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Show Tribune WORLD VIEW RELIGION Saturday, December5, 1998 B3 Jews Draw the Line on Commercialization of Hanukkah Hanukkah Celebrates a Historic Rebellion Conservatives say there need not be parity between their relatively minor holiday and Christmascelebrations richness of the Jewish year atother times will not feel left out,” said Temple Emanuel’s Rabbi AnNEWTON, Mass. — Fed up with the “Christmas-ization”, or Priests Are commercialization, of Hanukkah, one large Massachusetts synagogue is fighting back. Even as many American Jews ascribeaninflated importance to Standing By Hanukkah togive their children a Jewish alternative to Christmas, For Your Call largest Conservative synagogue in New England, is buckingthe tide and downplaying the holiday Scared to go to confession? Other synagogues may stage major congregational celebrations, but Temple Emanuel’s 1,400 member families mark the Béen away from the church Newton's Temple Emanuel, the fot a while? Just dial 1-877- holiday with low-key, private by the phones. The Archdio- commemorations at home. Con- launched a newtoll-free, confidential advice hotline in hopes jor biblically mandated holidays, BBESS-ME. Priests are waiting cese of Philadelphia has of bringing Catholic people backto their faith. More than gregational celebrations have been restricid to Judaism’s ma- such as Passover. “Children who celebrate the drew Warmflash. Hanukkah begins at sundown on Dec. 13 and runs eight days, each one markedbythe lighting of a corresponding number of candles in a special candelabra called a “menorah” or “Hanukkiah.” The holiday celebrates the purificationof the ancient Jerusalem Temple followingthe victory of traditionalist Jews — the Maccabees — over the Syrian Greeks who oceupied Palestine some 2,200 years ago and sought to eradicate Judaism. Until recently, Hanukkah cele- brations were mostly low-key in keeping with the holiday's minor religious status. Holiday highlights included traditional fried foods associated with the oil used to rekindle the Jerusalem Temple candelabra and achildren’s game played with a “dreidel,” or spin- ning top, that recalled the Macez bees’ victory. Gifts were generally restricted to small amounts of moneygivento children But no more. Today, Hanukkah is a merchandiser’s dream. Even nagogues have jumped on the bandwagon, offering “Hanukkah gift sales” that have become ma- jor fund-raising opportunities “People are going to spend money,” said Rabbi Alan Rabi- shaw of Stephen S. Wise Temple, a Reform congregation of 3,000 families in Los Angeles. “The temple is going to make moneyor Macy’s is going to make money I'd rather the money go to the temple.” Many American Jewshavetaken to decorating their homes with blue and white Hanukkah bunting orlights in the mannerof Christ- church’s three phonelines. About 140 priests fromthe city and surrounding suburbs hayevolunteered to work on their days off to answer more than 100 calls a day. — TheAssociated Press Oo Divided Council The World Council of Churches, markingits 50th an- Big Buddha Takes Shape in South Salt Lake @ Continued from B-1 minds,” states a brochure that renderings can help address those perspective problems. Thenext stepis to turn the digital image over to engineers andarchitects to do the design work for the 500-foot statue. Their challenge will be to main- tain the precise image while ensuring its structural integrity. They will not have a lot of leeway. “It's like doing a portrait — there are veryprecise descriptions sia and Greece boycotting the opening service, underscoring thé major issue facing the global ecumenical body: what shapewill the drive for Christian unity take in the next mil- touts the project. “This imprint will act as a lamp guiding them to the path that leads to liberation from the cycle of birth and death This is the motivation behind the Maitreya Project — to make a mental imprint on the mindsof all who journey in pilgrimage to Bodhgaya in search of the Dhar- including more than 900 official delegates from the 330 Orthodox and Protestant denomi- by a teamofartists and computer hopesto have the statue's shell fin- wizards assembled in Salt Lake. ished in about five years. Hefiguresits cost will be above $100 million. The money will be raised through donations, but he predicts much of the workwill be done ona volunteer b: niversary, openedits Eighth Assembly on Thursday with Orthodox delegates from