Special Hanukah Edition - Wednesday, December 1, 2010



1. Hanukkah - There seem to be a million ways to spell the name of this holiday - in the interests of simplicity, I'm going with "Hanukkah" - eight letters for eight days!

Just as many Christians believe that the commercial aspects of Christmas have overwhelmed its religious significance, I believe that people overlook the importance of Hanukkah. (And no, Hanukkah is not the "Jewish Christmas).

Here's a basic overview that even includes a recipe - Hanukkah: Not Just Dreidels, Latkes and Gelt - Tarrytown-Sleepy Hollow, NY Patch. Here's insight form Jewish "rapper" Matisyahu - Matisyahu's 8 Chanukah Insights

Personally, I like this article - The Chanukah Question - that ends with a message that it as important now as it was in the time of Judah Maccabee - and which summarizes quite nicely why I post to this blog:

"The place to stand up for your beliefs is the public realm. In the home, yield, yield, yield.

If you are chronically tardy, and your spouse likes to arrive everywhere 15 minutes early, yield. Ask yourself, "What is his/her reality?" and validate it.

If you are a spendthrift and your spouse is frugal, yield. Ask yourself, "What is his/her reality?" and validate it.

If your idea of a vacation is a five-star hotel, and your children want to vacation in the national parks, ask yourself, "What is their reality?" and validate it. Then decide what is best for the whole family.

But in the public realm, when Judaism, Jews, or Israel are under attack, stand up and fight! That's the lesson of Chanukah." (my emphasis, though not my spelling of Hanukkah!)

Here's an example of someone who took this lesson to heart - this has been all over the Internet, but in case you have not read it - Issue 264 - UN Watch

Finally, you might find this video inspirational - Chanukah's Secret to Greatness -I certainly did.


2. Spin City - not the TV show that starred Michael J. Fox (and later, oh yeah, Charlie Sheen, that goof) - Major League Dreidel: A whole new spin on Hanukkah's favourite game


3. Hanukkah Food - not just latkes (which are a form of Jewish weapons of mass destruction...) - Hanukkah season of food, freedom :: Lifestyles :: Post-Tribune


4. Hanukkah Music - here is a link to some traditional Hanukkah songs - Chanukah Songs: Popular Favorites - though perhaps the days of "I Had a Little Dreidl" may be behind us - Anander Mol, Anander Veig - by Marc Weidenbaum Tablet Magazine - A New Read on Jewish Life.

If you are a Jewish heavy metal music type, try this (watch the volume!!):


5. Hanukkah Movies - in my humble opinion, avoid Adam Sandler's "Eight Crazy Nights" like it was a lobster wrapped in pork. Adam Goldberg's "The Hebrew Hammer" is funny, but only for certain tastes.




7. More WikiLeaks Analysis - check these out

Oh - and here's a flash - maybe people who live in glass houses.... - WikiLeaks founder 'wanted' by Interpol over rape claims - and if he goes into hiding, wouldn't it be poetic justice if someone "leaked" his whereabouts? (Here's what he looks like, by the way - and his name is Julian Assange)


8. This Is Different - A ‘self-hating’ Palestinian? A lot of people that are tagged as "self-hating Jew" are much more virulent.


10. Palestinian Bandstand - PA TV broadcasts song calling for Jihad against Israel: "Draw your sword, let it not return" - Jihad Watch - it's got a good beat and the kids can really dance to it.


11. Iran - A couple of items here to keep you up to speed:
12. Basketball - There seems to be a well-documented love of Jews for baseball - I have posted about that before. However, basketball is also a very popular sport with Jews - both in North America and in Israel. Here's more on that topic - The Greatest - by Marc Tracy Tablet Magazine - A New Read on Jewish Life.

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