this year! *looks at calendar* *sweats*

Here’s the deal: Bucky’s ex/childhood sweetheart/former best pal Steve is back in town for the first time in years. He's staying with Bucky for a week and day, until the annual Barnes family Hanukkah party. And Bucky can totally, definitely, absolutely last all eight nights without kissing Steve on his very cute mouth.

Here's a rough snippet!

“Bucky. Somebody got murdered on that couch. You’re a grown man with one murder couch and zero end tables.” Steve gestures to where Bucky’s bionic prosthetic, skinned like R2-D2, is charging on the ground near the front door. “How do you have people over?” Ah, there it is. This part of the conversation. But that doesn’t mean Bucky has to make it easy on him. Especially if it means missing out on the way Steve’s ears pink up when he gets a little bit embarrassed, which comes in at number six on Bucky’s power rankings of Steve Rogers Blushes.  “Well, Becca won’t visit, but that’s mostly because of the train ride,” Bucky says. “Jersey City,” Steve muses with a shudder. “How could she?” Bucky shrugs. “You know. Kids.” Steve shudders again. “Still, I don’t know how you’d entertain guests like this.” “Well, you’re here. Not too late to stay at the Midtown Hilton Garden Inn with the rest of the army field band if my lifestyle is too horrible to bear.” Steve wrinkles his nose at Midtown. Then takes a sip of bourbon. Then, very casually asks from around the rim of his glass, “So, are you seeing anyone?”

Happy Friday, hope you have some fun plans ahead this weekend <3

[lazarusemma]

(Again written for @5ftjewishcactus’s wonderful Chanukah Omens prompts! Tonight’s prompt: dreidel.)

Read it on AO3!

“You’re cheating,” Aziraphale says, but he’s smiling.

“Why would I cheat?” Crowley protests. “Not like the stakes are high enough to be worth it.”

The stakes are not, in fact, very high: only a handful of chocolate coins already going soft in their shiny golden wrappings. Aziraphale lays a protective hand over his scant winnings. “Well. Perhaps it’s simply in your nature.”

Crowley crosses his arms as though he has been deeply offended. “You think I’m incapable of playing an honest game?”

Aziraphale touches his shoulder. “Of course not, my dear,” he says, and Crowley smiles until he adds, “I’m merely suggesting that you don’t want to play fair.”

“Pffft,” says Crowley, who has been miracling his spins to land on gimmel about half the time, “where’s the fun in a rigged game?”

Aziraphale attempts a frown. It goes poorly, and Crowley laughs until Aziraphale does too. “I suppose you would have to tell me that, really,” he says. “Is it really so enjoyable to deprive me of my chocolates?”

“Ohhh,” says Crowley, tipping his head. “I wouldn’t say I’m planning on depriving you of them, y’know. Never been much for sweets myself.”

“Then--” Aziraphale narrows his eyes. “What is your devious plan, serpent?”

Crowley grins, a sharp and wicked thing, and Aziraphale kisses his cheek. “I have been doing a fair bit of thinking,” Crowley says, and nods solemnly as Aziraphale pretends to be shocked at this news. “I know, I know, dangerous activity. But I was thinking what I’d do with all this chocolate I’ll have won, and it seems to me, y’see, there’s really just one thing for it.”

“And what’s that?”

Crowley takes Aziraphale’s hand and brings it to his lips. “It occurs to me,” he says, “that I may know someone who enjoys chocolates far more than I do.”

Aziraphale smiles, a soft thing, happiness bright in his eyes. “Is that so?”

“Mhm. So if you’ll take your turn, angel, I think it’ll only be a few more rounds before I’ve got all the coins and we can set this plan into motion.”

So Aziraphale picks up his dreidel, a lovely golden thing they bought together last year, and blows on it for luck. It’s a silly custom, and Crowley has never missed an opportunity to poke fun at it, but maybe it works, or maybe someone’s slipped in a sneaky miracle (and who could say which of them it was?) because when it wobbles and topples it’s gimmel side up. Aziraphale beams and scoops the pile towards himself, and he’s making some comment about how he might be harder to defeat than Crowley bargained for, and Crowley’s laughing and arguing in all the right places, and everything is exactly as it should be.

[ao3feed-sterek]

Dreidel Champ

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2s8BN2w

by maiNuoire

Stiles plays high stakes dreidel.

