Hanukkah’s message to be shared at Augusta-area menorah lighting

Obama linked the celebration of the Jewish holiday to the country’s right to freedom of religion. “Happy Hanukkah, everybody! Share the light!”

The fact that Hanukkah, one of the lesser Jewish holidays, and Christmas, one of Christianity’s major holidays, coincide as they do this year will likely make blending the holidays easier for some but more hard for others. They’ve taken the steps to learn about Judaism and what Hanukkah means. The Jews rededicated the temple and celebrated for eight days. “The priests had hidden some oil, but it would take eight days to retrieve it”.

At the White House Hanukkah reception December 14, President Barack Obama said Chanukah’s many lessons include “how a small group can make a big difference”. Sarah Sperling was raised Christian but says she’s “felt Jewish” since she was 5. Who knows what type of presents could be in store on this epic celebration! “We’re having it early because a lot of families are going to be out of town”, Parr said in early December.

The last time the Jewish holiday crossed over with Christmas was 2011. Jews place the lit menorah in a prominent window in order to fulfill this commandment. This tradition co-evolved with changes in Christian Christmas traditions, and sort of spreads out the mainstream American gift-giving over a week instead of on Christmas morning. The letters – nun, gimel, hei, shin – form an acronym for the message of Hanukkah: A great miracle happened there. Prayers, or blessings, also play an important role in the wintertime holiday. It combines ancient tradition with a modern twist, he said.

They’ll usually make some type of fried food, often potato cakes known as latkes.

Today, this Jewish community came together to observe that miracle. When other classmates ask with surprise, “You don’t celebrate Christmas?”

Gifts are exchanged at Hanukkah.

Both holidays’ beginnings were in or near Jerusalem. Herb said despite the hardships his parents endured in Germany, they wanted him and his two brothers to grow up in a Jewish household. “It’s not a religious holiday”. It also emphasized that those who observed Hanukkah had eight days of celebration compared to the one day of Christmas. Ali said the family would still travel to its usual Christmas Eve parties with her husband’s family, but they will bring along a menorah.

It’s about religious and cultural freedom and to do not forget to try to live up to God’s values, he said.

A banner with a menorah hangs from one pole on the banister, and a Santa Claus on top of the other.

“The Maccebean action would be to reach out to people outside your own group”, Zars-Wagman said.

Patti and Herb said not only has mutual respect been a foundation in their marriage, but most importantly, their strong love for one another outweighs any difference in beliefs.

Hayden Lazorchak, 12, identifies as Jewish and practices Jewish traditions.