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Show Page B6 Thursday, December 14, 1989 Park Record Hanukah is "Jewish Christmas" definitely wrong, and sort of right Hanukah means didication. The Jewish holiday of Hanukah (just one of several English spellings) begins on Dec. 23 this year. Hanukah is a widely misunderstood holiday, even among Jews, and worth explaining. explain-ing. Hanukah is often thought of as a kind of "Jewish Christmas" which is definitely wrong, and sort of right. Wrong, because it has not nearly the religious significance to Judaism as does the birth of Christ to Christianity. Christiani-ty. Right, because in Western society Christmas is the most important cultural celebration of the year. For Jewish children, especially, it is good to be able to comfortably partake in the season's festivities. In that sense it is an invented holiday, at least in terms of it's relative importance. impor-tance. When everyone is wishing friends a Merry Christmas, Jews don't have to start looking at their shoes. The most sacred times for Judaism occur earlier in the year, at Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement), and later, at Passover. These holidays have important religious significance for Jews, and tend to be the ones observed by those of us who neglect regular devotions. Sort of like Christmas and Easter for many Christians. So, Hanukah fills a need and provides a means for Jews to participate in the Christmas season. This does not mean that Hanukah is meaningless. Far from it. To me, the story of Hanukah is emblematic of the entire history and struggle of the Jews. When we celebrate it, we are recognizing the tenacity and spirit of a people who have endured for over five millennia. What follows is the story of Hanukah, as I understand it. eg .,,1 1' .. ' it H m 0) m u 35j l O r id 3 T r r z o m o o 31 T , -n " 1 1 5 a tn 5 3 a ' 5 5 I " ID L T. m S m 9 S -m o 5 m ai CO m - 5" m o (o a -I t" ! a; i o i rn ! ci -5 o 2 a 3 35 7 m . 71 ae Z cn 3 S m z ro1" ! m 3 2 -n m 2 3J ! S 5! S c 5 52 S D ro00 Sc'"rO 3: tn o n cJoom-ic0g o f 5 I 5 1' ! CD 5 '.Cj mDlr, t - O fTI 'own 3 3 5 9 71 m o o o z o nna n H m H 2-1: is;W SSzS:a o : J S 2 3? 5 3 C , , J " e j; X :cl2rm?2 A oommS5 ST cn m z z v to a T Z z o 32 W I J" Ujo m C 3) 5g O c v ' '! 1"."' 1 1 """JV ! ..If'' ra ills if g 33 i IX 2o 13 9l?e -p u o -o L, 2 O O 3 Ti o o , :v I sua m r i h CT. 5 S2 S 55 S ) H H E K tjeS 5 r. 1 1 . -1 ' ! r k . s ' " "Tr m I ' i ! it io o L " J c 1 .! -f 3 1 o rJL w om y .... so p s y "Q 3 8 (q g & 2 HX-) 1 fmn in 8 S S" 'L i o r! ' 1 i 1 111 g g . '. or io h I -5 h a a s I I 2 1 The story of Jewish Hanukah by GARY WEISS Long ago, before Israel was Israel, it was Judea. It was ruled by a succession of kings, but the Jews were always there. Not soldiers, but shepards and farmers. At one time a Greek, Antiochus, became the King of Judea. He was a hard man who fancied himself a builder of Empires. It was not enough for this Greek ruler to tax the Jews with money; in order to survive they were forced to take Greek names, adopt Greek culture and even to play Greek sports. The biggest insult was forcing the Jews to take a new high priest, a Greek called Menaleus. Menaleus looted the Temple in Jerusalem, the holiest of places for the Jews. This temple was filled with gold and silver, but with no iron because weapons of war were made from iron. The Jews hated Meneleus, and when the Greek army was out of the country fighting the Egyptians a small army of Jews surrounded the Temple and forced Menaleus out. He was furious and swore a fearsome revenge. Antiochus returned with his army and took back the Temple. He and his soldiers destroyed what they could and took all that was left, of value. They went through the country coun-try forcing Jews to swear allegiance to Greek gods. Many who would't were killed. In a small city an old priest would not swear allegiance. When ordered to bow to an idol he struck it down and called for those who believed in the one God to follow him into the hills. Skirmishes followed and many were killed on both sides. Antiochus knew that the Jews wouldn't fight on the Sabbath, so that's when he ordered his main attack. at-tack. Many, many Jews were killed. kill-ed. The Jews were shepards and farmers not soldiers, but they were proud and brave. They would not surrender. They fought under Judah who was called the Mac-cabee, Mac-cabee, which means "The Hammer." Ham-mer." The Jews fought in the hills, and though outnumbered, often defeated the soldiers of Antiochus. Eventually they re-took the Temple in Jeruselum which had been desecrated by the Greeks. Before resuming the fight, they restored the Temple. Though in possession of the sacred place, the struggle was not yet finished. Surrounded and hungry, they fought on. They wanted to re-light the eternal flame. This was the holiest thing in the temple and it had been extinguished ex-tinguished by the Greek soldiers. The Jews despaired because they only had enough oil for one night of light. But they prayed to the Lord and somehow the flame lasted for eight days. This is why the holiday of Hanukah lasts for eight days. This is why Hanukah is called the Festival of Lights. As a symbolic reminder of this time, Jews place eight candles in a special candleholder called a Menorah. Each night, a new candle is lit and prayers are said, until all eight days have passed. Tradition has evolved so that with the lighting of each of these candles, small gifts are passed between people; one each night. Like many holidays, Hanukah has assumed characteristics far removed from the reason for celebration. The same could be said for Christmas. Hanukah has taken on many of the trappings of Christmas. Some Jewish families put up their own version of Christmas trees. The small tokens of the eight days have often become the large, expensive single presents given on the first day of Hanukah, just like Christmas morning. mor-ning. I think Jews have done this so that they can jump into the season with both feet, enjoying it all; from school vacations to consumer madness. I think this is alright. This is cultural ritual. And even though Christmas trees have little to do with the message of Christ, and Hanukah gelt (holiday gold) is unrelated to the fight against Antiochus, An-tiochus, these rituals are part of something very special; the very human need of people to come together. The teachings of Christ changed the world, and the awesome will of the Jewish people ' has allowed them to survive as a bridge between the ancient world and our own. This is not lost. I have been to Midnight Mass with my wife at an old Spanish mission, where people stood, waiting outside in a freezing rain sharing umbrellas um-brellas and singing Silent Night. I will never forget that in 1967, Isreal was once again attacked on it's ; most holy day. And once again sur- vived. These are the truths of the holidays. The celebration of the human spirit. m |