OUTREACH NEWS

By Renee Greif

means “Dedication.” Did you know that? I didn’t. At least, I never consciously encapsulated the holiday in one word. At my home, we always sing the song, “Judah and the Maccabbees,” and I know the story of the Jews fight to preserve their religious freedom, but I never thought of Hanukkah in terms of dedication. Rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after its desecration never brought home to me the personal connection we can make to the concept of dedication. Following on the heels of the High Holy Days, the view of Hanukkah as a holiday where we reflect on dedication takes on a new and deeper meaning. In our home, we have tried to teach our children that the Jews fought to retain their religious freedom and their right to their Jewish identity. This year, adding the concept of personal dedication and how we can incorporate it into our lives sounds like a great idea. Like the High Holy Days, we have an opportunity to reflect on what it means to be Jewish and how we make Judaism a part of our daily lives. It is a time to reflect on how special it is to be Jewish and how sometimes, like the Maccabees, being Jewish makes us feel different. Here are some possible discussion topics during Hanukkah, which can be as thought provoking for adults as they are for children:

What does it mean to be dedicated to Judaism?

Are there different ways to be dedicated to something that you believe in? If so, what are some of the ways you can think of?

Do Jews express their dedication to their faith in a variety of ways? How?

How do you express your dedication to Judaism?

For interfaith families, Hanukkah can be a time when families are trying to establish a balance that recognizes the beliefs and practices of different religions. Focusing on the ways in which others have tried to balance these issues may be a helpful way to determine a comfortable course for your family. Although at the time of this printing, no articles on point were highlighted on the website, Interfaithfamily.com. a search for “December dilemma” will provide many articles worth perusing. Rabbi Jim and Rabbi Sarah are also a valuable source and always open to discussing your concerns or thoughts.

This year, the Temple is once again making available the booklet, A Chanukah Catalogue. One copy is free to all TBH members. Please see Linda in the main office for a copy. It includes the nightly home service, plenty of songs and a history of the meaning of Hanukkah, along with a lot of other wonderful information. Additional copies of the catalogue are available for $5.00, and a cassette tape or CD of music by Cantor Alan and Rabbi Jim is also available for $7.50.

I would love to hear how both interfaith and Jewish partners celebrate the holidays and if you have any tips or traditions that have worked well for your families. My e-mail address is outreach@tbhla.org.