The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current, December 01, 1993, Holiday Supplement, Page 2, Image 14

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Rabbi Elihu Milder of Lincoln’s Tifereth Israel Synagogue says that American Jews have
become more elaborate with gift-giving during Hanukkah because of the strong Christmas
influence on Jews in this country.
Happy Hanukkah
Holiday commemorates Jews ’ hardship,
but celebrates in traditional foods, gifts
By Andrea Kaser
Senior Editor
Debi Schneider won’t be home
this year for Hanukkah.
But the UNL junior history
major isn’t heartbroken. The Jewish
holiday, which begins Dec. 9 during
dead week, does not carry the same
importance as it does for those who
celebrate Christmas.
During the holiday season, Ha
nukkah gets more attention than it
merits, she said.
“It’s kind of overdone just because
of Christmas,” she said.
But that doesn’t mean Jews don’t
look forward to the celebration.
Ofer Asif, a junior electrical engi
neering major from Israel, said Ha
nukkah was a time for family, food
and remembrance.
“(Jews) really like this holiday,”
he said.
The holiday commemorates the
rededication of the Temple in Jerusa
lem after the Jewish leader Judas of
Macabee conquered the Syrians in
the first century B.C., according to
Rabbi Elihu Milder of Lincoln’s
Tifereth Israel Synagogue.
There was a shortage of untainted
oil. The Jews found only one cask of
oil with an unbroken seal, which was
enough for one day, Milder said. But
they needed enough for eight days —
enough time to obtain a fresh supply
of oil.
The single cask burned for the
eight days, though, a miracle which
Milder said was to be remembered
later through the lighting of the eight
candles of the menorah at Hanukkah.
Asif said Hanukkah, like most Jew
ish holidays, commemorates a som
ber period in Jewish history.
“The celebrations are because of
hardships we’ve overcome,” Asif said.
American Jews celebrate Hanuk
kah differently than Jews in Israel, he
said, as they tend to give more gifts.
In Israel gifts at Hanukkah usually
only amounted to the gelt, a small
monetary gift, he said.
“It’s just pocket money, just some
thing to give the kids. It’s really insig
nificant,” he said.
Young children might receive $2
or $3, he said, while older children
might receive about $20.
Schneider, ofOmaha, said her fam
ily gave gifts such as clothing and
CDs every night of the celebration
and also received gelt.
Milder said Americans have be
come more elaborate with gift-giving
because of the influence ofthe strong
U.S. tradition of giving gifts at Christ
mas.
Either way though, Hanukkah is
time for family bonding, Schneider
- ((
"It’s kind of
overdone just
because of
Christmas. ”
— Schneider
UNL junior history major
-t* -
said. Parents tell stories to children
and children play games, including
spinning the dradlc, a top with He
brew letters.
It’s also a time to eat good food,
Asif said.
Unlike Schneider, Asif will catch
the end of the celebration in Israel,
where he looks forward to some of the
holiday's traditional food. His favor
ite, doughnut-like pastries that can’t
be found in Lincoln, and potato pan
cakes are among the fare, he said.
Last year Asif spent the holiday in
the states, but it wasn’t the same as
being at home, he said.
‘‘1 didn’t have a major doughnut
feast.”