never seem to get it done.
Chanukah is a perfect time to do it.
Chanukiah Collection
In many families each person
lights his own chanukiah (Chanukah
menorah). Start a chanukiah
collection. Choose a new or unusual
Chanukiah every once in awhile. It's
really nice to be on the lookout for a
chanukiah all year long, and
purchasing one is a wonderful
decision for an entire family. This
tradition also makes it natural to
send a particular chanukiah off to
college with a family member when
the time comes.
Chanukah
Chaver/Chaverah
On the first night of Chanukah
put family members' names on slips
of paper. Fold them up and choose
one out of a container. Throughout
the week the chooser can do little
things for the person he has
chosen. The idea is to keep your
chosen person guessing about who
has his name. Small gifts, surprises
and treats are all wonderful ways to
honor our Chanukah
chaver/chaverah. This list represents
just a few thoughts about unique
ways to celebrate Chanukah. Latkes,
dreidels and song singing with
family and friends should not be
overlooked. The candles, good
humor and thoughtful consideration
about Jews daring to be different
and standing up for themselves and
values that really become the
centerpiece for Jewish memories.
Chanukah Crossword
PUZZLE BY
JUDY SILBERG LOEBL
G
E
C
Harlene Appelman is a nationally
recognized family educator and
director of Jewish Experiences For
Families (JEFF).
I
Christmas 1Vee Symbolism
-
Continued From Page L-1
couples an opportunity for unfair
comparisons, pettiness and back
biting all in the name of religion,
fairness or even nationalism.
Instead of ducking the issue of
our differences, some experts
believe that we can create a better
practical and emotional
understanding by teaching our
families, whether blended or not,
that people are allowed to be
different and what the significance
of Jewish and Christian traditions
are.
To knowledgeable and serious
Jews, the tree and the Christmas
ornamentation in homes is a
religious aspect of one of the holiest
days of the Christian year. Though
the lighted tree originally came from
pagen roots at the time of the winter
solstice, as years progressed the
Church decided to join the
celebration not by just using the
tree itself but by adding certain
symbols onto it which, when applied
properly, would create a more
religious and sacred understanding
of the holiday.
According to two separate
histories (The Christmas Tree by
Daniel J. Foley, Chilton Co.; The
Christmas Tree Book by Phillip V.
Snyder, Viking Press) the origins of
the official use of the tree and its
ornaments literally were meant to
represent and celebrate what was
believed to be the miraculous birth
of Jesus of Nazareth. Just as artists
had depicted the fruit from the Tree
of Knowledge (from Garden of Eden
fame) to be apples, so apples were
placed on the tree's branches in
order to celebrate Jesus' birth
without the stain of Original Sin (In
other words, the tree of knowledge
was again complete with all of its
A I N
•
2.t
fruit intact). Now apples are
replaced with red balls and the very
colors of apples on the tree are the
reason for the Christmas colors of
red and green.
The star at the tree's peak
represented the star which directed
the Kings to Bethlehem. The
presents under the tree re-create
the gifts the Magi brought. The flat
Christmas cookies which appear on
the tree are, in fact, symbolic of
Communion wafers. Even the
wreath which hangs outside the
door of Christian homes stands as a
reminder of the crown of thorns that
was given to Jesus prior to his
crucifixion.
For Jews to say that the tree is
just an American custom devoid of
any Christological meaning and its
symbols are merely pleasant secular
signs of winter, is in effect, negating
the very meaning of one of the
holiest days of the Christian year for
those who believe in it. By showing
our immediate world 'tis the season
to be ourselves, we help everybody
believe in themselves, too.
Rabbi Schwartz is spiritual leader of
Temple Shir Shalom in West
Bloomfield.
Statistic
Chanukah celebration is
second only to Passover among
Detroit area Jews. 86% do not
have a Christmas tree in their
homes.
Attend Passover Seder . . .84%
Light Chanukah Candles . . . 78%
Source: Jewish Welfare Federation
Demographic Study, 1989
A
DOWN
1. Number of days of Chanukah
2. Light one more each, night
Miracle Happened There
3. A
4. "Helper" candle
5. Chanukah took place in this country
6. Father of the Maccabees
8. Large animals used to crush the Jewish army
9. Potato pancakes
11. The Maccabees came from this city
12. Chanukah sometimes falls in autumn and sometimes in
13. Spinning top
15. Chanukah starts in the Hebrew month of
16. Number of candles lit on the last night of Chanukah
21. Translation of Maccabee (Hint: tool)
23. Mattathias would not bow down to an
27. Only enough for one day but this lasted for eight days
ACROSS
4. Israeli food — looks like a doughnut — eaten on Chanukah
6. Candelabra used for Chanukah
7. Translation of Nes (Hint: answer is in 3 down)
10. Jewish rebel such as Mattathias or Judah
14. Hebrew word for rededication
17.Army that fought the Maccabees
sons
18. Mattathias had
19. Chanukah money
20. The leader of the revolt after Mattathias died
22. The Syrians were led by King
24. City of the Holy Temple
25. Often sung Chanukah song
26. Jews were not allowed to pray or study the
Answers On Page L-6
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
L-3