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“Hanukkah is about the freedom to be true to what we believe without denying the freedom of those who believe otherwise. It’s about lighting our candle, while not being threatened by or threatening anyone else’s candle.” Rabbi Jonathan Sacks z”l -- This week Jennie and Dianne invite everyone to cozy up with a cup of latke-friendly brew and join them as they revisit their first ever Hanukkah episode (#10!), exploring the connections between Hanukkah and the American Revolution through the stories of war heroes buried in Chatham Square Jewish Cemetery in New York City. We hope this episode inspires all our listeners to find their light in the darkness.

Episode available on YouTube:https://youtu.be/X1NBLsOqIoY?si=eZSOGgFi4GBuDqQH

Family Tales: A free printable, is now available! Gather 'round the table and dig into your roots! This interactive family history game is perfect for holidays, reunions, or just because. Ask, listen, and laugh your way through generations of stories and secrets. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UT_R56qEwNTIxIBrTy8KFyVmGnFOe7g8/view?usp=sharing

Need an Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast tee, hoodie or mug? Find all our taphophile-fun much here: https://oecemetery.etsy.com

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This week Dianne and Jennie are getting into the holiday spirit with the heartwarming story of Colonel Harry Shoup, the Air Force officer who answered a mistaken phone call from a little girl looking for Santa. His kindness sparked a tradition that's tracked Santa for 70 years! Ever wondered how NORAD got involved? Tune in to hear the Ordinary Extraordinary, magical Christmas tale!

Episode available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7014a4Stt_0?si=RS2OobqhaCPFBxvC

It may not be Christmas Eve yet, but read stories, play games and more, and of course, track Santa with NORAD on Christmas Eve at:https://www.noradsanta.org/en/

Resources used to research this episode include: DME Interns. "Harry Shoup: The Santa Colonel ." https://news.va.gov/. 24 Dec. 2021. news.va.gov/98635/harry-shoup-the-santa-colonel/. Accessed 7 Dec. 2025.

Young, Olivia. "Colorado woman recalls phone call that transformed father into NORAD's "Santa Colonel" ." https://www.cbsnews.com/. 24 Dec. 2024. www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/colorado-woman-recalls-phone-call-transformed-father-norads-santa-colonel/. Accessed 7 Dec. 2025.

Multiple Contributors . "NORAD Tracks Santa ." https://en.wikipedia.org/. 6 Nov. 2024. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NORAD_Tracks_Santa. Accessed 7 Dec. 2025.

The Gazette . "Harry Wesley Shoup ." https://obits.gazette.com/. 18 Mar. 2009. obits.gazette.com/us/obituaries/gazette/name/harry-shoup-obituary?id=23024681. Accessed 7 Dec. 2025.

Need an Ordinary Extraordinary Cemetery Podcast tee, hoodie or mug? Find all our taphophile-fun much here: https://oecemetery.etsy.com

Send us a text! We love hearing from listeners. If you'd like a response, please include your email.