Chanukah, Tallow, and the Light We Share

I've been thinking about light a lot lately.

Not the blinding, flashy kind. The kind that shows up when life feels a little heavy… and God reminds you you're not alone.

A Thanksgiving Miracle: When Family Comes Together

And honestly? This year, we had a little miracle in our own family.

For the first time in four years, we had Thanksgiving together — all of us.

And I don't mean "half the crew on FaceTime while someone tries to angle the phone toward the turkey." I mean together together. Around the table. In the same house. Laughing, eating, and soaking in the kind of moment you wish you could bottle up for later.

I kept looking around thinking, Lord… thank You.

Because I know what it's like to miss your people. And I also know how rare it is for everything to line up in a way that brings everyone home at the same time.

The Festival of Lights: What Chanukah Means to Our Family

So during this Chanukah season, it felt like the perfect moment to share something personal and something from my heart.

Chanukah is the Festival of Lights — and it's built around an unbelievable miracle: a single day's worth of oil that lasted for eight nights.

Every year, families light the menorah, say the prayers, and remember that light still holds its ground — even when the days are short.

Our Chrismukkah Tradition

In our house, we honor the roots… and we've also made it our own. We celebrate Chanukah and Christmas — Christmas a little less — and the whole season ends up feeling like one cozy, meaningful blend we call Chrismukkah.

We've got what we lovingly call our "Chanukah Bush," sparkling with blue and silver ornaments — dreidels, Stars of David, little menorahs — and we light candles like it's our job. When the kids were little, they counted down to candle lighting every night, and yes… they knew a small gift was coming afterward. (Listen. I'm their mom. I'm not above motivation. 😄)

But the best part was never the gift.

It was the moment.

The glow in the windows.

The stillness.

The reminder of the Light of the World.

The Connection Between Chanukah and Tallow Skincare

Now… you might be thinking: "Lisa, what does any of this have to do with skincare?"

And I love that question.

Because for us? It's all connected.

Our company name Kheyleve (pronounced kay-leave) comes from the Yiddish word cheylev, meaning fat — tallow. We Americanized the spelling for trademarking, but the meaning stayed the same.

And here's what makes me smile: Chanukah is literally a holiday that honors oil.

Cooking with Grass-Fed Tallow: A Traditional Approach

In the kitchen, that means latkes and sufganiyot — fried foods that celebrate that miracle.

And in our kitchen? We fry them in grass-fed beef tallow.

Not because it's trendy. Not because it's rebellious.

Because it's what makes sense to us.

It's traditional. It's simple. And it makes the crispiest, most golden latkes you've ever tasted. (If you know, you know.)

And as a holistic RN, I'll just say it: I've never been a fan of the modern obsession with ultra-processed oils. Seed oils are everywhere because they're cheap and shelf-stable… not because they're actually nourishing.

Tallow is one of those old-school ingredients that got pushed aside — and I think it deserves a comeback.

Why Grass-Fed Tallow is Perfect for Natural Skincare

And that brings us right back to skincare.

Because the same tallow that makes our holiday food amazing is the foundation of what we make at Kheyleve.

Grass-fed tallow is naturally rich in vitamins A, D, E, and K, and it's full of skin-loving fatty acids that your skin tends to recognize and absorb beautifully.

That's why so many of you tell me things like:

• "My skin finally feels calm again."
• "My winter dryness isn't winning this year."
• "This is the first thing that didn't make me react."

And those messages never get old. Not ever.

Because what I really want — what I've always wanted — is for you to feel like you've found something you can trust.

Something simple.

Something effective.

Something that feels like care.

Wishing You Light This Holiday Season

So whether you're lighting candles, trimming a tree, doing both like we do (hello, Chrismukkah 😄)… or you're just trying to keep your head above water in the busiest season of the year…

From our family to yours — we're wishing you Light. Real Light. The kind that steadies you. The kind that warms your home. The kind that reminds you you're held.

And thank you — truly — for being part of the Kheyleve family. Supporting our little business supports our real family, and I don't take that lightly.

Merry Chrismukkah, my friend.

May your holidays shine bright, and may the Light of the World illuminate your path!

With love,
Lisa and John

P.S. If winter has your skin feeling dry, tight, or cranky, LoLo was made for this exact season. Shop the LoLo collection here.