Rus- lennium? Some5,000 people, nations that are members of the WCC, gathered in Harare, Zimbabwe, for the assembly. However, the mostvisible is- sueis the role of homosexuals in thelife of church andsociety, especially given the Zimbabweanpresident's harsh denunciation of gays. — Religion News Service o Welcoming the Millennium The bishops of the Evangelicat Lutheran Church in Ameri- ca'haveissued a pastoral letter dismissing “wild prophecies” that the world is about to end and declaring that the third Christian millennium should be welcomed with hope. While ut first there is work to be done Kedgesays he was drawn to the Wasatch Front after cruising the Internet searching for a computer firm that could scan an existing 4- foot-high Buddhaprototype statue into a three-dimensional computer image. The idea is to put the Buddha into a computer so engineers and architects can work off thedigital imageto build an actualstructure. Thedigitized figure allows artists andtechnicians to shave the imper- fections off the prototype. Kedge also wanted to find a firmthat could then producea second prototized image. He foundthe Salt Lake firm Jayelin, which has the technology to take a CATscan of a humanbrain and have a solid, life-sized plastic version of the organthe next day. Kedge wrote Javelin and asked if the bishops said they were not afraid. “As Christians, we live each dayas if it could the last, and embrace each new dayas a gift of God.” it could do the same with a statue. “T said we could,” says Javelin Vice President Scott McMillin. Denise and Peter Griffin spent Qo LaborDispute A 15-year-old Amish boy in Churchtown, Penn., and his family are in a legal tug of war with federal child-labor watchdogs. Thedispute in- volves Daniel Mark Smucker’s work around heavypresses in a harness factory, as well as other work by Amish children. On oneside are federal childlabor laws; on the other side are, traditions of self-reliance and hard work, considered the law of God by some 150,000 Old Order Amish in Canada and the United States. — The Associated Press o Muslim-Jewish Code Jewish and Muslim leaders in the United States said Monday they are developing a code of ethics to govern passionate arguments over religion, Middle» East peace, terrorism and otherissues. The document urges followers to verify ru- mors before making public statements, to avoid stereotypes and words that can incite the past two years working with Buddhist masters onthe prototype. Their workhas taken place in Australia, Taiwan, Nepal and now South Salt Lake. At 4-feet high, the statue appears perfect. But grow it to 500 feet, and its nose could end up a bit askew. Or an eye might be wider than the other. Javelin has scanned the Buddha and is working with the sculptors to ready been computer-produced. ‘To further test the accuracy of the digital image, Javelin has teamed up with other area computer design experts, including a professor from the University of Utah, to build a 23-foot high version ofthe statue. “It's gone beyond our skills as fine artists, so that’s why we're linking to people with computer knowledge,” says Denise Griffin. The statue is literally being carved by computer. To take a 4foot high statue and enlargeit to 23 feet bytraditional means involves a painstaking process of extensive tracing, and can take two years from start to finish. This is taking less than a month “We found this particular collection of expertise wasreally appro- Rolls Roycebefore establishing his own engineering firm in Hong pect to ratify the document in Kongin 1980. Methodists in Congress Although the number of United Methodists in the 106th Congress beginning in January — 59 altogether, 12 in the Senate and 47 in the House — is the same as last year, the United Methodist contingent will be more Republican and more Southern than at any timein recent history. The figure does, however, represent a steady decline in United Methodist Congressional strength over the past four decades. — Methodists Make News beyondthis is going to be ground- breaking.” Even more remarkably, Kedge “The good will this idea gener- ates is just amazin; ys Kedge. “It really just fires the imagina- tion.” KedgeandGriffin say their pro- ject engenders support from near- lyeveryone who comesintocontact with it, regardless oftheir faith “Most peopleare touchedbyit, whether they're Buddhist or not. I think it’s becauseof theclarity of chanical engineer who worked for Digitizing the imagewill also