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December 2006
"Mai Chanukah?"
What is this Chanukah?
Chanukah is a shape-shifting holiday in Judaism. Over a thousand years ago, but hundreds of years after the Maccabean revolt, the rabbis of the Talmud were still asking in Aramaic: "Mai Chanukah?" This phrase literally means "What is this Chanukah business anyways?!" Since then in every era Jews have found different ways to answer this question. The Chanukah story has been told and retold in countless ways, as we struggled to make sense of it for diverse times and places. In some generations Chanukah has been cast as a celebration of a totally human military victory, while in others it is purely about God's deliverance. Some Jewish traditions hold that we kindle lights because of the practical realities of the long nights of the winter solstice, while others give the lights of Chanukah cosmic mystical significance.
Maybe the reason there are so many different versions of the Chanukah tale is precisely because Chanukah's themes are so big and universal. Light in the darkness, the few against the many, the fact that a small group of dedicated individuals can over-turn an entrenched system of oppression... these ideas are too big to be contained in a single narrative.
This Chanukah when you and your loved ones gather to light candles consider putting a more complicated spin on telling the Chanukah tale. Read the following quotes (which we began to explore together at services last month) and ask each other the attached study questions. Whatever your answers are, learning together at home is a first step towards making the central lesson of Chanukah real. Liberation happens when we take the time to question the status quo and listen to each others voices!
Chag Urim Sameach! (Happy Festival of Lights) - Eli
1.
They purified the Temple and removed the stones that defiled it… they took unhewn stones, as the law commands, and built a new altar on the model of the old one. They rebuilt the sanctuary and restored its interior and courts. They fixed the sacred vessels and menorah. They had the ritual bread on the table and had hung the curtains and all their work was complete, early on the twenty-fifth day of Kislev… Then Judah and his brothers, and the whole congregation of Israel decreed that the rededication of the altar should be observed with joy and gladness at the same time each year. – First Maccabees 4:39-59
2.
"Mai Chanukah?" What is this Chanukah? Our rabbis taught: On the twenty-fifth day of Kislev begins the eight days of Chanukah which are days on which mourning and fasting are prohibited. For when the Greeks entered the Temple, they defiled the oil; and when the Jews defeated them, they searched and they found only one jug of oil with the seal of purity, enough to burn for one day. But a miracle happened and the oil lasted for eight days. In the following years, these days were appointed as a festival on which Hallel [joyful psalms that are recited in honor of wondrous occasions] is said . – Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 21b
3.
When the Adam [the first being] saw the day getting shorter he said: "Woe is me, perhaps because I have sinned, the world around me is being darkened and returning to its original state of chaos and confusion; this then is the kind of death to which I have been sentenced from Heaven!" So he began keeping an eight day fast. But as he observed the winter solstice and noted the day getting increasingly long he said: "This is the world's course," and he set forth to keep an eight day festivity. – Babylonian Talmud, Avodah Zarah 8a
4.
The Zohar [a medieval mystical text] teaches that the source of the Chanukah light is from the Or HaGanuz – the hidden light. In the Hasidic unpacking of this Mystical tradition, the hidden light refers to an interior placed in every human being. The beginning of spiritual work is to acknowledge the existence of such a place. The essence of who I am is, in mystical terms, my Or HaGanuz, my hidden light. Every person has a public persona and a more internal, psychological profile. The hidden light however refers to neither. It is deeper, infinitely more complex and mysterious. It is what drives me to greatness or pathology, it is what moves me to choose one partner or a particular life path over another… There is a Hasidic tradition to gaze into the flame of the candles for as long as they continue to burn. Mystically the meditation on the hidden light of the candles has within it the power to open a window to the hidden light of my own unique soul. – Mordechai Gafni
STUDY QUESTIONS
1. What is Chanukah about according to each of these texts? What do the lights of Chanukah represent in each text?
2. Which version or combination of versions of the Chanukah story is the most familiar to you? Which one of these do you like the best and why? Which version(s) do you want to teach to the children in your life?
3. Think about moments in your own life of light and liberation. Who has shed light in your life? What has liberation looked like for you? How would you tell the "Chanukah" story of your own life?
Chanukah—What a party!
We had a large and boisterous crowd of over 100 parents and kids from our community for the DJC JS Chanukah party on December 3 at Eastminster! Danny Bakan got the party started with some favourite Chanukah songs followed by a Chanukah story with Rabbi Eli Kukla. There was food - latkes, lox, bagels & more - magic with Tricky Ricky, music, crafts, face painting, more music…and general merriment. Judaicamaven’s Temi Firsten set up shop so we could buy beautiful candles and Judaica. It was a wonderful, fun filled event!
