How do Jews celebrate
Chanukah outside the U.S.?
By Rabbi Amy Morrison
December 2024
In many parts of North America, we dream of a white Chanukah (or we wish for the opposite).
Other Jewish communities – Australia, for example – celebrate the Festival of Lights in the heat of summer or, as in Alaska, in constant darkness.
Here are eight countries around the world – some warm and some cold – that offer unique traditions that you and your family can use to spice up your Chanukah celebrations.
1. Cuba. In their cooking, Cubans use plantains in much the same way Americans and Canadians use potatoes: mashing them, baking them, and frying them. It should not come as a surprise, then, that Cuban Jews make fried plantains, otherwise known as tostones or patacones, for their Chanukah celebrations.
2. Syria. The Jews of Aleppo were descendants of Sephardic Jews expelled from Spain in 1492. When they finally found a safe haven in Syria, they vowed to light an additional shamash (helper candle) on Chanukah as a sign of thanks. Today’s Syria is a much different country. This Chanukah, consider adopting the Syrian Jewish tradition of lighting an additional shamash in solidarity with the refugees who have fled Syria in search of shelter and peace.
3. France. In the wine-making region of Avignon in the south of France, it is customary to end the Shabbat that falls during Chanukah by opening a new bottle or cask of wine. After Havdalah, Jews would travel around the neighborhood to various homes, tasting the wines and toasting the holiday. This is a fantastic way to build community and to celebrate the holiday with family and friends.
4. Mexico. In Spanish, Chanukah is known as Januca or Lucenarias – the feast of lights. Mexican children play a game called toma todo (winner takes all), which is similar to the version of dreidel that we play except the top has six sides instead of four. The toma toda dreidel is known as a pirinola. For a true multi-cultural experience, Mexican Jews often break a dreidel-shaped piñata filled with Chanukah trinkets and treats.
5. Italy. On Tishah B’Av, we read the Book of Lamentations, often in complete darkness. There is an Italian custom of saving the candle that was used to help us read on Tishah B’Av to help us light the menorah during Chanukah. On Tishah B’Av, we mourn the destruction of the Holy Temple; on Chanukah, we celebrate its rededication. Using the same candle for both occasions connects the two events: On Tishah B’Av we are sad, but on Chanukah we rejoice as we rekindle this same light as the shamash for our festival of freedom.
6. Kurdistan. Although Jews no longer live in Kurdistan, many Kurdish Jews still observe two unusual Chanukah customs. The first is similar to the giving of Chanukah gelt, but with a twist: a week before the holiday, children lock the doors to their rooms. Their parents must give them coins in order to gain entry. The second custom was developed by Jews too poor to afford a Chanukiah (Chanukah menorah). They used eggshells as cups for wicks and oil, lighting the required number of cracked shells every night. Be creative and find other ways to repurpose everyday objects as a sign of light and hope on Chanukah!
7. Morocco. Jews in Morocco extended the joy of Chanukah into a ninth day, which became known as “the day of the shamash.” On that day, children would go from house to house, collecting leftover Chanukah candles. Then, they would make a giant bonfire, dancing and singing around it, and jumping and leaping over it. It was believed that jumping over the fire could bring good luck. Single women would jump over the fire in the hopes of getting married. Married women struggling to conceive would jump over the fire in the hopes of being blessed with a child. (As an aside: another fun way to repurpose extra Chanukah candles is to soak three candles in hot water. Then twist the softened wax together for an instant miniature Havdalah candle!)
8. Tunisia. The seventh day of Chanukah coincides with Rosh Chodesh Tevet, the beginning of the Hebrew month of Tevet, which has become a holiday within a holiday for Tunisian Jews. Known as Chag haBanot (Festival of the Daughters), girls and women celebrate the courageous act of Yehudit, the Jewish woman who saved the Jewish nation by killing the general sent by Antiochus, the evil ruler of the Syrian-Greek Empire. In celebration of the day, women would do no work, visit one another, and eat doughnuts and honey cookies. The holiday was particularly special for young women engaged to be married in the coming year.