Words: 710, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Teen Wolf (TV)

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Stiles Stilinski, Derek Hale

Relationships: Derek Hale/Stiles Stilinski

Additional Tags: Hanukkah, S'vivon | Dreidel, Fluff

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2s8BN2w

[defactomatriarch-a]

“please forgive my ignorance grammy, but isn’t dreidel sort of like gambling??” i meant to send this forever ago but forgot fhchfheb

“You know, I’d never thought about it like that, but I suppose you’re right.” They’re sitting around the Smiths’ coffee table, each with their own pieces of gelt. It’s the beginning of the game, so everyone has the SAME amount…for now. “It’s similar to playing low-stakes blackjack. My grandfather used to play with me for pennies. I don’t think anyone has played a high-stakes game of dreidel, though I could be WRONG.”

“I’d argue it’s a bit different from, say, Texas Hold’em. Poker takes a fair amount of skill whereas this… ” Eleanore spins the top, and it lands on HEY–half. She collects her winnings. “…is pure chance.”

[checkmate-cherik]

Prompt: cherik celebrates Hanukkah

Disclaimer: I’m not Jewish, so I have no idea what I’m doing, but I looked up a bunch of stuff and asked a friend so I hope I get this semi-plausible. Apologies to the Jewish readers in advance! 

(also I know he’s German but I added some Americanisms because no one told me not to)

(also also it’s not really Cherik but fuck it)

~

Erik lit the final candle and smiled, setting the shamash back in its holder.

“Alright,” he said, “Now it’s time for--”

“Presents!” Peter caroled, and Erik grinned while everyone else laughed.

“Yes, presents,” Erik agreed, mussing Peter’s hair as he walked past. Peter grumbled and smoothed his hair down, but didn’t complain very loudly.

Charles, Peter, Wanda, Raven, Jean, Kurt, and Ororo were spending Hannukah with Erik, which was nice of them. He was a little suspicious of Kurt on the first night, since he was Catholic, but it seemed Kurt was just curious, because he was very respectful about everything, more so than Peter, who seemed only in it for the food and presents. Everyone was being very respectful, and that was... good.

Erik smiled to himself as he brought out the box of presents. Mama would be so surprised. Happy, too, though.

Erik had taught them all how to make Mama’s latkes, though Peter and Jean burned theirs, and told them why it was important to eat so much fried food while the goose cooked (and wasn’t that a chore, trying to find a proper goose). Charles had already known; Charles had been the one to suggest they do this, instead of Erik hiding in his room every night. But he hadn’t shown any signs of such. The kids had been curious, and kept all their doubtful questions behind their teeth. Erik was grateful for that.

He was also grateful that they didn’t mind his saying the blessings and prayers in Hebrew, instead of in English so they’d know what he was saying. He’d had enough of people demanding he speak English when he was trying to pray.

The presents on the first night had surprised the kids (well, it had surprised Erik too, when he heard about it last year, but he’d wanted to give them something for agreeing to spend time with him of their own free will). But Charles and Raven had advised Erik well, and they all enjoyed what they got. Then Erik had taught them to play dreidel, which had immediately turned high-stakes with ten dollars each being put in instead of one chocolate gelt. The chocolate was just eaten.

Charles had watched with a soft smile instead of playing, and Erik had felt like his heart was being squeezed painfully tight every time he saw.

Now, on the eighth night, Erik passed out the last presents. Peter immediately ripped the paper off his, while everyone else said thank you first, and whooped as he opened the flimsy box to reveal a Pink Floyd shirt to replace the one that had gotten ratty and stained. Wanda squeaked with happiness to find a coat in her much larger gift bag, in the exact red she’d been looking for. She was always cold and Erik could not have that. Everyone got presents that made them smile, and that made Erik... happy.

While the children showed each other their gifts, Erik sneaked closer to Charles, and took his hand. Charles smiled up at him, and there, those bands of pressure around his heart.

“Thank you,” Erik whispered.

[theresabookforthat]

Jewish American Heritage

This month we’ve been commemorating Jewish American Heritage Month. In 2006, President George W. Bush proclaimed May Jewish American Heritage Month in order to honor the more than 350-year history of Jewish contributions to American culture.

This year Penguin Random House was pleased to have the following nine books win, or be finalists for, National Jewish Book Awards in eight categories. The National Jewish Book Award, established by the Jewish Book Council in 1950, recognizes outstanding works of Jewish literature. You can learn more about the Jewish Book Council here.

