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Bruce’s chanukiah was a simple one. It was shining silver, with classic curved branches and the shamash in the center. It used to be his father’s; sometimes, Bruce could almost imagine him carefully fixing the wicks of each oil light. He’d started using it when he came back to Gotham after his training. It had a lot of little stickers on it, a tradition started by a six-year-old Bruce and continued by his children.
Dick’s was a little fancier. When he’d first decided to celebrate Chanukah with Bruce, he’d decided that he wanted his own chanukiah, rather than the one Bruce had offered him- the one he’d gotten for his Bar Mitzvah. Bruce took Dick to one of Gotham’s nicest judaica stores and let him choose his own. He chose one that was a darker gold, with bright gold vines and red flowers with green leaves. Robin colors. His family colors.
Jason was the one who got Bruce’s old chanukiah. Black with silver flecks, red accents around the candle holders. On the base, in red letters, it said: ויהי אחר הדברים האלה והאלהים נסה את-אברהם ויאמר אליו אברהם ויאמר הנני. It was the first pasuk of the parsha Bruce had lained for his Bar Mitzvah, Vayera. When he’d first learned that it had once been Bruce’s, he’d hidden in the library to cry for hours.
Tim had his own, that his dad got him for his bar mitzvah. It was dark blue, with a gold dragon curled around the base. The dragon had half-open sapphire eyes, and curls of blue smoke were carved up the stem. When he’d moved to Wayne Manor, he’d carried the box in, clutched to his chest. It took him a long time to trust even Alfred with it, setting it up and cleaning it himself.
Cass’s was black with silver ribbons wrapping around the branches, ending in a pair of pointe shoes at the base, with little pink rosettes everywhere. She’d wanted to get one that matched Bruce’s, but she’d seen the ballet one and fallen in love instantly. She’d sat with Dick for hours that first year, learning to say the brachot perfectly so she could surprise Bruce.
Steph’s was simple, in the same style as Bruce’s. It was two different shades of purple marbled together, with small silver accents. She’d gone with Dick and Damian to buy her chanukiah, back when they still thought Bruce was dead. Dick had felt- wrong, celebrating without Bruce, but he’d wanted Damian to have part of his father’s culture. Steph had decided to celebrate with them, to make it easier on him. It had quickly become one of her favorite holidays.
Damian had picked his out with Steph’s help. It was emerald green, with a lighter green snake curled around the branches and the base, and small gold accents. When he was younger, he’d been given lessons on many different cultures and religions- Talia had made sure that he’d learned about Judaism, for her beloved.
Duke’s was yellow gold, with blue-black accents dotted with stars that glowed in the dark. He’d painted those on himself, carefully dotting on constellations. His first Chanukah, he’d sat there silently, unsure of himself and of everyone else. Now, when they all sang Ma’oz Tzur, he made little light shows on the ceiling just to make everyone smile.
Wayne Manor always looked better in candlelight.