Hanukah, a religious Jewish holiday, means ‘dedication’ in Hebrew.

Sunday, December 16, 2002

Hanukah, a religious Jewish holiday, means ‘dedication’ in Hebrew.

It is celebrated for eight days in the Hebrew month of Kislev, which usually occurs in mid to late December. This year Hanukah falls between December 9-16.

Hanukah is celebrated to recall the struggles for religious freedom and commemorates the victory of the Jews over the Hellenistic Syrians in the year 165 B.C.E.It centers around the lighting of a Menorah, a holy lamp, or candelabra.

For 2,000 years, the eight branches of the Menorah have stood as a triumphant symbol of the Jewish will to live and worship in freedom.

Ptolemy, a Greek, and ruler of Egypt and Israel, was a great champion of Helenism. Under his rule many Jews adopted aspects of the Greek culture. These Jews were referred to as Hellenists. For them, the Greek culture represented the way of the future and the fastest way to succeed in Greek culture.

In the year 167 B.C.E., the Greek king, Antochus Epiphanes began a campaign to force the Jews to formally adopt Greek practices. One Jewish family, five sons and their elderly father, Mattityahu, took a stand. The Greek forces came to Mattityahu and established a Greek altar and ordered him to offer a sacrifice to a pagan god. Mattityahu refused and another Jew offered to make a sacrifice. Mattityahu became enraged and killed the Jew and attacked the Greek soldiers. This action sparked a rebellion, which he and his sons led.

The sons along with the Jewish army took over the Jewish Temple. It was almost unrecognizable as a place of worship, it was so neglected. The story of what happened next is written in the Talmud, the holy book of the Jews. It reads that the Jewish army wanted to rededicate the Temple, but were unable to find enough specially prepared oil to light the Menorah that was used in the Temple service,

Finally, in one Temple chamber, the family found a single bottle of oil, which would normally last only one night. However by a miracle, the one bottle of oil lasted eight nights, until new oil, fit for Temple use, could be produced.

This is the miracle Jews commemorate to this day. Lighting the eight Hanukah lights of the Menorah, recounts the triumph of the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem and the miracle that a one day of supply of oil lasted eight days,

Michael and Rosanne Robbins and their two children, Nathan, 7, and Rebecca, 6, light the Menorah in their home for the eight nights of Hanukah. Roseanne explained that the family gathers around the Menorah while it is being lit and they recite a prayer out loud.

"Every night we tell a different story to our children. My parents did this for me and I do this for my children. Growing up we sang songs each night. We don’t prepare any special foods," said Rosanne.

The Robbins do give their children a present each day of Hanukah which is traditional. They give them the same type of gifts that Christians give their children at Christmas.

The Robbins do not have a Christmas tree in their home nor do they celebrate Christmas. Their children are being raised in the Jewish faith.

"This year Nathan understands Hanukah better and he is looking forward to it. Hanukah is a holiday of freedom and a time to become closer as a family," said Rosanne.

Call Sheila Donnelly at 434-2214 or e-mail her at newsroom@austindailyherald.com.

Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa is a non-religious African-American holiday which celebrates family community and culture is celebrated for seven days: December 26-January 1.

Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor and chairman of Black Studies at California State University, in Long Beach, California, created Kwanzaa in 1966. Dr. Karenga was looking for a way to bring African-Americans together as a community,

He founded US, a cultural organization, and started to research African "first fruit" (harvest) celebrations. He combined aspects of several different harvest celebrations, such as those of the Ashanti and those of the Zulu to form the basis of Kwanzaa.

The name Kwanzaa comes form the phrase "matanda ya kwanza" which means "first fruits" in Swahili.

Each family celebrates Kwanzaa in their own way. Most celebrations include songs, dances, African drums, storytelling, poetry reading, and, of course, delicious food.

On each of the seven nights, the family gathers and a child lights one of the candles on the Kinara (candle holder ) one of the seven principles is discussed. The principles called Nguzo Saba are the values of African culture which contribute to building and reinforcing community among African-Americans.

George Thomas, the Outreach Coordinator of the Welcome Center has celebrated Kwanzaa for several years. He was invited by a family to celebrate the seven days with them.

"Kwanzaa was very meaningful and we had several Africans at one of the meals and they explained the seven symbols of Kwanzaa to us, " said George.

The seven symbols are Mazao the fruits and vegetables, mkeka the placemat, vibunzi the ear of corn, mishumaa saba, the seven candles, kinara, the candle holder, kikombe cah umja, the unity cup and zawadi, the gifts.

The fruits and vegetables symbolize the work and the basis for the holiday. The place mat is made from straw or cloth and comes directly from Africa. It symbolizes the historical and traditional foundation for the participants to stand on and build their lifes because today stands on their yesterdays.

The unity cup is a special cup that is used to perform the libation ritual during the sixth day of Kwanzaa. In many African societies libations are poured for the living dead whose souls stay with the earth they tilled.

The gifts are to be meaningful to encourage growth, self-determination, achievement and success. Handmade gifts are encouraged to promote self-determination, purpose and creativity to avoid the chaos of shopping during the December holiday season. Accepting a gift is a moral obligation to fulfill the promise of the gift, it obliges the receiver to follow the training of the giver.

Call Sheila Donnelly at 434-2214 or e-mail her at newsroom@austindailyherald.com.