{"id":1026,"date":"2021-12-01T16:19:27","date_gmt":"2021-12-01T16:19:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.swanseawriterscircle.co.uk\/blog\/?p=1026"},"modified":"2021-12-06T21:49:09","modified_gmt":"2021-12-06T21:49:09","slug":"on-the-twenty-fifth-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swanseawriterscircle.co.uk\/blog\/on-the-twenty-fifth-day\/1026\/","title":{"rendered":"On the twenty-fifth day"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Michael Noach was lighting a candle on his hanukkiah in the window of his small terrace when he heard a crash and someone crying out. Instinctively, he reached for the phone next to his window but stilled his hand when he heard a second cry, this time clearly coming from the back. He stood still, stroking his beard, pondering his actions. Another yell. He could not ignore a human in pain, so he picked up the torch he kept by the back door and peered outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIs anyone there?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh shit,\u201d said a voice. He shone the beam in that direction. There, on the ground, was a teenage boy, his foot at an oblique angle to his leg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHold still,\u201d urged Noach as he hurried across the yard, \u201cI\u2019ll help you up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think I\u2019ve broken it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

They turned, and Noach saw the Swastikas daubed in red paint on his back wall. Anger flashed across his face. \u201cWhy do you do this?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re fucking Jew boy,\u201d the teen said, his chin jutting defiantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Noach paused for a moment and gathered his words. \u201cI am a Jew, this is true, but I haven\u2019t done any fucking for many years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re still a Jew.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd this means you can deface my wall with such a symbol?\u201d Noach shook his head. \u201cWe need to talk. What\u2019s your name?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDerek, but everyone calls me Deggsie.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, Deggsie, I\u2019m Noach, let\u2019s get you inside.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd then you ring the cops?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, then I make you a cup of tea and call an ambulance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inside, Noach asked him, \u201cWhy do you hate Jews?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re weirdos and you keep all the money.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHah, do I look like I have money?\u201d Noach ran his hands over his threadbare clothing. \u201cAs for being weird. You might have a point. I know some very weird Jews. And weirdly, if you promise not to deface my house, I will not inform the police.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI promise,\u201d Deggsie said as ambulance lights stopped outside the window, framing the menorah. \u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s my hanukkiah. I light a candle every night for eight nights to commemorate the recovery of Jerusalem from the Greeks. We also eat weirdo food like doughnuts and sing songs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLike a Jewish Christmas?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSort of,\u201d Noach replied. \u201cLook, if you like, you can come back when they fix your leg, and I\u2019ll tell you all about it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOkay, just don\u2019t call the cops.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDeal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A year later, a knock came at the door and there stood Deggsie, a box of doughnuts in his hands. \u201cI brought you these.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They talked about the Maccabees and the Festival of Lights and the miracle of the oil and the importance of remembering. Especially remembering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deggsie thought of those talks often, so when he said goodbye to Noach\u2019s earthly presence, he commemorated him with a doughnut, a glass of wine and a latke. And did so every year from then on, on the first night of Hannukah, after twenty-five days of Kislev.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Audio Narration<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n