Rabbi Daniel Dorsch

deem Hanukkah to be a minor holiday. This is not due to its lack of adherents, but because the story Hebrew Bible. As a result, while

sages in the Talmud fabricated the now popular story about the miracle of the oil lasting for eight days and nights. Given its widespread use today, it’s safe to argue that they succeeded in adding an important spiritual dimension to the holiday. Ironically, for its emphasis on our freedom to practice as Jews, Hanukkah’s traditional timing opposite Christmas in December sometimes can create a great deal of ambivalence for Jewish families about how best to observe the holiday. Like all American holidays, Hanukkah now has grown very commercial. Walking through stores and seeing a Hanukkah display opposite the Christmas one is terrific, in that my own children feel validated in their religious practice. However, it also begs the question: To what extent, have we allowed a holiday that celebrates the uniqueness of Judaism to become like everything else? American Jewish families observe Minor Holiday Hanukkah with traditional Jewish rituals, like lighting candles and playing dreidel (a spinning top). However, they also may choose Attains Major Status to give their children presents on Hanukkah or seasonally decorate their homes. The Elf on the Shelf has made room for the wildly BY RABBI DANIEL DORSCH adorable Mensch on the Bench. I’ve

Hanukkah, which is a holiday the holiday is celebrated widely, to put up a “Hanukkah bush.” that can be spelled any number of traditional Jewish restrictions that Hanukkah may be a minor ways (none of them more correct take place on holidays like Rosh holiday for ritually observant Jews, than any other), means “dedicated Hashanah or Passover (cessation but there is little question that, on 25th” day of the Hebrew month from labor, large festival meals, given its popularity in our country, of Kislev. It commemorates the etc.), do not apply to Hanukkah. it has attained a major status. For Hasmoneans, also called the Further contributing to its Americans, its powerful theme of Maccabees, and their successful minor status is that our rabbis celebrating religious freedom and war for religious freedom, in which grew troubled that the holiday observance is one that continues to they succeeded in banishing the overemphasized the Maccabees’ resonate with all of us. The question Greeks from their occupation of military prowess at the expense of that none of us may yet answer is Jerusalem and its Holy Temple. God’s role in the story. It largely what that observance will look like Many ritually observant Jews was out of these concerns that our generations into the future. of Hanukkah occurred too late Rabbi Dan Dorsch serves Congregation Etz Chaim in Marietta. He is a chronologically to make it into the graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary, and holds a master’s degree in synagogue education. heard of some families going so far