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dom, conviction, dedication, hopo
hen Chanukah came to
miracles, continuity, peace, rebuild
Calcutta, India, where I
ing, community, family?
was born, we didn't spin
Chanukah traditions are important.
dreidels, fry latkes, eat jelly donuts,
Children — and adults — look for-
unwrap chocolate gelt, or choose
ward
to the same latke recipe; the
from a rainbow-colored array of can-
same spot for the hanukkiah; the
dles.
same songs. Still, broadening your
It's not that the Jewish community of
celebration to incorporate
Calcutta was deprived. We
one or iwo new customs
just didn't have those cus-
that fit into the spirit of the
toms, many of which
holiday (read: no Chanukah
stemmed from Eastern
bushes) can infuse it with a
Europe and were carried to
renewed sense of joy and
America with waves of
creativity.
Jewish immigrants. We did,
Focus each night on a
of course, light our version
different
value and match it
of a hanukkiah: brass meno-
Rahel
M
usleah
with a family project. Here
rahs mounted on the wall,
Special to The
are ideas to make each
fitted with nine glasses of
Appl eTree
night special.
olive oil and floating wicks.

And, living in harmony with
our Hindu and Moslem neighbors for
centuries, we focused on the mes-
sage of religious tolerance.
The values inherent in the
Chanukah story are strong, thought-
provoking and inspirational. How
can we as parents not be excited
about transmitting the values of free-

Rahel Musleah is a freelance
journalist and the co-author, with
Rabbi Michael Klayman, of Sharing
Blessings: Children's Stories for
Exploring the Spirit of the Jewish
Holidays (Jewish Lights). She also
presents programs on the Jewish
communities of India.

U/26

1997

64

First night: Freedom.

The Maccabees fought for freedom of
religion and national independence.
Project: Make a list of people still
struggling to live in freedom. How
can we help them?

Second night: Giving. We
give Chanukah gelt in commemora-
tion of the coins minted by the newly
independentJewish state after the
Maccabee victory. Receiving is fun,
but it% also important to give some-
thing back.
Project: Contact your synagogue,
temple or Jewish center before the hol-
iday to locate elderly persons who
may be alone and would like to cele-

Project: What is your wish for
peace? Create your own symbol for
peace
by drawing, painting, or
Third night: Conviction. The
sculpting it from clay or Play-
Maccabees stood up for
d o.
h
what they thought was right.
A hanukkiah
So should we.
from India,
Seventh Night:
Project: Think of something
where the
Rebuilding. On Chanukah,
in your city that you would
author was
the Temple in Jerusalem was
like to change. How can you
born.
desecrated. It had to be
put your ideas into action?
cleansed and rededicated just
as the entire Jewish community had to
Fourth Night:
Wonder/Miracles. Chanukah cel- be rebuilt.
Project: Research and create a
ebrates the miracle of the small
list of organizations that help indi-
defeating the mighty, the triumph of
viduals and families rebuild their
spirit over military power.
lives. Choose one to which you j
Project: Write a poem or draw a
will send a contribution. Note:
picture of other wonders or miracles
many groups sell goods which
that surround us in everyday life.
help benefit worthy causes. These
Fifth Night: Continuity. We
include Myriam's Dream, which
describe the miracle of Chanukah as
sells crafts made by the elderly,
one that took place ba-yamim hahem
and the North American
ba-/man ha-zeh, "in those days and
Conference on Ethiopian Jewry,
in ours." The Maccabee victory
which sells pillows and mezuzahs.r i
enabled Judaism to continue its lega-
Contact the Ziv Tzedakah Fund
cy to our lives today.
for ideas. Phone: (201) 763-
Project: Invite grandparents or
9396.
other older relatives to celebrate the
Eighth Night: Family. As we
holiday with you. If that's not possi-
recite the blessings over the
ble, call to say you wish they were
Chanukah
candles, we remember
with you.
that every holiday also is about shar-
Sixth Night:
ing the blessings of family.
Peace/Accepting Differences.
Project: What blessings do you
This is what Antiochus and the Greek
share as a family? What makes
army did not do. They could not toler-
each member of your family one-of-
ate people who were different than
a-kind? Draw or write down your
they were.
ideas.

e with a family. Take the celebra-
n to them!