WINNERS:

Contemporary Jewish Life and Practice: Myra H. Kraft Memorial Award

CHANGING THE WORLD FROM THE INSIDE OUT: A JEWISH APPROACH TO PERSONAL AND SOCIAL CHANGE by Rabbi David Jaffe (Shambhala)

An inspiring and accessible guide, drawn from Jewish wisdom, for building the inner qualities necessary to work effectively for social justice.

 Debut Fiction: Goldberg Prize

ANNA AND THE SWALLOW MAN by Gavriel Savit (Knopf Books for Young Readers; Ages 12 and up)

Set in Poland during the Second World War, Anna and the Swallow Man is a stunning, literary, and wholly original novel perfect for readers of The Book Thief and All the Light We Cannot See.

 Poetry: Berru Award in Memory of Ruth and Bernie Weinflash

ALMOST COMPLETE POEMS by Stanley Moss (Seven Stories Press)

Moss is oceanic: his poems rise, crest, crash, and rise again like waves. His voice echoes the boom of the Old Testament, the fluty trill of Greek mythology, and the gongs of Chinese rituals as he writes about love, nature, war, oppression, and the miracle of language.

 FINALISTS:

Book Club Award: The Debby and Ken Miller Award

TWO SHE-BEARS (Schocken Books)

One of Israel’s most celebrated novelists—the acclaimed author of A Pigeon and a Boy—gives us a story of village love and vengeance in the early days of British Palestine that is still being played out two generations later. 

 Fiction: JJ Greenberg Memorial Award

CARRY ME by Peter Behrens (Pantheon Books)

Billy and Karin first bond over the popular Wild West stories of Karl May, and later over their passion for jazz and Berlin nightclubs. But they also come to share a fantasy of escape from the 1930s Germany that is rapidly darkening around them—escape to the high plains of Texas and New Mexico they’d read about as children. Against the backdrop of Hitler’s rise to power, their friendship deepens into a love affair with extraordinarily high stakes.

 History: Gerrard and Ella Berman Memorial Award and Holocaust

EAST WEST STREET: ON THE ORIGINS OF “GENOCIDE” AND “CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY” by Philippe Sands (Knopf)

While exploring the basis and creation of humanitarian law—the direct result of the unprecedented atrocities of Hitler’s Third Reich—East West Street is also a moving personal detective story which looks at the personal and intellectual evolution of the two men who simultaneously originated the ideas of “genocide” and “crimes against humanity.”

 Children’s Literature

DREIDELS ON THE BRAIN by Joel ben Izzy (Dial Books; Middle Grade – 10 and up)

At last a great American Hanukkah story! This very funny, very touching novel of growing up Jewish has the makings of a holiday classic.

 THE INQUISITOR’S TALE: OR, THE THREE MAGICAL CHILDREN AND THEIR HOLY DOG by Adam Gidwitz (Dutton Books for Young Readers; Middle Grade –  ages 10 and up)

Also a 2017 Newbery Honor Book and Winner of the Sydney Taylor Book Award 

An exciting and hilarious medieval adventure from the bestselling author of A Tale Dark and Grimm. Beautifully illustrated throughout! 

 Young Adult: The Posner Award

ANOTHER ME by Eva Wiseman (Tundra Books; Ages 12 and up)

Set against the backdrop of plague-ravaged Europe, this spellbinding new novel from one of Canada’s foremost writers of historical fiction for young people will have readers racing to the electrifying climax.

 ANNA AND THE SWALLOW MAN by Gavriel Savit (Knopf Books for Young Readers; Ages 12 and up )

“The third-person narrative—lyrical, fluid, with a pervasive shadow of menace—lends a folkloric feel to a graceful story steeped in history, magic, myth, and archetype.” —The Horn Book, Starred Review

  To learn more about these and other Jewish National Book Award titles visit National Jewish Book Awards

[beholdthemem]

Update: When I got there this morning they were playing high stakes dreidel with poker chips.

So tomorrow, starting at 11:15, my sister and I will be looking after 3 children and 2 dogs, all under the age of 10, for 9 hours.

This can only end so well.

[ao3-sterek]

Dreidel Champ

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2s8BN2w

by maiNuoire

Stiles plays high stakes dreidel.

Words: 710, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: Teen Wolf (TV)

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Stiles Stilinski, Derek Hale

Relationships: Derek Hale/Stiles Stilinski

Additional Tags: Hanukkah, S'vivon | Dreidel, Fluff

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2s8BN2w