Spirituality
HOLIDAY 101
Chanukah!
From publishing to travel,
holiday resonates for Weinbaum mispachah.
Lisa and Marc Weinbaum of Bloomfield Township with Jonah, 8, Adam, 10, Anna
Rose, 6, and Robby, 12
Elizabeth Applebaum
Special to the Jewish News
F
orget the New York Times or the
Wall Street Journal. Anyone in the
extended Weinbaum family who
wanted to know what was really going on,
what really mattered in the world, turned
to the Paci (aka pacifier) Aficionado, a
more advanced, upscale version of Cigar
Aficionado magazine.
In the Paci Aficionado, you could find
out whether Adam was sleeping through
the night, or whether Anna Rose looked
most adorable in yellow or pink onesies.
And, of course, there were many family
pictures.
Marc and Lisa Weinbaum of Bloomfield
Township spent many happy hours pre-
paring this family newsletter, sent each
Chanukah to family and friends. It's the
kind of letter that people love to read
again and again, a chance for a bit of fun
(ask children to contribute what they
thought was the most important event of
the past year; you may be surprised) and
a good way to keep up with everyone you
really wish you had time to write more
often.
The Weinbaums are the parents of four
extremely polite and charming children:
Robby, 12; Adam, 10; Jonah, "8-almost-
9"; and Anna Rose, 6. It was the birth of
Robby that inspired the Paci Aficionado,
which actually began as the Robby Report,
delivered each Chanukah.
As their children, all of whom attend
Hillel Day School of Metropolitan Detroit,
grew, the Weinbaums added more tradi-
tions to their holiday celebrations. The
most important: time together.
Marc is a real estate developer and work
is demanding. One Chanukah, Lisa sug-
gested the family set aside time for every-
one to be together. It was a bit of magic.
"Once we went on the spur of the
moment to Florida;' Lisa said.
Because they bought tickets at the
last minute, the airfare cost very little.
Then they all headed to Disney World in
Orlando. "The weather was awful and it
was the least-planned adventure we've
ever had:' Lisa said. "But it was great."
Memorable family times can be enjoyed
closer to home, too. The Weinbaums save
one night of Chanukah to all go out to
dinner together or catch a movie or go
bowling. The children love it.
The Weinbaums, both native Detroiters,
also decorate their home with a favorite
Chanukah banner and love making holi-
day cookies (chocolate chip).
The couple also enjoys inviting friends
who aren't Jewish.
"We love to share our traditions, to
teach guests our prayers and let them
enjoy Chanukah with us; and we recip-
rocate by sharing with them in their
Christmas festivities:' Lisa said.
With the economic decline hitting
Metro Detroit hard, the Weinbaums
emphasize family presence over presents.
Marc reflected that "in an ironic twist,
this economic decline we are facing has
given us an unexpected gift: helping many
to refocus on what is truly important in
life — family, friends and the satisfaction
of pulling together as a community to help
one another." I 1
The Holiday
At A Glance
• WHEN: From sundown Friday,
Dec. 11, until sundown Saturday,
Dec. 19. On the Jewish calendar,
Chanukah begins on the 25th of
Kislev.
• WHY WE CELEBRATE: Chanukah
marks the victory of the Jews,
led by members of the priestly
Hasmonean family (especially
Judah Maccabee), over the Greco-
Syrians, or Selucids, in 164 B.C.E.
The Seleucids severely repressed
the practice of Judaism and tried
to force Jews to accept paganism.
They also converted the Jewish
Temple in Jerusalem into a house
of pagan worship. The severely out-
numbered Hasmoneans went to war
against the powerful Seleucids and
defeated them; they also liberated
Jerusalem and restored the Temple
and its altar.
• ABOUT THE NAME: Chanukah
is the Hebrew word for "dedica-
tion" and comes from the phrase,
chanukat ha-mizbayach, "dedication
of the altar," or chanukat ha-bayit,
"dedication of the house" (i.e., the
Temple). The Talmud relates that
after the war and the cleansing of
the Temple, when the priests pre-
pared to light the Temple menorah,
they found that only one jar of olive
oil with the priestly seal intact had
survived the onslaught. Rather than
burning up in one day, the oil lasted
for eight days.
Viewed as a sign of divine
approbation for the efforts of the
Hasmoneans, the rabbis ruled that
henceforward Jews would kindle
lights for eight days to commemo-
rate the rescue of Judaism and the
Temple.
• HOW TO CELEBRATE: Kindle
lights (oil is preferable, but most
people use candles) in a menorah,
also known as a chanukiyah. You
should light candles progressively
each night: one the first night, two
the second and so on. Add candles
from right to left and light from left
to right.
This year, Chanukah includes two
Fridays (Dec. 11 and 18); on those
At A Glance on page 56
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December 10 • 2009
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