The Story of Chanukah (by MicheleBE)

Transcription

1 The Story of Chanukah (by MicheleBE) Summary: Strangers making their way to their new homes are invited to spend Christmas Eve at the Ponderosa; and share their Holiday with their Cartwrights. Rating: G (2,020 words) The Story of Chanukah Christmas Eve had once more arrived in the Sierra Nevada, and with it, a blizzard was bearing down on Lake Tahoe. The Cohen and Levy families were struggling to get to their new homes in Virginia City, but the snow was falling faster, and no matter how hard the men and the children worked to clear a path for the horses and oxen, it was apparent they d never reach the town by nightfall. Joe and Hoss were coming back to the Ponderosa after checking on the cattle. They saw the families in their wagons struggling to move ahead. Hoss took a look and told the elder Cohen there was no way the families would reach Virginia City this night. Y all can stay overnight with us and our brother, Adam, and our Pa. You ll be warm, the oxen and horses will be able to rest up and we can celebrate Christmas Eve together. Begging your pardon, Eleazar Cohen said. We don t celebrate Christmas; we re Jews. We couldn t possibly worship with you. Joe noticed a young girl, Rachel, Eleazar s daughter, peeking out from her father s wagon. Miss, we d be happy to have you and your family stay with us. We ll figure out something so

2 you don t have to go against your religion. But I should warn you, we have mistletoe hanging in our great room! Do you know what it s for? Rachel blushed and nodded, We aren t foreigners, Sir. We know what mistletoe is for! You don t have to call me Sir. I m just called Joe, he answered with a twinkle in his eyes. Introductions were made for the rest of the families. The Cohens were Eleazar, his wife Shoshana and daughter Rachel. The Levys consisted of the head of the house, Elan, his wife Sadie and their son, Ethan. The families followed Joe and Hoss whose horses were able to tamp down snow enough for the wagons to continue to the Ponderosa. Ben and Adam met everyone in front of the house and bid them welcome. While the adults tended to the animals in the barn, the two youngsters made their way to the warmth of the hearth. Stockings hung from the mantle, but Rachel and Ethan ignored them. Carefully, Rachel unwrapped from a cloth that she carried, a menorah that glowed bright by the light of the fireplace. It had places for nine candles. Hop Sing greeted the youngsters, and Rachel inquired if he had any candles she could use. Hop Sing didn t understand why, but found enough candles for her. The adults and the Cartwrights, their tasks completed, entered the home and started warming themselves by the fire. Hop Sing entered the room and announce he had prepared turkey and a ham, and it would be ready for dinner soon. A shudder went through all of the Cohens and Levys. Ben noticed, and trying to be hospitable, he asked Eleazar if something was wrong; he had a feeling the shudder had to do with the meal.

3 Eleazar explained, We are Jews and don t eat any pork or shellfish. We consider these impure. As it is, we really shouldn t eat the turkey unless it is killed under the supervision of a Jew specially skilled in the killing of approved animals, but since we have no one here to do that, we ll have to partake of the turkey. We can also eat any vegetables as long as they aren t prepared with lard. We do have schmaltz with us, which is like lard, only it s made from chicken fat. Ben said the meal would be no problem for the families. He asked if the children would enjoy singing Christmas carols since it was Christmas eve. Rachel spoke up, making sure she didn t walk under any mistletoe. We don t celebrate Christmas, but tonight is the last night of Chanukah, the Festival of Lights! We can light our menorah and maybe entertain you with songs for our holiday and you can sing your Christmas carols! Why that sounds like a mighty fine idea, Ben said. Shoshana and Sadie asked if Hop Sing would mind if they prepared a side dish for dinner called latkes, potato pancakes, special for Chanukah because they were fried in oil. Hop Sing heard and agreed. ***** Later, the table was set, the latkes were made, and it was time to light the menorah that had been placed on the low table before the fireplace. But before the menorah was lit, Eleazar and Elan decided it was necessary to teach the Cartwrights and remind their wives and children why Chanukah was celebrated. The families took seats on the various pieces of furniture in the great room, with Adam, Hoss, and Joe seated on the stone hearth. Eleazar went on to explain, The eight-day Jewish celebration

4 known as Hanukkah or Chanukah commemorates the rededication during the second century B.C. of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, where according to legend Jews had risen up against their Greek-Syrian oppressors in the Maccabean Revolt. Hanukkah, which means dedication in Hebrew, begins on the 25th of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar and usually falls in November or December. Shoshana interrupted, As my father, Sonya Leibe, may his soul rest in peace was was fond of saying, Jewish holidays either come early or late; they re never on time.' Wife, if I may continue? Eleazar s eyes were bright with laughter at his own words being told to others. With a nod of her head, he continued, Chanukah is often called the Festival of Lights, the holiday is celebrated with the lighting of the menorah, traditional foods, games, and gifts. Elan took up the narrative concerning this history of Hanukkah, The events that inspired the Hanukkah holiday took place during a particularly turbulent phase of Jewish history. Around 200 B.C., Judea also known as the Land of Israel came under the control of Antiochus III, the Seleucid king of Syria, who allowed the Jews who lived there to continue practicing their religion. His son, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, proved less benevolent: Ancient sources recount that he outlawed the Jewish religion and ordered the Jews to worship Greek gods. In 168 B.C., his soldiers descended upon Jerusalem, massacring thousands of people and desecrating the city s holy Second Temple by erecting an altar to Zeus and sacrificing pigs within its sacred walls. Y mean the Jews were murdered on account of their religion? asked Hoss. Son, the Romans later on killed Christians, Ben reminded Hoss. Eleazar continued, Led by the Jewish priest Mattathias and

