Chanukah, Balagan, and the Missing Dress: A Modern Miracle

How a Missing Dress and a Family Balagan Turned into the Perfect Chanukah Story

Picture this: a house packed with bagels, Myriam’s world-famous arrollado, and the kind of joyful chaos only a big Jewish family can create. Now throw in a missing wedding dress, a stressed-out father-in-law trying to shush the world while davening, and a whirlwind of events leading up to the 4th night of Chanukah. If you’re imagining a scene equal parts stressful and hilarious, you’ve got the vibe. Sounds like the setup for a holiday miracle, right?

The Gate-side Panic

We were at the gate in Fort Lauderdale, balancing kids, a car seat, and snacks like a traveling circus ready to board our flight to New Jersey for my sister-in-law Debi’s wedding. That’s when it hit us: Mazi’s carefully chosen dress was still hanging neatly in our closet at home. My first instinct? Leave the airport, race home, and somehow make it back in time. But reality—and TSA security protocols—quickly brought me back to my senses. Cue the frantic brainstorming session. Thankfully, my cousin David was flying up the next day. One quick call, and he became our knight in shining armor (or at least our knight in a car driving 45 minutes to our apartment). Disaster averted, but man, those few minutes were tense.

Balagan at the Kuba House

The next morning, we found ourselves in the middle of a classic Kuba family balagan. What’s does balagan mean, you ask? It’s a Hebrew word for a mess, but it’s more than that—it’s chaos with heart, a glorious mix of disorder and life that somehow feels like home.

The house was bursting with energy: Argentinian cousins chatting loudly in rapid-fire Spanish, kids running around like caffeinated squirrels, and Diana grabbing at anything she could get her hands on (usually the most breakable thing in the room). My father-in-law Yossi, wrapping tefillin and trying to daven Shacharit, was anything but calm. He was shushing everyone like a librarian during finals week. Meanwhile, my mother-in-law Myriam was in her element, making sure no one left the kitchen without a bagel or a piece of her world-famous arrollado. Because in her universe, food isn’t just nourishment—it’s how you say “I love you.” It was pure balagan—a joyful chaos that only makes sense if you’ve ever been part of a big Jewish family.

Celebrating the Balagan

This all happened just two days ago, leading up to tonight—the 4th night of Chanukah and another big family wedding. And honestly? It feels like the perfect metaphor for the holiday.

Chanukah isn’t just about the neat, pretty glow of the menorah or perfectly crisp latkes. It’s about resilience amidst chaos and the joy that comes from embracing the messiness of life. The story of Chanukah celebrates the Maccabees who found light and hope in the middle of turmoil. And isn’t that what family is all about? No matter how messy or loud or stressful, it’s in those chaotic moments that we find the love, laughter, and meaning that carry us through.

So, as we light the candles tonight, I’m thinking about how much beauty there is in the balagan. Whether it’s scrambling to find a wedding dress, juggling cousins speaking different languages, or simply being grateful for the people who step up when you need them most, it’s all part of the story. Life isn’t about perfection—it’s about showing up, making the most of what you’ve got, and celebrating the little miracles that happen along the way.

Here’s to a 4th night of Chanukah filled with light, love, and maybe just a little bit of balagan. Because honestly? That’s where the best stories come from.