Chanukah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday that falls on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew Calendar. The holiday can occur any time between November and late December depending on the rotation of the calendar. This year Chanukah began on Dec. 4, leaving Jewish students stranded in Walla Walla over the holiday.
“I’m really upset I don’t get to go home for Chanukah this year. It’s frustrating when the calendar falls this early,” junior Shayna Tivona said.
President George Bridges and Dr. Kari Tupper opened their home for an annual Chanukah party last week to help Jewish students and community members celebrate, a tradition begun by former President Tom Cronin.
“I like to have events where we can celebrate all kinds of holidays for students,” Bridges said.
The holiday party was catered with food traditionally associated with Chanukah: potato pancakes, or latkes in Yiddish, pita bread, three kinds of dipping sauces and doughnuts. Blessings and a few Chanukah songs, like “Rock of the Ages,” were sung, and the traditional game involving a top, Dreidel, was also played.
“This party makes me feel more at home. It’s nice to have a place to go,” sophomore Ellie Klein said.
The word “Chanukah” comes from the Hebrew word for “dedication” and marks the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem after Greek religious symbols were forcibly installed during the third century B.C.E. According to the Jewish text, the Talmud, there was only enough oil to light the Temple for one night. Miraculously, however, the oil burned for eight days, the same amount of time it takes to prepare fresh oil.
To commemorate this miracle, a candle is lit every night of Chanukah until all eight candles are lighted. At the Chanukah party a candle was ceremonially lit on the menorah while a blessing was sung.
“I think this is the best Chanukah party yet, because this year Hillel-Shalom has made a lot of progressive strides on campus, all culminating in this party. It’s really a joyous time for all,” co-president of Hillel-Shalom and sophomore Danny Kaplan said.
Approximately 30 students, faculty and community members attended the party. Stuart Religious Counselor Adam Kirtley was also present and was happy to see a large gathering for the religious practice.
“I think the things this college can do to support the religious practices on campus is great, especially when there is so little support in the community,” Kirtley said.
Both Kirtley and Bridges wish to extend their invitation to other religious groups as well.
“We want to invite as many people as can be involved from various faith persuasions,” Kirtley said.