al- low designers to maintain thefi ure’s architectural perspective. Wasalen- Christian Church Dedicated To The Teaching of God's Word [Meeting at Wheeler Farm:6351 So. 900 E, Sunday Services 10:15 a.m. (801) 576-1418 celeetbey) Lee)CLM “Happy Holidays” 5670 So. 4800 W. |The Episcopal } Church ‘ Welcomes You For complete informat weekday and other Suni services, please call the numberslisted below {AllSainte Church hil Computer Do you believe positive spiritual lessons are more useful than guilt Join us .Life iaereet 930 a1 nity Spiritual ceed Sacred ceremony: Tapping into the Ancient Wisdom ofthe Healing Mystics Margaret & David Hiller Meeting at Clayton Middle School 1471 South 1800 Enel rabbis officiating at marriages with non-Jews. But if there is a decline in ob- servancein somequarters, says, there has also been gence in others. must cater to trends — otherwise well as tra- American setting. Wetry integrated maybetoo much of the world and their Jewish values desire to return and re-embrace Jewish values and customs in their lives. Most Jews celebrate Hanukkah, ditional and not-so-observant Jewish families... Hanukkahis oneofthe major highlights in the but maybefordifferent reasons. For me, personally, I find it a disturbing holiday,” very hard to accommodate ail tastes,” said Weinstock, resur- have been overlooked and ignored,” he says. “They have this in Niles, TL “It [Hanukkah] is an area appealing to interfaith families, in- Zippel a ManyJewsrealize they have we'd be nuts,” said Ronna Weinstock, a marketing official at The Source for Everything Jewish,” a mail-order company based Greenwood “Celebrating abattleis not the center of my Judaism.” whose companycatalog features meno- For him, Hanukkah is about rahs with sports, mah jongg and feline themes the right of peopleto worshipin their own way MeMillin, a non-Buddhist, will attest to that. He says people who comein contact with the project 3‘ SOUTHEAST just wantto be a part ofit. It’s the energy of this project,’ saysMeMillin. “It's hard to pin it Tete a Buddhist who says his spiritual instructor picked him to guide the project, calls it, “The mostsatisfying thing I could ever think to do.” “I agreed to do it because my teacher asked me. I'mdoing it as my service to him,” Kedge adds “But technologically and professionally,it’s also the most exciting it Baptist Church A Caring Church for All People thing I've ever done.” The group has already purchased 40 acres in India, and they hope the statue will become a worldwide attraction and give a boost to the local economy. The project will include guest houses, monasteries and teaching centers, as well as a parkfilled with smaller statues, “People say, ‘Why spend so much moneyona statue? Couldn't spend it on something bet<edge. “I honestly A monumentbuilt to last 1,000 years? Thebenefits, s itually and economically, that ai re goingto flow on andon [are] just incalculable.” New Sunday Schedule 900 AMBible Study & Worship 10:30 AM Bible Study& Worship 6:00 PMEveningWorship 1700 East 7000 South Salt Lake City 801-94 3-2241 iw Churchof Religious Science SALT LAKE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP Sreere eee 615 E9800 S, Sandy $72-0211 See rw sel org HomeofS Lake Chnsian Academy12) $72.0749, wood Village Center Sas S. 900 E. 265-8601 The Cathedral Church of St. Mark 231 East 100 South Salt Lake City, UT 84111 3400 Sunday Holy Eucharist Rite 1 8:00am Santa Eucharistia 9:00am HolyEucharist Rite I 10:30am St, James Church 7486 Union Park Ave. Midvale, UT 84047 566-1311 Sunday Holy Eucharist 8:00 & 10:00am & Spm St. Paul’s Chure! Sunday Holy Eucharist Rite 1 8:00am Sunday Holy Eucharist RiteII 10:00am Church of The Resurrection 2 East Pages Ln. Centerville UT 840i4 160 Sunday Holy Eucharist 9:30am St. Luke's Church 95 North Sliver Springs Dr. Park (900° Sunday Holy 25 Park Ave. Chape ‘JO nm. Main Chapel 4 Su slay Sores Meditation 10:30 Metophysicol Bookstore ig and hc 1 4San Deh rye 4500 SOUTH VALLEY UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY “Who —ieee Say FIRST pisnh Ste Services at 10:30am & 4:00 pm Congregational Church Tt Free, Liberal & Democratic Worship, Sunday Schoo! & Nursery Care: 10:30 a.m UNITARIAN ss29687 CHURCH560 6. 