Festival of Lights: The Story of Hanukkah

Most Westerners know of Hanukkah from the appearance on calendars, but few outside of Judaism know much more about it than the very basic candle-lighting, and even that most of the goyim don't really understand. This book, 'Festival of Lights: The Story of Hanukkah', by Maida Silverman, is in reality a children's book; however, like many children's books, it is a wonderful teaching tool, and this one could teach adults just as well as it can children.

The book is beautifully illustrated by Carolyn Ewing. The full-colour pictures, appearing on every page, show people in period settings and costumes. Hanukkah is based on actual historical events; unlike Yom Kippur which is a more `philosophical/theological' holiday, this one is much more an historical memory event. That, of course, is fully in keeping with the general importance given to history by the Jewish people.

Hanukkah commemorates the Maccabean revolt against Hellenic overlords, and celebrates the miracle that occurred during the rededication of the Temple.

This book, in a merely 20 pages, recounts the story in simple terms that develop the military and political historical events, as well as the importance of tradition and the Temple in Judaism at that time. This book is not so much an original story as it is a retelling of the story. The retelling of story is also traditional in Jewish culture, a time-honoured tradition that occurs with individual families often incorporating their own experiences into the fabric of the story.

The final pages tell of the legend of the Menorah (a candelabra which, for Hanukkah, has 9 candles), the legend of the dreidle as well as instructions for playing the dreidle game and instructions for making your own dreidle, and the words and tune to the Maoz Tzur, which means Rock of Ages, a song of praise for the rededication of the Temple.

Hanukkah is a holiday whose importance has arisen among Jewish peoples as a response to the ever-growing influence of Christmas. Hanukkah is actually a fairly minor holiday in the Jewish calendar, save for the importance given to it as a counter to the almost overwhelming intrusion of commercial Christmas into daily life during the late fall and early winter seasons.

Hanukkah is also a holiday that Christians show know, and could even celebrate. The events tell of historical events that pose no theological difficulties for most Christian denominations and belief systems; indeed, had the Maccabean revolt not been successful, and had the Jewish people been either destroyed or assimilated, then the culture that gave birth to Jesus and his disciples would not have existed a few generations later.

This book is short and sweet, a good holiday gift for children. Published by the Little Simon division of Simon and Simon, it is intended for kids who can read at an early elementary level. It is done in a narrative style that lends itself to character readings, so children or adults could easily adapt this for an oral retelling of the story, or even put together a short play from the text.

Festival of Lights: The Story of Hanukkah

Maida Silverman

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