On Wednesday, December 1, Bernard (“Bensie”) Fox, his son, Lawrence, and a number of family members participated in a 55-year family tradition when they lit Chanukah candles on the first night of the holiday at Jewish Hospital Medical Center East, 3920 Dutchmans Lane.
The candles were lit in memory of Bensie’s late sister, Hilda (“Hindy”) Fox. Hilda Fox had been head nurse at Jewish Hospital for many years prior to her death of a cerebral hemorrhage on the fourth night of Chanukah, 1956. She was 42 years old.
One of 14 siblings, Hilda Fox had never married and, according to family members, the hospital was her life. In addition to her other responsibilities, she took it upon herself to erect a menorah and light Chanukah candles each year for patients and visitors to Jewish Hospital. After her death, the family purchased a simple wooden menorah and for over five decades a different family member has come to Jewish Hospital each night of the holiday to light the candles in her memory.
Ten years ago, Jewish Hospital gave the Fox family a Chanukah gift and commissioned Louisville artist Julius Friedman and internationally known glass artisan Mark Fowler to design a new menorah that could be kept on permanent display at Medical Center East. Members of the Fox family continue taking turns lighting candles for the eight nights of the Chanukah holiday.