c ift cuide LIGHTS page 7 Name: Rabbi Herschel and Chana Finman Residence: Oak Park Synagogue: Mishkan Israel Children: Tsivia, 12; Brocha, 10; Hinda, 9; Aidel, 7; Geula, 5; Alexander, 4; Shira, 1 The Finman family has the perfect recipe for a fun Chanukah. Add a houseful of children and mix to- gether dreidels, latkes, menorahs and stories for a memorable celebration. "We love Chanukah," announces Chana Finman. "We look forward to it all year. For us, it is a time for storytelling, sharing lots of wonderful stories about what the holiday is about. Chanukah comes from the Hebrew word chinuch, which means to educate. "We do not give gifts on Chanukah; it's not the fo- cus. The stories penetrate the children longer than gifts that get tossed aside." The whole family gets involved in decorating the house with art projects the children make at school and each child lights his own menorah. "They all have their own light," explains Rabbi Finman. "I personally use an oil menorah. The older ones have started to use the oil as well. We go through a lot of olive oil." Almost every night of Chanukah, the Finmans have company. Together they share sparkling wine, latkes, a vegetable spread, donuts and cheese with friends. "One year I sliced cheddar cheese very thin, cut them in triangles and overlapped them on a cracker, making little Magen Davids. They're my special Chanukah hors d'oeuvres," laughs Chana. At Mishkan Israel the children participate in Torah passages, and then enjoy entertainment, prizes and raffles. In the neighborhood each year, the Bais Yaa- cov yeshiva hosts a carnival. "The kids spend the whole day there, playing games and eating," says Chana. "At Chanukah, we offer lessons of morality," ex- plains Rabbi Finman. "The story is about rededica- tion. It is a time for recommitting to Judaism. That is what the Maccabees were fighting for." Name: Laurie and Alvin Sallen Residence: Birmingham Synagogue: Adat Shalom THE DETR O T J EWI SH NE WS Children: Sarah, 101/2; Emily, 9; Teddy, 18 months The Festival of Lights is a bright holiday for bring them out again the next year," says the Sallens. Each year, they have a big ex- Laurie, who is enjoying Teddy's helping out tended family Chanukah party with Alvin's this year. When Sarah was small, Laurie made a mother, his siblings and nieces and nephews. large menorah with lights, and it has They exchange gifts, play dreidel, sing songs, discuss the meaning of Chanukah, enjoy become the family's decorative hallmark. latices and Chanukah cookies. Each family "Being a convert, nothing compares brings its own menorah, and together they to a Christmas tree when you're a kid," is the light all the menorahs, enjoying the warmth notes Laurie. "I decided Chanukah of the lights and the family gathering. Oth- festival of lights. I took four pieces of poster- er nights, at home, each child lights his own board and put them together, and then I took two blue posterboards and made a menorah. Sarah and Emily always help Laurie dec- menorah and glued it on. I made flames orate the house with an accumulation of with gold, silver and red glitter, and sprayed nursery school and Hebrew school art pro- it with Fixadent. Then I took little outdoor jects. "I pack them away each year, and lights and popped them around each flame, and I plug it in so that each of the flames is always lit. "To me, it is big and bright and color- ful and festive. We hang it over our kitchen table against a blank wall. The kids love it." Before Chanukah begins, the children make wish lists, and each night they enjoy a gift, some big, some small. And they love deco- rating sugar cookies in Chanukah shapes. "As a family, one thing that is important about Chanukah, besides the glitz, is that the kids really understand the meaning of the holiday. Even more than the miracle of the oil, it really stands for religious freedom," notes Alvin.