5 his five sons, a large-scale rebellion broke out against Antiochus and the Seleucid monarchy. When Matthathias died in 166 B.C., his son Judah, known as Judah Maccabee ( the Hammer ), took the helm; within two years the Jews had successfully driven the Syrians out of Jerusalem, relying largely on guerilla warfare tactics. Judah called on his followers to cleanse the Second Temple, rebuild its altar and light its menorah the gold candelabrum whose seven branches represented knowledge and creation and were meant to be kept burning every night. Shoshana asked her husband to explain the Hanukkah Miracle. Smiling at his wife, he turned to the others, According to the Talmud, one of Judaism s most central texts, Judah Maccabee and the other Jews who took part in the rededication of the Second Temple witnessed what they believed to be a miracle. Even though there was only enough untainted olive oil to keep the menorah s candles burning for a single day, the flames continued flickering for eight nights, leaving them time to find a fresh supply. This wondrous event inspired the Jewish sages to proclaim a yearly eight-day festival. NOTE: (The first Book of the Maccabees tells another version of the story, describing an eight-day celebration that followed the rededication but making no reference to the miracle of the oil.) Sadie came to stand next to Elan, wrapped an arm around his waist. There are other interpretations of the Hanukkah story. My wife is correct. Some modern historians offer a radically different interpretation of the Hanukkah tale. In their view, Jerusalem under Antiochus IV had erupted into civil war between two camps of Jews: those who had assimilated into the dominant culture that surrounded them, adopting Greek and Syrian customs; and those who were determined to impose Jewish laws and traditions, even if by force. The traditionalists won

6 out in the end, with the Hasmonean dynasty led by Judah Maccabee s brother and his descendants wresting control of the Land of Israel from the Seleucids and maintaining an independent Jewish kingdom for more than a century. Jewish scholars have also suggested that the first Hanukkah may have been a belated celebration of Sukkot, which the Jews had not had the chance to observe during the Maccabean Revolt. One of the Jewish religion s most important holidays, Sukkot consists of seven days of feasting, prayer and festivities. Adam had quietly listened as their guests and as the conversation quieted, he asked, But what of your traditions surrounding Hanukkah? Each guest took the opportunity relate how the Hanukkah celebration revolves around the kindling of a nine-branched menorah, known in Hebrew as the hanukiah. On each of the holiday s eight nights, another candle is added to the menorah after sundown; the ninth candle, called the shamash ( helper ), is used to light the others. Jews typically recite blessings during this ritual and display the menorah prominently in a window as a reminder to others of the miracle that inspired the holiday. In another allusion to the Hanukkah miracle, traditional Hanukkah foods are fried in oil. Potato pancakes (known as latkes) and jam-filled donuts (sufganiyot) are particularly popular in many Jewish households. Other Hanukkah customs include playing with four-sided spinning tops called dreidels and exchanging gifts. In recent decades, particularly in North America, Hanukkah has exploded into a major commercial phenomenon, largely because it falls near or overlaps with Christmas. From a religious perspective, however, it remains a relatively minor holiday that places no restrictions on working, attending school or other activities. After telling the story of Chanukah, Shoshana and Sadie (who

7 had brought her family s menorah into the house), lit the shamash of each menorah. They handed the lit candles to their children to light the other candles. But before the rest of the candles were lit, all of the members of the Jewish families recited the blessing for lighting the candles. They first recited the blessing in Hebrew. And then, so the Cartwrights and Hop Sing would understand, the families translated: Blessed art Thou, oh Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has commanded us to light the Chanukah lights. The children took turns lighting the candles from left to right. They replaced each shamash in its rightful place on their menorahs. Then, the families sang a Chanukah song. First, they sang it in Hebrew: Rock of Ages (Maoz Tzur) Maoz tzur y shuati l cha naeh l shabeach Tikon beit t filati v sham todah n zabeach. L eit tachin matbeach mitzar hamnabeach Az egmor b shir mizmor chanukat hamizbeach Az egmor b shir mizmor chanukat hamizbeach. Then, they happily sang it in English: Rock of Ages let our song, Praise thy saving power; Thou amidst the raging foes, Wast our sheltering tower. Furiously they assailed us,

8 But Thine arm availed us And Thy word broke their sword, When our own strength failed us. And Thy word broke their sword, When our own strength failed us. More songs would have been sung, but stomachs were rumbling and visions of latkes were dancing in front of the children s eyes. Before everyone sat down in the dining room for the feast, Ben poured wine at the table and invoked a blessing, welcoming the guests. Elan then proposed a blessing over the wine, which was translated: Blessed art Thou,oh Lord our God, King of the Universe, who gives us the fruit of the vine. And Eleazar piped up before the wine was sipped, Le Cha-im, to life! For it was a blessing and a life saving invitation from Hoss and Joe that enabled the families to survive the blizzard and enjoy the comfort and warmth of the Cartwrights, Hop Sing, and the Ponderosa. The End Author s Note 1: The reference to the Jewish holidays being early or late is a tribute to my late husband, Steve Eisenberg, whose Jewish name was Sanya Leibe; he was fond of saying this. My own Jewish name is, Michal Blume. Author s Note 2: Research on Chanukah came from History.com. Chanukah song lyrics are from myjewishlearning.com