Vegreville News Advertiser - December 8, 2021

Local Resident Celebrates Hanukkah

Rosanne Fortier - News Correspondent

Hanukkah is a Jewish festival which is also known as the Festival of Lights. This occasion is observed and celebrated from November 28 till December 6.

Mary McCauley who is a local resident said she celebrates Hanukkah with her children. “I am 50% Ashkenazi Jewish. My great grandparents came from Germany. I am Mormon by faith. So, I also celebrate Christmas. Hanukkah and Christmas are not similar at all; they only happen to be close on the calendar, Christmas celebrates the birth of the Christ child while Hanukkah commemorates the recovery of Jerusalem and subsequent rededication of the second temple at the beginning of the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd Century BCE where the temple was.

Mary McCauley with five of her children. L-R: Isabella, Patrick, Benny, Sam, and David.

(Rosanne Fortier/File Photo)

I observe Hanukkah because it keeps me connected to my culture and forms a deep love for my ancestors. I started celebrating Hanukkah in 2017 when I discovered my Jewish heritage (yet to get a proper Menorah though). I have little to no information about my mother’s family so most of what I know is from my genealogy work and from doing research on Jewish culture online and watching fellow Jewish’s mothers on YouTube.

Unfortunately, when my family came to Canada, they hid the fact they were Jewish, which was common after World War II.

I give out gifts at Hanukkah but not all people do this. I do it because it helps my children observe and remember the occasion.

As well, I serve lots of deep fried foods.

I am working on mastering traditional Hanukkah dishes like Latkes, challah, but honestly I am not great at it yet.

I am a former foster child who has lost connection to my Jewish family so we don’t get together, but I am looking for an adopted Jewish family to help me understand the traditions better.