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LIGHT OF OUR LIVES from page 64

Jerusalem. "Your children came to
the Holy of Holies of your house,
cleansed your temple, purified the
site of your holiness and kindled
lights in the courtyards of your sanc-
tuary." Finally, Al haNisim tell why
we celebrate: "And they estab-
lished these eight days of
Chanukah to express thanks and
praise to your great name."
In these few words, the ancient
rabbis who composed Al haNisim
teach us that Chanukah is a holi-
day of many miracles. They also
imply that we must learn the histo-
ry of Chanukah to fully appreci-
ate its message.

Seeking Jewish Survival

During the Greco-Syrian occupa-
tion of Israel, a major segment o
the Jewish population became
Hellenized, adopting the culture,
names, behaviors and religion o
their pagan oppressors. A rela-
tively small number of Jews
remained loyal to Judaism and

were willing toprisk their lives for
from the brink of destruction, not
its survival.
by brute force alone but by the
These few devout Jews orga-
strength that comes from devotion
nized themselves into a fighting
to the common ideal of Torah.
force called the Hasmoneans.
Maccabees I and ll are books in
That they could ultimately defeat
the Jewish Apocrypha (writings not
one of the great military powers
part of the Jewish Bible) that give
of the Middle East, the rabbis fur-
us a near-contemporary account of
ther tell us in Al haNisim, was a
the events surrounding Chanukah.
miracle. Given the social and
In Maccabees II (10:6), we are
political conditions of the time,
told that the original Hasmonean
had the Hasmoneans not risen up
dedication of the Temple was cel-
against the Greeks, then Judaism
ebrated "with gladness like
would have disappeared.
Sukkot." The analogy is clear: On
The small band of fighters,
Sukkot — the holiday that pre-
bound by their common faith and : cedes Chanukah — by dwelling
devotion to Torah, formed a cohe-
in our flimsy huts, we acknowl-
sive organization able to defeat
edge the nurturing embrace of the
an enemy held together merely by
Almighty. How much more so is
military directives.
our joy on Chanukah, when we
Al haNisim reminds us what we
commemorate the rescue of an
know from history: after Judah
entire temple.
Maccabee conquered Jerusalem
Through our prayers and our
and the Temple Mount, he
study, we learn the message of
decreed that the original eight
Chanukah is not only a miracu-
days of dedication of the Temple
lous light. The lights we kindle
altar be days of rejoicing for
signify our faith in the continued
future generations. These eight
existence of Judaism and the Jew-
days are a celebration of sur-
ish people. ❑
vival, of Judaism brought back

Recommended Books
For Children At Chanukah

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Wed 9:00 - 2:00 - Sat 2:00 - 5:00

• Judah Who Always Said "No!" by
Harriet Feder, with illustrations by
Katherine Janus Kahn (Kar-Ben
Copies, $5.95).
A little boy in Jerusalem —Judah
Maccabee, no less — whose propen-
sity for saying "no" turns into political
resistance. For ages 3-4.
• Jeremy's Dreidl by Ellie Gellman,
with illustrations by Judith Friedman
(Kar-Ben Copies, S5.95).
In this story set in modern times, a lit-
tle boy makes a Braille dreidl for his
blind father. For ages 4-8.
• A Hanukkah Treasury edited by Eric
Kimmel, with illustrations by Emily
Lisker (Henry Holt, $19.95).
This compilation of stories by the
author of Herschel and the Hanukkah
Goblins features stories, songs, poet-
r y, recipes, legends and cultural lore,

as well as lush illustrations. For ages
4-12.
• The Story of Hanukkah by Norma
Simon, with illustrations by Leonid
Gore (HarperTrophy, $5.95).
Rich illustrations help this picture
book teach the basics of the holiday.
For ages 5-6.
• Chanukah Fun by Tali Marcus
Minelli, with illustrations by Stewart
Walton (Tupelo Books, $7.95).
A hands-on craft book that features
stencils, cut-out pages and puzzles.
For ages 5-8.
• The Borrowed Chanukah Latkes by
Linda Glaser, with illustrations by
Nancy Cote (Albert Whitman & Co.,
$15.95).
A little girl teaches an elderly
woman how to accept as well as
give. For ages 5-8.

• Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins

by Eric Kimmel, with illustrations by
Trina Schart Hyman (Holiday House,
5 16.95).
In this Caldecoit Medal-winning
book, clever Hershel of Ostropol out-
wits the goblins who try to prevent a
village from celebrating the Festival of
Lights. For ages 5-9.
• The Chanukah Blessing by Penin-
nah Schram, with illustrations by Jef-
frey Allon (UAHC Press, $12.95).
An Elijah story about a stranger
who helps out a poor family after the
family welcomes him. For ages 6-10.

• The Jar of Fools: Eight Hanukkah
Stories from Chelm by Eric Kimmel,
with illustrations by Mordicai Gerstein
(Holiday House, $18.95).
These hilarious stories are set in
the legendary Polish Jewish town of
Chelm, a hotbed of fools. For ages
7-12. ❑
— Peter Ephross/JTA

