Hanukkah


RabbiO
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Tomorrow night is the first night of Hanukkah - חנוכה

The festival of lights - חג הנרות

The victory of the few over the many. The rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after its defilement by the Selucids.

It is celebrated for eight days because the celebration of the Temple's rededication was eight days. Why eight days? Because the Temple was not retaken and rededicated in time to observe the festival of Sukkot, which is an eight day holiday.

(For those who think it has something to do with a one day supply of oil that lasted eight days, ask me about it after I come back from vacation.)

Edited by RabbiO
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I'm sure the rabbi is grateful that you pointed that out....

happy hanukkah to you and yours, rabbi!

Thank you.

I suppose I could point out that there are devout Christians who do not celebrate Christmas and who, in fact, decry the observance.

So what?

Perhaps hyperreal is building to some kind of point that we will just patiently have to wait for.

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I suppose I could point out that there are devout Christians who do not celebrate Christmas and who, in fact, decry the observance.

You are right! And I am one of them! I think it is insulting to see the commercialism, materialism, and worldliness that has taken over what was once a celebration of life, promise, and hope. Now it is a day of competition over who gets the most, the biggest, and the most expensive. We buy little gifts for the children, but not for the adults. I will not support it....But that's just me and my opinion....

And BTW.....I wish all those who celebrate the sacred, however they express it, to have a wonderful and joyous day.....including you of course Peter!

Edited by To`na Wanagi
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A late, but heartfelt blessing to you and yours on this Hanukkah. Yes, I am also one who does not celebrate Christmas in the "new traditional" sense. Instead, I go back to basics:

In addition to working in an assisted living community in the unit for persons with dementia and Alzheimer's, the church where I worship has a regular circuit of stops which include two large nursing homes which we carol end to end for those who wish for us to share Christmas carols and hymns. I have one "fan" who on this, my third visit to her, has come to recognize my face, which amazes all, since she has only seen me three times, but she remembered that last year we sang a duet of Adeste Fideles (O come all ye faithful - Latin translation), and as soon as she saw me, her face lit up and she said "Adeste Fideles?" Of course, we sang it this year, and if the Almighty wills for us to see each other next year, I look forward to sharing with her again.

On Christmas day, I wear white, as I do for Easter, in deference to remembering the birth and ascension of the King. Any gifts I give tend to be small, token gifts, or something that is needed desperately. I do not give in to the commercial collecting of stuff - especially since the birthday was not mine, and it *was* a gift, not an occasion to get them.

This year, unfortunately, I will not be able to enjoy the traditional Christmas day church service, but I will instead be serving a holiday lunch to my residents and to those who come to visit them. I plan to make it as enjoyable and festive as possible and to offer an extra serving of love and caring to those who have outlived their families and friends. For those, my coworkers and I are extended family. I love them as I do blood relatives and want them to have a day filled with joy.

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