RABBI SCHONBERGER Hanukkah celebrates a joyous occasion

On Friday, Jews worldwide began celebrating the Jewish festival of lights known as Hanukkah. This festival started 2,200 years ago. It still does not involve decorative trees, holly, tinsel or Santa. Until recent decades, Hanukkah celebrations did not involve any expectations of gift giving.
Misconceptions about Hanukkah have led to some cute children's misconceptions as well. Here are two examples. Some children have wondered, "Why do Jews have eight days of Christmas?" On one occasion, a kindergarten child misheard the word Hanukkah as if it was "the kind of camera my daddy uses." She meant Konica.
The word Hanukkah actually means dedication. This word is associated with the success of the Maccabbee family to lead Israelites 2200 years ago to overcome painful oppression and reestablish religious and political freedom for Israel. They overcame impossible odds in facing the powerful Syrian/Greek warlords who had desecrated the Sacred Israelite Temple in Jerusalem and tried to squash the teachings and existence of Judaism. Hanukkah recalls the eight days of Holy Convocation through which the Jewish community rededicated the sacred temple.
Challenging Jews
Since that time, Hanukkah has challenged Jews to re-dedicate themselves to God and Jewish Tradition espousing values of human respect and liberty.
The observance of Hanukkah itself is very joyous. The daily ceremony of candle lighting, prayer and song is accompanied by good times with family and friends. The special foods must include potato pancakes (called latkes) or jelly doughnuts (called sufganiyot). The games include a special spinning top called a dreidel.
Families gather with great joy to experience the illumination of the Hanukkah lights while singing songs and eating. These simple pleasures shared amongst family, friends and community remind participants that the blessings we receive from God are humanity's greatest gifts. At the same time, Hanukkah is a reminder that God needs people's dedication to help make the world better.
On Hanukkah, Jews light candles in gratitude to God for the blessings of life and liberty. After the candles go out, God's message remains. Every human being has a vital part in determining the kind of world in which we live.
Turbulent conditions in the world render the themes of Hanukkah even more important this year. A prayer is said thanking God for miraculous deliverance from danger and for sustaining life. Thank God for life and help make a better world.
XRabbi Joseph P. Schonberger is the rabbi at Temple El Emeth in Liberty.