Manassas Journal Messenger | Hanukkah begins tonight
For Karen Klein’s family, Hanukkah isn’t just about presents.
“It’s not all about the gifts,” Klein said. “But about the tradition of lighting the candles. We try to have one night where we have a more celebratory meal — we make brisket and the latkes, and try to have friends celebrate with us.”
The eight-day holiday of Hanukkah begins tonight for Jews around the world. Jewish holidays last from sundown to sundown. This holiday celebrates the Maccabees, or a small band of Israelites, who fought off a larger Greek army.
“The Greek army came into Judea and said ‘You can’t practice Judaism in your own land,’ ” said Rabbi Jennifer Weiner of Congregation Ner Shalom in Woodbridge. “They said ‘This isn’t right.’ “
These Jews, fighting approximately 2,100 years ago, found a small flask of sanctified oil to burn in honor of their victory and newly rededicated temple. The oil lasted eight days and nights, instead of the one day and night the Maccabees expected, Weiner said.
Jews call Hanukkah the “Festival of Lights” for this reason and light one candle each night on their menorahs to honor this event. A menorah is a branch-like candleholder, with a small cup for each of the eight candles and one in the middle for the candle which is used to light the others.
Some Jews consider the military victory, as well as the oil, to be the miracles of Hanukkah.
“It’s also a celebration of religious freedom, and being able to celebrate Judaism out in the public,” Weiner said.
Hanukkah ranks somewhat low on the list of important Jewish holidays. But American Jews have increased its importance, partially because of “another holiday in December,” Weiner said.
“Jewish children did actually feel left out in America, and their parents didn’t want them to feel left out,” Weiner said.
Hanukkah has become more commercialized than before, Weiner said. But like Christian leaders preaching about the meaning behind Christmas, Jewish leaders like Weiner emphasize the Hanukkah traditions.
“You gather together to light the menorah, you sing songs and you eat traditional food — foods that are fried in oil to remember the oil of the temple,” Weiner said. “Presents are kind of an afterthought.”
Jews in Israel tend to make the holiday more about those traditions and being together, she said.
Children often receive dreidels, or tops with Hebrew letters on each side. The Jews used dreidels to teach children Hebrew, disguised as a game from oppressors, Weiner said.
Now children receive chocolate money, or gelt. But in the past, parents gave real money. The children would sometimes give that money to charities, Weiner said.
Reformed Jewish leaders, like Weiner, have urged Jews to refrain from giving presents on Monday, or the sixth night of Hanukkah, and give the money to charities instead.
“It’s called the light of righteous giving … using the metaphor of the candles and shedding light,” Weiner said.
The temple invited its 113 member families to join in a celebratory dinner Friday night. The main food attraction for Jews on Hanukkah is the latkes, or fried potato pancakes, usually served with apple sauce.
According to a Congregation Ner Shalom newsletter, Jews usually celebrate Hanukkah at home, but Friday night, they will celebrate together.
“Since Ner Shalom is extended family for many of us, we will be celebrating the fourth night together at the synagogue,” it read.
Klein, her two young children and her husband plan to attend the celebration, as well as light candles in their home. Klein has already visited her children’s classrooms to teach the students the story of Hanukkah and how to play the dreidel game.
Congregant Robin Carter and her family will also go to the temple Friday. At home, Carter and her three children have been filling their house with home-made Hanukkah decorations.
“For us it’s real family time, with the importance centered around lighting the menorah,” Carter said. “I have three kids, and as they get older they get their own smaller menorah.”
The Carters’ extended family will travel to their house to have a dinner with traditional Hanukkah foods on the weekend. The children will search one at a time for hidden presents around the house.
“Its not just a smorgasbord of opening the gifts,” Carter said. “We do it one at a time so everyone can see what they got. We teach the importance of giving, not just receiving.”
While decorating and listening to Hanukkah music, her youngest child asked why their house was the only one on the block lacking Christmas lights outside.
The 4-year-old will learn in time that their family decorates the inside of their house, lights candles, and has their own holiday, Carter said.
Weiner told the religious school children at Ner Shalom this past Sunday not to forget the Hanukkah story for themselves and for future generations.
“I hope when relating to what happened in ancient times, we are able to relate it to modern times,” Weiner said. “And hopefully what will happen is that people with similarities and differences will learn to hear each other so we can work together to solve our differences, and realize we have more similarities than differences in our modern world.”
