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Presents vs. Mitzvot (Good Deeds)

Bringing Meaning to Your Hanukkah Celebration

By Cara J. Stevens

Although Hanukkah is a post-Biblical holiday and has minor religious significance, the larger cultural context is actually quite substantial and worthy of at least a nod within the overall celebration. "Hanukkah celebrates the Jews' struggle for religious freedom," says Rabbi Mitchell Hurvitz of Temple Sholom in Greenwich, Conn. "The events leading up to the Maccabean revolt put the very survival of Judaism at risk, and while the story of Hanukkah is particular to the Jews, the universal lessons of fighting for liberty applies to all human beings. Humanity must defend the freedom when oppression threatens."

When you have a captive audience of hungry guests at the table, try adding a tradition this year: tell the story of the miracle of Hanukkah, then have each guest come up with a miracle from his or her own life. Opening up the conversation to something so personal can give everyone new insight into each other's life experiences. It can also set the stage for a more substantial dinner conversation than "pass the dark meat, please," and "the soup is cold."

For the days leading up to Hanukkah, along with the usual present wish lists, last-minute gift shopping and party preparations, create a tradition including the whole family in addressing and sending annual holiday cards. This not only makes it easier and more fun for the person who usually gets stuck with the task, it gets children into the spirit of the holiday and imparts the value of keeping in touch with family and friends. It also reminds children of far-away relatives they may not see very often.

To offset the Christmas carols that inevitably get stuck in your head throughout the season, buy some fun Hanukkah music and play it at your family gathering or as background music throughout the holiday. A game of musical chairs set to Klezmer music or Adam Sandler's latest Hanukkah song can at least give you new tunes to hum in the shower.

Want to see more?

• Holiday Headquarters
• Celebrate Hanukkah: Activities to Make, Play and Eat With Your Preschooler
• Cultural Traditions: Celebrating Christmas Around the World
• Hanukkah: A History of Tradition
• Talk about it!