(With references from ReformJudaism.org)
More, More, More
By Rabbi Amy Morrison
November 2024
“I‘ve learned that it’s the little things that help make us, define us, and when we look back on them, remind us just how blessed we truly are.”
– Regan Long
In today’s hectic and consumeristic world, people express a seemingly unquenchable desire for more, more, more! We consume more. We purchase more. We deplete more. What we don’t do more of, however, is allow ourselves the opportunity to thoughtfully step back and take account of all that we already have – much of which often goes unnoticed, overlooked, and undervalued.
As you read this article, I ask you to pause, right now, and look up from this issue of The Scroll.
Glance around the room that you are in. Notice what surrounds you. Take note of the people, photos, and tchotchkes (Yiddish for trinkets) that adorn your home. Recognize the feelings that observing them brings up within your heart and your mind.
Can you recall when you acquired that Grandfather Clock that once stood attention in your Great Aunt’s home? Can you still smell the streets of France where you snapped that photo of your beloved enjoying a fresh baguette? How about that Lego you stepped on as you walked to the couch just a few minutes ago—do you melt when you think of your youngest giggling as he builds magical skyscrapers on your living room floor?
What details, what memories, what strong and beautiful feelings were unattainable by you mere moments ago before you took the time and space to look closer at who and what you choose to surround yourself with?
Judaism challenges us to take a step back as well to observe our surroundings from “an eagle’s point of view.” Throughout the Torah, God reminds the Israelites to pay attention to that which surrounds them as well. The rainbow after the flood, the Burning Bush unconsumed, the beautiful coat of many colors, and the water’s parting for them to cross through to dry land.
So often we read of Midrashshim (Jewish stories) where God send messages to the Jews in subtle and understated ways. It is only the most observant of them (of us) who are aware and attuned enough to take note of their holy distinction. How many of us have “walked sightless amongst miracles” as our prayer book, Mishkan T’fillah, questions? What lessons, what opportunities, and what blessings have we all simply been too busy to notice, and even more so, too unaware to be grateful for just how much we already have in our lives without needing more and more to be happy.
As humanity, we must remind ourselves to take sacred pauses far more often than we do. “Stop and smell the roses” is not just an old-time adage, it’s actually a far more timeless reminder that God’s miracles and gifts surround us at all times. However, if we don’t take the pause, the closer look, the moments of silence in our busy lives to pay attention… then we may miss our opportunities to truly have MORE—more connection, more love, and more gratitude.
Every moment, every interaction and every breath is a new opportunity to give thanks for all that we ALREADY have in our lives.
L'chaim
By Rabbi Amy Morrison
September 2024
The founder of Chasidic Judaism, The Baal Shem Tov (1698-1760), used to teach: “Believe that every day the world is created anew, and that you yourself are born anew each morning.”
What an aspiration! What a completely restorative concept to consider the morning after a 'no good, terrible, horrible, very bad day’ (as the children’s book is entitled). And yet, is this really even possible… to begin each new day believing that anything is possible just because we woke up again?
Yes! Yes! And yes!
Judaism teaches us that each and every day we are alive, we are blessed. Every morning (within the prayer Elohai Nishama) we are commanded to seize the new day. With thanks for the ‘renewed air/soul within our bodies,’ we are reminded that within every opportunity, every emotion, and every single relationship we have, a gift from God is extended to us. We are blessed with the mere fact that we woke up and have a new opportunity to experience life for (at least) one more day.
So, what do we do with this blessing? What will it take to truly nurture this new start, new potential, new journey? And maybe most crucial, how can we focus ourselves to behave in a way that ultimately honors God’s priceless (and not promised) gift of life?
The Jewish New Year is a great reminder that it’s time to ‘take stock’ of our past year and set goals for the new one to come. Similar to secular New Year’s resolutions, the Jewish holidays provide us with a set time each year to articulate our dreams and go after our goals. However, intrinsic in our Jewish New Year is the commandment to look backwards and see where we could have made changes in how we behaved, decisions we made, and people we wronged. In as much as Rosh Hashanah is a celebration of beginnings, we are taught that we can’t positively move forward unless we are ready to make the changes necessary within ourselves to do so.