10h tas Worship Service ‘ “Always Advent” WORD ALIVE FELLOWSHIP Pr Rev. Dave Bames ACommunity Church am “Divine Missions” 00 am and 11 Rev. Tom Goldsmith Intergenerational Service: 10:20 am Religious Education and Nursery Care: 9:00 am - 10:15 am & 11:00 am -12:15 pm The Richards are graduates of Rhema Bible Training Centerin Tulsa, Service times are: Sun, 10:30 o.m, n. 6:30 pam. Midweek is: Wed. 7:30 p.m. For more information please contact them: at 969-6115 or 969-3618 e “The Cost of Christmas” Rev. TomTaylor UNITED Meee CHURCHES FIRST UNITED METHODIST 203S. 200 E. - 328-8726 9:00 & Il am >} WORSHIPSERVICES 5, CHURCH SCHOOL, (att ages = Great Harvest o> Family Church of Holy C Rev. Robert R. Sewell Worship Service 11:00 am. Child Care Sunday Schoo! 9:30 am. Provided CHRISTUNITED METHODIST E. 3900 So. -486-5473 Pre (Church School 830 Chi care provided Ministers: lon Hodges, Brian Hare-Orags HILLTOP UNITED METHODIST 985 E. 10600 So. - 571-5777 “Out On A Limb” Old Fashioned Carol Sing at 7 pm Worship Services 8:15, 9:30, 1:00 Sunday Holy Eucharist 10:00am. Rev. Donald Graves 1575 SOUTH 700 EAST 801-285-8181 Christian Family Church = Sundays 10:30 Mary Jenson Ree. Cent 10300 § Redwood Rd. 254-1998 “God Loves Families” ( 4 ne Powerof Knowing” 3:30 an Contemporary11:00 an “Waiting With Sunday Holy Eucharist 8:00 am, 10:00 am & 6:00 pm on the drawing board or in miniafrom 500 feet below. interfaith marriages that it recently reiterated its opposition to for whom Hanukkah has become a leading source of incomeinsist that failing to cater to the evergrowing Hanukkah market would be financial suicide From aretail point of view, we terested Christian: 957-9697 For example, the Buddha's head may appearto be the perfect scale ture form, but it may look tiny of Jewish greeting cards sold Gift giving has also exploded Offering noapologies, retailers Hallmark spokesman Michelle Buckleysaid an estimated 11 mil- youareseeing.” The Central Conference of American Rabbis, who represent liberal or progressive Jews, is so concerned about the problem of holiest holidays — in the number ATTEND THE CHURCH OF YOUR CHOICE A twin of the prototype has al- priate for us,” savs Kedge, a me- a Griffin. “Everything that happens Kedge hopesis perfection. and to repudiate individuals a few weeks. — The Associated Press build a structure that will last for 1,000 years. “We're in new territory,” says trim andtweakits imageinto what who appeal to prejudice or violence. Organizations repre- senting Muslims and Jews ex- than its size, Kedge pledges to typetotest the fidelity of the digi- there is “much about the future that could give us pause,” — Religion News Service of what exactly a Buddha looks like,” says Griffin Perhaps even more stunning ley said Hanukkah has equalled Rosh Hashanah — the Jewish New Year and oneof Judaism's havealso becomehugelypopular. the object,” says Griffin. “It has a spiritual energy withinit. Youpick uponthat energy, evenif you are not intellectually aware of what @ Continued from B-1 compared to five years ago. Buck- mas decorations. Hanukkah cards a weekafter a $225,000 media blitz was launched, hundreds of callers have flooded the lion Hanukkah cards will be exchanged in North Americathis season — anincrease of 1 million Aut Chidren Sunday School at 240 am ae Douglas J. Meee 8 Alce RiemerMcK, Pastors TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 4290 West 5415 South, Kearns 968-6891 “Unwrapping the Gift of Silence” Rev. Bob Heim Worship Services: 8:30 am. & 11 am. School: 9:45am Youth 5:00 PM ‘Tongan Worship: 2:00 PM Worship Sam & Church School 10:15am ament of Holy Communion Rev. Robert R. Sewell Meeting at the Seventh Day Adventist Church 2125 West _9000 South 352-0700 “Promoting and developing a strong local church with an emphasis on children and youth” RevDeva’. Henry Cha care The Rew, CavA Haney ‘The Fev. Renee Rico acer ‘Sunday Worship Services: 10:00 & 6:30 Sunday Night Youth Services: 6:30 Wed. Prayer & Hour of Power: 6:90 & 7:30 Located at Center Square Piaza, Midvale (2/10 mile west of State St.on 7720 8) 255-2901 An Affilate of Rhema Bible Church, Tulsa, OK a WESTVALE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 3610 South 4400 West, WVC 968-7992 “Coming Home to Love” fey Bl Alexander Sonne meek Rew. Crd Bake Agsagote Postr t)hy Christian Science JAPANESE CHURCH OF CHRIST 268 West 100 South SLC 363-3251 yavelJapanese a ‘english COMMUNITY OF GRACE PRESBYTERIAN 2015 E. Newcastle - Sandy 943-4043 Rev. Patricia Vanderpo! 9:300m Christion d 10:30am ‘org Cottonwood Presbyterian Church Worship 830 am & 400 0 Schr 930 a | L turd cedar Se asaul Cee Petarie en Sunday Schostfer PAL Derg Seeon) eeor tsa Pr Aer ered Rd Lrtt) eeeet Wed. 7:30pm |