Staff writer Sari Krieger can be reached at (703) 878-8062.
By SARI KRIEGER
For Karen Klein’s family, Hanukkah isn’t just about presents.
“It’s not all about the gifts,” Klein said. “But about the tradition of lighting the candles. We try to have one night where we have a more celebratory meal — we make brisket and the latkes, and try to have friends celebrate with us.”
The eight-day holiday of Hanukkah begins tonight for Jews around the world. Jewish holidays last from sundown to sundown. This holiday celebrates the Maccabees, or a small band of Israelites, who fought off a larger Greek army.
“The Greek army came into Judea and said ‘You can’t practice Judaism in your own land,’ ” said Rabbi Jennifer Weiner of Congregation Ner Shalom in Woodbridge. “They said ‘This isn’t right.’ “
These Jews, fighting approximately 2,100 years ago, found a small flask of sanctified oil to burn in honor of their victory and newly rededicated temple. The oil lasted eight days and nights, instead of the one day and night the Maccabees expected, Weiner said.
Jews call Hanukkah the “Festival of Lights” for this reason and light one candle each night on their menorahs to honor this event. A menorah is a branch-like candleholder, with a small cup for each of the eight candles and one in the middle for the candle which is used to light the others.
Some Jews consider the military victory, as well as the oil, to be the miracles of Hanukkah.
“It’s also a celebration of religious freedom, and being able to celebrate Judaism out in the public,” Weiner said.
Hanukkah ranks somewhat low on the list of important Jewish holidays. But American Jews have increased its importance, partially because of “another holiday in December,” Weiner said.
“Jewish children did actually feel left out in America, and their parents didn’t want them to feel left out,” Weiner said.
Hanukkah has become more commercialized than before, Weiner said. But like Christian leaders preaching about the meaning behind Christmas, Jewish leaders like Weiner emphasize the Hanukkah traditions.
“You gather together to light the menorah, you sing songs and you eat traditional food — foods that are fried in oil to remember the oil of the temple,” Weiner said. “Presents are kind of an afterthought.”
Jews in Israel tend to make the holiday more about those traditions and being together, she said.
Children often receive dreidels, or tops with Hebrew letters on each side. The Jews used dreidels to teach children Hebrew, disguised as a game from oppressors, Weiner said.
Now children receive chocolate money, or gelt. But in the past, parents gave real money. The children would sometimes give that money to charities, Weiner said.
Reformed Jewish leaders, like Weiner, have urged Jews to refrain from giving presents on Monday, or the sixth night of Hanukkah, and give the money to charities instead.
“It’s called the light of righteous giving … using the metaphor of the candles and shedding light,” Weiner said.
The temple invited its 113 member families to join in a celebratory dinner Friday night. The main food attraction for Jews on Hanukkah is the latkes, or fried potato pancakes, usually served with apple sauce.
According to a Congregation Ner Shalom newsletter, Jews usually celebrate Hanukkah at home, but Friday night, they will celebrate together.
“Since Ner Shalom is extended family for many of us, we will be celebrating the fourth night together at the synagogue,” it read.
Klein, her two young children and her husband plan to attend the celebration, as well as light candles in their home. Klein has already visited her children’s classrooms to teach the students the story of Hanukkah and how to play the dreidel game.
Congregant Robin Carter and her family will also go to the temple Friday. At home, Carter and her three children have been filling their house with home-made Hanukkah decorations.
“For us it’s real family time, with the importance centered around lighting the menorah,” Carter said. “I have three kids, and as they get older they get their own smaller menorah.”
The Carters’ extended family will travel to their house to have a dinner with traditional Hanukkah foods on the weekend. The children will search one at a time for hidden presents around the house.
“Its not just a smorgasbord of opening the gifts,” Carter said. “We do it one at a time so everyone can see what they got. We teach the importance of giving, not just receiving.”
While decorating and listening to Hanukkah music, her youngest child asked why their house was the only one on the block lacking Christmas lights outside.
The 4-year-old will learn in time that their family decorates the inside of their house, lights candles, and has their own holiday, Carter said.
Weiner told the religious school children at Ner Shalom this past Sunday not to forget the Hanukkah story for themselves and for future generations.
“I hope when relating to what happened in ancient times, we are able to relate it to modern times,” Weiner said. “And hopefully what will happen is that people with similarities and differences will learn to hear each other so we can work together to solve our differences, and realize we have more similarities than differences in our modern world.”