But these changes can feel daunting…especially if they feel insurmountable and out of our control. And this is where Judaism provides us a road map to place one foot in front of the other — and to take each day and each moment as the true blessing that it is. Nothing is ever too big. We are never truly too small. And most importantly, we always have God supporting us.
So, maybe we need to just slow ourselves down and appreciate each morning that we woke up, and that there is more for us to do to honor this gift called life.
May this New Year be a constant reminder that every moment is latent with beautiful potential, and that as long as we have air in our lungs, we, too are blessed with the opportunity to be created anew as well.
Go higher and higher
By Rabbi Amy Morrison
August 2024
The Chasidic Masters tell the story of Aryeh ben Pinchas and his little granddaughter as they walked hand and hand down the center aisle of the synagogue’s sanctuary. Slowly, they ascended the steps of the bimah, and stood in front of the Holy Ark.
The grandfather carefully opened the doors of the Ark showing his small grandchild the Torah which was clad in velvet mantels-- the sun radiating off its majestic crown. The little girl looked at the Holy Scroll intently, and then delightedly exclaimed: “I want to go still higher!” The grandfather tenderly bent down and kissed her, and said: “May you always want to go higher and higher.”
It is evident and wonderfully distinct that Temple Beth-El is one of the most welcoming and diverse Jewish community that many of us have ever had the opportunity to call ‘home.’ With doors open wide enough to embrace everyone who seeks a safe place to question, affirm, oppose, and celebrate all the many facets of our personal and collective Judaism—Temple Beth-El’s members open their hearts fully and build community without judgment.
But we can still, as the parable states, “Go higher!” As a maturing congregation, it is incumbent upon us to set higher goals and dream larger dreams for where our congregation will be as we soar closer to our Centennial.
Consistent with our principle of tikkun olam b’shem Adonai (repairing the world in the name of God), volunteerism is fervent within our walls. One of my goals this year will be to introduce and formalize a monthly Shabbat volunteer opportunity within St Pete and the sounding areas. In partnership with the Social Justice Committee, I look forward to offering TBE members a variety of meaningful and powerful Mitzvah projects for us to “pray with our feet” as Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel once coined in reference to marching alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Serving one’s community is a wonderful expression of mitzvot (commandments) and kadosh (holiness) and I am proud to stand tall on the social justice shoulders that Rabbis Torop and Mangold built before me to ensure that TBE is a beacon of light to others in our community.
Another target of my attention will be placed on creating more approachable—more accessible and user-friendly liturgy, worship, and holiday experiences. Jewish occasions and observances at Temple Beth-El are full of enthusiasm and ru’ach (spirit) but many of the customs, choreography, history and mere use of the Hebrew language are overwhelming and off-putting to those who aren’t ‘in the know.’ Sharing and celebrating gratitude towards God should not be limited to those who can follow along in services or around a holiday table. Beginning in the late summer, I will begin to present workshops addressing the various observances of the Jewish holidays, Shabbat and Festival prayer services, life-cycle rituals, and the numerous symbols and vocabulary that have separated and alienated those who ‘know’ from those who ‘don’t know’ and who might be afraid to ask.
Lastly, and possibly most importantly, each one of us must proudly and publically share our involvement in this incredible energy and spiritual connection that is Temple Beth-El. Imagine if every enthusiastic congregant approached one other non-affiliated person–or, how about even THREE other people! —that contagious verve would overflow our sanctuary, classrooms, and holiday tables with new members entering our ‘wide open doors.’
These three areas of focus are crucial to ensure that Temple Beth-El remains always known for our ‘wide doors and open hearts’ as well as our strong unified leadership, approachability to Judaism, and vivacious membership. I am confident that our sacred community will not only go ‘higher and higher’ as the Chasidic teaching encourages—but that we will soar to the heavens and reach new heights as a fervent and more diverse congregation.