A special thank you to Galina Vaisman, a JS parent and committee member for organizing this event, and whose tireless effort made it all happen. Thanks to all the volunteers for your help; without your contribution, the party wouldn’t have happened!
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING UPDATE
Please expect to receive a package in the mail notifying you of our upcoming annual general meeting on Thursday, January 25, 2007 at 7:30pm at Riverdale Presbyterian Church, 662 Pape Avenue. [map]
The package includes the meeting notice, as well as the slate of candidates and proxy form in case you can’t make it to the meeting, but wish to vote.
When help is needed…Chesed
Chesed literally means “loving kindness”. In practical terms, it means being there for others when needed, as needed. Health concerns have affected one DJC Family that now needs relief in the kitchen. The DJC’s Chesed has already assembled a small team who has begun to cook meals, but we’re looking for more cooks to keep things brewing in the months ahead. Please consider making a meal and making a difference. To find out how you can help, please contact Rosie Beitel: rosiebeitel@sympatico.ca for more details.
Listening Campaign Going Strong
Collective stories, foundation building, active listening, opening space, winnable issues - these concepts and more were discussed at the second training held for the listening campaign core group on December 3, 2006.
17 wonderful DJC members have come together to help carry out a project that is close to Rabbi Kukla's heart. With the DJC membership growing, our Board and Eli are taking the initiative to find out who we are and what we want to create as a congregation.
Surfacing our collective story and being responsive to member’s interests and needs is the goal of this project, which consists of having 17 core members meet in 45 minute long one on one conversation with at least 150 members of our congregation within the first year. These meetings will help the Board in determining future program priorities but more importantly they will assist members to network with each around common interests.
So far, the core group has conducted nearly 40 meetings. We have been distributing green sign up sheets at recent events and lots of you have indicated that you would be interested in being 'listened to'. We are asking the rest of you to please let us know if you would like to meet with one of the DJC listeners, who will meet with you at a nearby coffee shop at a time convenient for you.
We hope you will join the growing circle of members who are telling their DJC story. To let us know if you are interested, please email Kathy at info@djctoronto.com.
LEARN TO READ HEBREW IN 6 HOURS!!!
Once again the DJC is offering a 6-hour ‘Hebrew Marathon’ taught by Nirit Gruber. This is a great opportunity for you to learn to read Hebrew and to launch any further Hebrew study you may be doing. The program is being offered through the DJC Jewish School and is open to Jewish School children in grades 5, 6, and 7 and their parents, as well as anyone else in the DJC community who might be interested.
The program works especially well when kids and parents attend together – and so we encourage kids (grade 5 and older) to attend with their parents.
| WHEN: | Saturday, February 17th and Saturday, February 24th |
| 10:00 am to 1:00 pm both days | |
| COST: | $25 per person for the both days |
| LOCATION: | Matty Ekler Community Centre (953 Gerrard Street East) [map] |
| REGISTRATION: | To register and confirm space in the workshop, please contact Nadya Burton at nburton@ryerson.ca by January 31st, 2007. |
For any further information, please contact Nadya Burton at nburton@ryerson.ca or at 416.538.9949.
The DJC Book Club continues to nourish the soul…
For more information on becoming a member, and to rsvp for this session, please contact Kathy: info@djctoronto.com Read on...
| January Calendar Friday, January 5—Shabbat service, 6:30pm at Eastminster Church, 310 Danforth Avenue–Hurndale entrance (corner of Jackman/Hurndale). [map] Rabbi Eli Kukla leading. Free childcare provided. Kiddush to follow. Saturday, January 6—Torah Study with Rabbi Eli Kukla,10:00am at Riverdale Presbyterian, 662 Pape Avenue (side door, follow steps down to the basement). [map] Thursday, January 25—Annual General meeting, 7:30pm at Riverdale Presbyterian Church, 662 Pape Avenue (side door, follow steps down to the basement). [map] |
Other community events:
Singers wanted!
Do you sing or wish you could? New Choir is looking for singers who like to perform classic and new rock tunes in four-part harmony. New Choir is a fun and sociable group that rehearses every Tuesday at Eastminster Church from 7:30 to 9:30. Season starts January 9th.
Please phone Ian at 416.406.2929 for more information on how to register.
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