Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, typically starts a week before Christmas, but this year falls on Christmas Eve.
The foremost Hanukkah tradition involves lighting eight candles on a menorah every evening over eight days to celebrate religious freedom. The last time Hanukkah and the actual day of Christmas coincided was 11 years ago in 2005. Visit 808ne.ws/samedays.
This year’s unusual occurrence of Christmas Eve and Hanukkah falling on the same night resonates with Sandra Armstrong, a teacher and spokeswoman for Oahu’s Congregation Sof Ma’arav, who wrote a memoir about balancing Christian and Jewish faith traditions called “A Jewish Girl and a Not-So-Jewish Boy.” Her husband, Don, has been the longtime president of Sof Ma’arav.
“I sit today writing both Hanukkah and Christmas cards to family and friends. I understand how these holidays are similar in our need for peace and love in the world. It is at this time that we stop and think of how grateful we are for what we have in our lives and realize that there is so much more we can do to help to repair the world (Tikkun Olam) in our search for God,” she said in an email.
“So as my neighbors have been busily decorating their homes for Christmas with anticipation and lots of hope for the future, so do we take out our Hanukkah menorahs. When the Christmas tree lights are lit at the same time as the Hanukkah lights, we will experience the pure joy of light coming through corners of darkness to brighten all our spirits as our ancestors did before us.”
Sof Ma’arav is celebrating Hanukkah with live music by the Ruach (“spirit”) Band and a party at a private home at 6 p.m. Thursday. For those interested in attending, contact Sandra Armstrong at 595-3678 or sandrazarmstrong@gmail.com.
Holiday celebrations for other Jewish congregations follow:
>> Temple Emanu-El, 2550 Pali Highway, 595-7521 — On Friday, Shabbat Hanukkah dinner, including latkes, will be served at 6 p.m., followed by dreidel (top) games for children. At 7:30 p.m. everyone is welcome to bring a menorah (candleholder) to light during the service and participate in a finger light show. A dessert oneg will follow. Dinner is free but donations will be accepted. For more information, visit shaloha.com.
>> Oahu Jewish Ohana — A celebration will be held at 6 p.m. today with heavy pupu, followed by a Havdalah service and the lighting of the first Hanukkah candle at the home of members Barbara Fischlowitz-Leong and Michael Leong. The guest speaker is Rabbi Devorah Lynn, who will address “Shabbat and Hanukkah: Role Models for Climate Change Action.” Reservations are closed, but for inquiries, contact jtrosenthal@gmail.com or oahujewishohana.com.
>> Chabad of Hawaii, Ala Moana Hotel, 410 Atkinson Drive; 735-8161; for full schedule, visit chabadofhawaii.com.
A “Glow in the Dark party” will be held at 5 p.m. Sunday; adults $20, children $15. For RSVP information, email info@chabadofhawaii.com or call 735-8161.
The car menorah parade will be held from 5:30 to
6:30 p.m. Wednesday. To be in the parade or to sponsor a car menorah, call 735-8161 or email pearlkras@gmail.com. After the parade a public menorah-lighting ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. at the corner of Kuhio and Kalakaua avenues at the entrance to Waikiki. Latkes, music and other activities are scheduled.
