Chanukah Memories

Note: Which is it, an “H” for Hanukkah or a “C” for Chanukah? Well, it’s all in the pronunciation and they are really are one and the same. The more important meaning behind this holiday is that it’s a celebration of two miracles that took place back in the second century BCE, the victory of the small army of Jews and the kindling of the seven branch menorah for eight days and nights with just one days worth of the oil. 

Celebrated on the 25th day of the Jewish month, this year’s Hanukkah celebration will begin on Dec. 20. The menorah will be lit for eight nights along with the traditional customs of eating foods fried in oil like delicious latkes and doughnuts, spinning the dreidel and the giving of money or gifts to children.  These types of traditions that fill a holiday are what makes it special and familiar to your own family. - Melissa McCormack 

By Amanda Cucher

Growing up in the suburbs of Atlanta, only two occasions warranted lighting candles in lieu of the yellow glow from the overhead kitchen light: birthdays and Chanukah. Aside from the occasional storm induced power outage, of course. 

About a week before Chanukah in Sunday school, we would get a light blue box of twisted multicolored candles. We were taught to light one for each night of Chanukah, according to the traditional Talmudic version, the most commonly accepted story of the holiday.

The candles were not to be extinguished, as we were to let them burn all the way down, splashing wax on the menorah and the table. I attribute my easily manageable case of pyromania and subsequent 15-year smoking habit to the joy of peeling hot wax off the table. 

My brother and I said the blessings as we lit the candles in our traditionally pretty menorah. Coins and gifts were exchanged, someone would tell the story of Chanukah and my brother would play "Rock of Ages'' on the trumpet, always eager to please. 

We have several different versions of the Chanukah story as it is mentioned less than any of the other Jewish holidays in the ancient, holy texts. According to the Talmud, after the Macabees succeeded in regaining and consecrating the Second Temple, they only had enough olive oil to burn in the menorah for one day, but the oil lasted eight days until more could be made so the eternal flame, as is often seen in modern synagogues, never died.

According to famous historian Flavius Josephus, as well as Macabees I, there was no miracle with oil, but rather, there were eight days of feasting and celebration following the reclaiming of the temple, which is why we celebrate for eight nights.

According to yet another interpretation, the war was not between the Jews and the Romans at all, but a civil war between the traditionalist Jews and the Hellenized Jews in Jerusalem. In Deuteronomy in the Book of Judith is my favorite version. Judith a pious widow; who, after pretending to surrender, seduces an Assyrian general with dairy products, wine and her feminine wiles, then cuts off his head when he falls into a drunken slumber.

This is why there are alternate schools of thought on which way the candles should be lit. Either you add a candle for each night, or every candle should be lit on the first night and you then take one away each night. 

Some secular Jews have changed the original ritual of either giving gelt or money to the children, or the children giving their own money to those in need; to eight nights of gift-giving, which appears to be a direct response to the overwhelming popularity, proximity and appeal of Christmas. 

Fortunately, having been one of a handful of Jews at a nearby Episcopal high school, I was hopelessly confused anyway. I attended chapel every Wednesday and Eucharist once a month, where I sat quietly in my seat as the other students prayed and took communion. 

Sundays, I learned the history of Judaism. Unfortunately for my synagogue, I memorized the entire Holy Eucharist and had recited the Lord's Prayer on a daily basis long before I learned my Torah Portion for my Bat Mitzvah. And I constantly confused the stories of the Bible with the stories I learned every Sunday at synagogue.

When I was four and my homemade construction paper Moses in the bulrushes fell on the floor, my family laughed to the point of tears when I exclaimed in my teacher's honeyed southern accent, "Oops, there goes the baby Jesus."

I remember spending many a Christmas in Smyrna with my best friend Melanie. I would help decorate her family Christmas tree and we'd always have a McIntyre's cake, the best in the city.

I still spend a fair amount of time in the area, but it appears nowadays there are a shortage of local places to celebrate Chanukah. No synagogue, no fun singles club and not even a kosher deli in Smyrna-Vinings from what I can tell.

What gives with that because everybody needs a place to throw down and celebrate the 2,000-plus year anniversary of a temple's cleansing and re-consecration. That and where to find Nova Scotia Lox with cream cheese, kishka and gravy and chicken matzoh ball with kreplach soup on the side.