Non-Jews have trouble with pronouncing “Cha” nu caw (you sort of gargle the first letters in the back of your throat). Jews have trouble with this holiday that is sometimes a Holy Day but not on the same scale as THE High Holy Days or Passover. Orthodox Jews observe all the major and minor holy and holidays but more modern, assimilated Jews have problems with the holiday that appears near or on THE HOLY DAY of Christmas which commemorates the birth of Jesus. Jesus is called THE Messiah by Christians and Jews for Jesus and no one else. Yet, for all of this, our secular nation observes Christmas as holy a day like Thanksgiving and the 4th of July. Christmas is a RELIGIOUS Holy Day while Chanukah is not.
So, I think we should be getting beyond Chanukah, lighting of candles and eating latkes (potato pancakes fried in oil). Chanukah is celebrated for two historical reasons. One it is driving the Syrian Greeks out of the Temple and two, the rebuilding of the Temple by a new line of kings of the Jews. The miracle associated with it is supposed to be the single container of oil (enough for one day of lighting the Menorah lights) lasting for eight days – enough time to consecrate oil pure enough to light the Menorah. You should know there are two kinds of Menorahs. One is the seven branch candelabra that signifies Jewish ness as much as anything else. These lights represent the seven day week where God takes six days to make the world and then rests on the seventh – and the SABBATH. The Chanukah Menorah has nine candles, one to light all the others that represent those eight days. This Menorah is called the Chanukkiah.
But, we haven’t gotten beyond this holiday that gives Jewish children 8 days while Gentile children get only one. Actually, the only ones who care are the kids and they never get enough. Parents have yet to find a satisfactory way to deal with the detritus that has grown up around a pagan holiday. This was adopted throughout the western world to magnify the story of the Messiah or the Christ who saves all those who believe in him. It is hard to be realistic about miracles. The Jews had to add to their list of special days.
It is really time for my thesis that we must get beyond Chanukah. I think we should make a greater success story about the Jews who survived the Holocaust called the “Shoah”. This was the Nazi failure to liquidate all traces of Jews first in Europe and then in the world. The success of America in defeating the murderers of innocents – all six million Jews and six million of others should be celebrated. Rather than a secular holiday it should be religious. I suggest the so American dish of Pizza in the shape of Hitler’s profile as the delicacy of remembrance. It wouldn’t hurt. The time, synchronized with the anniversary of Kristalnacht, would be significant. All peoples should give thanks for deliverance from totalitarianism. It certainly would bring all thinking and religious people together in a common cause.