Rant#3,032: Hanukkah, Hanukkah

This weekend, on Sunday evening at sundown, Jews around the world will celebrate Hanukkah, “The Festival of Lights,” which is not the most important of the holidays on the Jewish calendar, but it has become important in our modern Jewish culture.

It is a time of family gatherings, gift giving, and a time of cheer among Jews worldwide.

The holiday literally lights our path for the new year—both the Jewish New Year and the regular New Year—and it is the brightest of all the Jewish holidays, guided by that smidgen of oil that was used beyond what it should have been used for to light up the Second Temple for eight days.

The actual meaning of “Hanukkah”—or Chanukah or Hanukkah—is “dedication,” and the light burning from the menorah illuminates a clear path to dedicate ourselves to betterment in our lives and to our family.

Anti-Semitic incidents are on the rise across America and worldwide, but Jews must not refrain from celebrating this holiday. That would give into those who commit these heinous acts.

And no, as I have said 1,000 times, Hanukkah is not “Jewish Christmas” by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, Jesus celebrated Hanukkah; Christmas came about years after his passing.

Here is what I wrote about Hanukkah, in edited form, going back to Rant #641, December 20, 2011.

“It is Hanukkah.

I know that for most of our culture this means absolutely nothing, but for many of us, this holiday, which begins at sundown, reflects the culmination of a year's work, andit is now the time to party and celebrate.

I know to most people, this means absolutely nothing, but to us 3 per centers--the percent of the U.S. population that is Jewish--it does mean something, maybe more to some than others, since there seems to be a rising tide for Jews who celebrate Christmas.

No, I don't get it either.

Anyway, on the Jewish calendar, Hanukkah is not a major holiday. But it is a joyous and festive one, celebrating the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabeus revolt, during the second century BCE (before the common era).

After the Jews regained control of the temple, they found that they only had one night's oil for their candelabra, their eternal light. Somehow, through some type of miracle, the oil burned for eight days, hence the celebration of Hanukkah for eight days and the use of a menorah to signify the eternal light.

It is a joyous holiday and a festive one, but, as I said, it is not a major holiday on the Jewish calendar.

That is the reason that many give for high-profile Jews basically ignoring the holiday, at least out in public.

But of course, that is nonsense.

Whatever anybody says, Hanukkah is a huge holiday for Jews around the globe.

It is a gift-giving holiday, a holiday where you reaffirm your family ties, a holiday that is to be celebrated, and not shunned, like some unfortunate Jews do.

Sure, it's always right near Christmas, and a lot of people believe that it is the “Jewish Christmas.”

Well let me tell you, it isn't. It has nothing to do with Christmas at all.

However, because of the actions of some high-profile Jews, many people think that Hanukkah simply doesn't measure up, that Jews celebrate Christmas.

Sorry, at least in my family, we don't.

Christmas is a wonderful holiday, with its direction very similar to that of Hanukkah.

But Hanukkah isn't the “Jewish Christmas” much like Christmas is not the “Gentile Hanukkah.”

No matter how much society wants the two holidays intertwined, one has nothing to do with the other.

On that note, I wish everyone a joyous Hanukkah. Eat lots of sweet things, get and give your presents, and feel content with who you are and what religion you are.

I know that I am content, very content indeed.”

So on Sunday night, we will light the first candle on the menorah by first lighting the shamash, or the ninth candle on the candelabra that gives life to the other eight candles surrounding it.

We will eat a nice dinner, give out our gifts, and everybody will be happy and full of fun.

It is a great holiday, and a holiday that I will always cherish.

So to Jews around the world who are reading this Rant, have a great Hanukkah, and for them and all others, have a great weekend, and I will speak to you again on Monday.