Thursday, December 9, 1982
Supplement to Daily Nebraskan
Page 3
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Tomorrow marks start of
eight-day festival of lights
By Chris Welsch
Tomorrow is the beginning of
Hanukkah.
Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish
holiday celebrating the beginning of
the fight for religious freedom.
Hanukkah shouldn't be confused
with Christmas because the two holi
days commemorate entirely different
events, according to Rabbi Kenneth
White of the South 'Street Temple.
"Hanukkah is the first recorded
rebellion for religious freedom in the
history of western civilization," White
said. "It began with the Greek Syrians
proclaiming that the Jews could no
longer worship god the way they had
in the past."
White said the rebellion was trig
gered when the Syrians broke into the
Temple at Jerusalem and destroyed
holy objects. They then set up an Idol
in the temple, and legend has it, the
Syrians slaughtered pigs in the temple.
(Pigs are not kosher animals.)
A man named Matathias, who had
five sons, led the rebellion, he said.
His son Juda was the leader of a guerilla
band. The band swooped out of the
hills and fought with the Syrians.
The war lasted three years, he said.
The Syrians finally pulled back their
forces in 165 B.C.E. (Before the
Common Era).
The significance of the holiday is
the fact that it commemorates a rebel
lion for religious freedom, White said.
However, Hanukkah isn't a major
holiday to Jews.
Hanukkah takes second place to
Shabbot (the Sabbath) in the liier
archy of jewish holidays, he said.
Shabbot is one of the commandments
from god, and is more a powerful
holiday than Hanukkah.
The traditions of Hanukkah " are
rooted in legend, White said.
After the temple at Jerusalem
had been liberated from the Syrians,
the jews began cleaning. They removed
the Idol, built a new altar and recon
secrated the temple.
, As legend has it, the Jews wanted
to re-light the candles of the Temple,
White said. The candles were in Meno
rahs, or candlesticks. In those days
the fuel they used for lighting was
olive oil. All they could find was one
small bottle. Legend says the bottle
lasted eight days, hence the eight
days of Hanukkah.
Hanukkah also is referred to as
the festival of lights. A nine-branched
candle stick is used. Each night a
candle is added, until all nine candles
are lit.
Since the oil played a prominent
part in the holiday, foods cooked in
oil became customary foods to eat
during Hanukkah.
Potato cakes, or Latke, and dough
nuts are common foods during the
celebration.
In years past, small gifts were given
to children on each day of Hanukkah.
Now larger gifts are exchanged, White
said. Some families give presents each
night.
According to White, the importance
of Hanukkah in American Jewish homes
has increased over the years.
"The American culture has turned
the month of December into a time
of festivity," he said. "American Jews
want to participate in the spirit of
the Holiday season."
Hanukkah is the holiday in which
they can participate, he said.
This year Hanukkah begins Dec. 10,
which coincides with Shabbot, White
said.
Jewish student celebrates
Hanukkah away from home
Hanukkah away from home can be a
happy-sad occasion for Jewish students.
Sally Hoffman, president of the
Hillel Organization, for Jewish stu
dents, said lighting the candles on the
Menorah sometimes is sad because she
is a long way from home.
"It's sort of like having a birthday
away from home," she said. "It's a
joyous time and one which should be
spent with the family."
Since Hanukkah begins Friday,
Hoffman will be celebrating the holi
day in her dorm room. She said her
roommates and friends are usually
interested in what's going on.
Sometimes they will watch me light
the Menorah, she said. Reading tradi
tional Hanukkah prayers also attracts
the attention of her friends.
"They like it, I think," Hoffman
said. "They can say they were with me
in my time of joy."
Hoffman, a senior majoring in
Elementary education, said she will
spend the last day of Hanukkah with
her family in New Mexico.
Hoffman said any jewish students
interested in the Hillel Organization
should contact her. The group is plan
ning to meet Wednesdays at 7 p.m.
in the Nebraska Union.
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