When they got here, they kept our family name (very German-sounding vs. Jewish) but became Lutherans. My family never has been practicing Jews, all Lutherans, but we sure use a LOT of the vernacular and our Christmas Tree was always referred to as our, 'Chanukah Bush.'. ;)
That's one of those phrases that triggers some people, especially because the very holiday is the victory over assimilation. America -- the worst! Assimilation central! How many have lost their way?!!
I look at it from another angle, because of the peculiar bush that Moses saw. It kept right on burning, so he went to take a closer look, for to see why.
And it was when Moses turned aside to see, that the Lord spoke to him out of the midst of the bUSh.
I make mention of that detail in case folks might confuse it with the famous singing bush that was belting out annoying tunes without any encouragement. No intellectual curiosity required whatsoever.
Anyway, the shamash candle (usually positioned in the middle of the Chanukiah "bush") is the same spelling as the Sun -- shemesh [שםש] -- so on that final note,
In the midst of the bUSh that Moses saw is the US, which is 50 states. This is where I'll lose even the stragglers because "Wrong language!" or some such.
This is most unfortunate, because 50 *is* the "The distinguished number of transcendence."
There's always the original Hebrew, where that bUSh is a "sneh" [סנה]. And in the midst of any sneh is the letter nun, which has the value of 50.
🤔
If anyone wants to quibble about that bush being *the* bush [הסנה] verses *a* bush [סנה], such that the middle letters are two, I'd suggest turning around to see the miracle [נס] in the midst of *the* bush but hey, that's just me.
How many people have I annoyed today? I don't mean to do that, but that's what happens, as sure as the sun rises!
If your great-grandmother had been Jewish, you might still be Jewish.