Not all Chanukah music is kiddie music — even when it\’s played by kids. On Sunday, Dec. 1, the Skirball Cultural Center will host the West Coast premiere of Russell Steinberg\’s suite, "Lights On!"
If RockFour comes bearing an agenda, it is decidedly more in tune with the Beach Boys\’ Brian Wilson than with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
In some religious Jewish circles, Thanksgiving is controversial. The holiday troubles certain Orthodox Jews not because they are unpatriotic — considering how faithful a friend America has been to Israel lately, they are probably more patriotic than ever — but because some believe that the Torah forbids participating in any non-Jewish observance.
My mother was surprised when I said I was reviewing Chanukah books for kids. \”Is there a lot out there?\” she asked.
\”All Jewish stories have a deeper meaning,\” reflected Judy Aronson, a graduate of Brandeis University and Harvard Divinity School. \”It\’s the community that makes the latkes, the people that create the celebration. If nobody had contributed anything, all they\’d have was an iron nail. Because everybody cooperated, they not only had a feast, they had peace of mind forever more.\”
Rabbi doll sales are just one way that North American Jews are being encouraged to support Israel as the Palestinian intifada enters its third year.
Even \”heart healthy\” or \”light\” menu options can be filled with hidden fat, sodium or other dangers for those on special diets or trying to eat healthy.
\”I was searching for Chanukah on my calendar and couldn\’t find it in the month of December,\” said Jennifer Felicia Abadi, author of \”A Fistful of Lentils: Syrian-Jewish Recipes From Grandma Fritzie\’s Kitchen\” (Harvard Common, $24.95)
Who could have guessed that this year Chanukah starts in November — the day after Thanksgiving?
\”Can\’t we spread these holidays out a bit?\” Abadi said. \”It\’s not fair,\”
This merging of secular and religious holidays leaves many Jewish families in a quandary. Should they skip Thanksgiving in favor of Chanukah? Should they gather for celebrations two nights in a row? Because Thanksgiving comes first, will it overshadow the Festival of Lights? Because the first night of Chanukah falls on a Shabbat, doesn\’t it deserve special attention?
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