Most of us will spend winter break with family and friends, maybe picking up some hours at our summer
jobs back home. Dec. 25 many of you may be planning to gather around the Christmas tree with eggnog and family close by.
Jews all around the world share a tradition of a different sort, we search for the closest Chinese restaurant in town on Christmas or catch a movie. I myself remember seeing Titanic on the big screen in a nearly empty theatre one year. The fact is: there is little else to do on Christmas.
Over break, Jews have other plans that start on a different 25th day of the month. Ironically so, Hanukkah starts on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev and lasts for 8 days. It’s a lunar calendar, for those of you who don’t know, and this year Hanukkah happens to be celebrated from December 21-29.
How do we celebrate it and what are we celebrating? The story of Hanukkah celebrates two miracles. The first is that a small band of Jews defeated the Greeks and chased them out of their homeland and second the miracle is that a day’s supply of oil that burned for eight. Hence, a candle for each day that progresses is lit and we eat lots of greasy food.
During the Greek’s rule of Jerusalem, Jews were not permitted to study Torah, denying Jews religious freedom. So what better way to disguise Torah study…gambling! Well kind of…it is said that Jews would secretly study Torah but would arrange for a look out. When a Greek soldier was seen approaching, the scrolls were quickly hidden and the Jewish students would start spinning tops (dreidels) pretending to be gambling.
This ancient story of Jewish persecution is mirrored in recent news, as we are reminded of by the events in Mumbai. The Chabad house, Jewish center, in Mumbai was specifically targeted, its sanctuary was desecrated. The sacred Torah Scroll was found riddled with bullet holes and Rabbi Holtzberg, 29, and his wife Rivka, 28, were found brutally murdered. Much like the heroes of Hanukkah the heroes of the Mumbai tragedy stood fast to their ancient tradition.
Rabbis are encouraging an additional effort of giving in response to the attacks in Mumbai. So don’t just gamble your fortunes away this year. Not that simply writing a check is the entirely “Jewish” thing to do though. It goes beyond that. More definitively we aspire towards the ideal of Tikkun Olam “repairing the world.” This takes charity one-step further and asks us to give our time, talents, and make a personal connection with others in hopes of creating a better society.
So what will I be doing on December 25 this year? One thing is for sure, there will be no Chinese food for me this year. Instead I’ll be landing in the bustling city of Tel Aviv and hopefully picking up my first of many delicious Falafel sandwiches from a street vendor. From there I’ll be traveling around Israel with other students from around the country. Learning about the land, its people, and why it’s important to so many people.
This is my second trip to Israel; the first was two years ago. I’m returning to my homeland that so many have fought to keep safe. There is no other place that I have felt so instantly close to.
Before my first trip to Israel I was unsure why I supported the country. I am returning knowing that there is more wrapped up in my connection to the land then I can explain. I know it to be the only country in the region with a respectable human rights record and I’m proud of that. I know it to be a modern society that contributes to research initiatives that make our lives better and I’m grateful for that.
Most of all I feel like it’s the little guy surrounded by bullies on all sides that literally want to “wipe it off the face of the earth.” But in reality it’s a little giant. It has survived for 60 years as the underdog in nearly every conflict. Persevering with a democratic state that, like so many others, must balance its citizen’s safety with freedom of movement.
That’s a lot wrapped up in what many may see as the Jewish counterpart to Christmas. I know this winter break for me will be one to remember and I hope yours is too. Best of luck on finals and may you have a joyful holiday season shared with loved ones.
Jay Pliskow, a Western Herald Photographer and occasional opinion columnist, is a senior majoring in Mechanical Engineering, and can be reached via e‑mail at jay.m.pliskow@wmich.edu. For more information about Jewish campus life visit www.wmuhillel.com.
