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When I was growing up, Chanukah celebrations were all about playing dreidel, baking latkes and lighting brightly colored candles. How times have changed! These days, holiday observance requires several jaunts to Toys"R"Us and an entire trunk laden with packages from the mall. Aside from emptying our pocketbooks, this practice makes the holiday feel more like the festival on the secular calendar around this time of year, and less like the Jewish festival of lights. My Chanukah panic sets in even before the Hebrew month of Kislev arrives. Weeks before the holiday begins, my friends and family are already comparing notes...

On Dec. 2, Rabbi Joshua Levine Grater will attend the annual Chanukah party at the White House. “It was a surprise,” Grater said, of receiving the invitation. “I’m very humbled.” Grater, who occasionally contributes to The Jewish Journal, presides over the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center, a Conservative congregation, and serves on the national advisory board of J Street, a political action committee devoted to shaping public opinion regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. His work with J Street started his relationship with the White House. After a J Street delegation meeting in Washington, D.C., a couple of years ago, Grater established...

The first night of Chanukah marks the beginning of a holiday that for many of its celebrants has no identity, that celebrates 'celebration', with no thought to what it is celebrating. For many Americans, Chanukah appears to overlap with Christmas. But there is no similarity between the two other than the season. The more appropriate analogy is to the 4th of July overlaid with Thanksgiving, a celebration of divine aid in a military campaign against tyrannical oppression. The overt militarism of the Chanukah story has often made it an uncomfortable fit for both religious and secular Jews. And both have...

Chanukah Somayach everyone! This is apparently a bunch of YU guys who made a cute video. It was posted a week ago and it's gotten quite a few hits already. In the cold and darkness of winter, remember to fight for the light of Torah.

Happy Chanukah Maccabee Fighters of Judea In defiance against the cultural persecution of the Jews by the Seleucid Syrian-Greek Hellenists, the Jewish revolt was sparked by Mattathias the Hasmonean, patriarch of the Maccabees, who refused to obey the direct commands to violate the Laws of Torah. When called upon as the leader of his village to sacrifice to the Greek gods, Mattathias replied, "Though all the nations that are under the king's dominion obey him, . . . yet will I, and my sons, and my brethren, walk in the covenant of our fathers." After a skirmish where Mattathias and...

Under Syrian Rule More than 2000 years ago there was a time when the land of Israel was part of the Syrian-Greek Empire, dominated by Syrian rulers of the dynasty of the Seleucids. In order to relate the story that led up to Chanukah, we shall start with Antiochus III, the King of Syria, who reigned from 3538 to 3574 (222-186 B.C.E.). He had waged war with King Ptolemy of Egypt over the possession of the Land of Israel. Antiochus III was victorious and the Land of Israel was annexed to his empire. At the beginning of his reign he...

Chanukah is incredibly pertinent to what we're going through right now in America. It's about winning a seemingly unwinnable culture war. In the second century B.C., the rulers of Israel -- the powerful Syrian empire -- had forced paganism on the country with a ruthless force. Pagan holidays, customs, and religious practices were imposed on the citizens of Israel, and statues of pagan gods were erected throughout the country. People who refused to bow down to idols, or make sacrifices to them, were tortured and killed. People were allowed to have some "private" religious beliefs, but no public acknowledgement of...

Todd and I would like to offer our best wishes to the Jewish community as they celebrate Hanukkah. Known as the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah commemorates the eight-day miracle that took place when the Temple in Jerusalem was rededicated. Though there was only enough consecrated oil for one day, the flame miraculously burned for eight – just long enough to prepare more. This beautiful story is rich with life lessons for members of all faiths. With hope and dedication nothing is impossible, and the Almighty never abandons those who seek the light.

This evening we light the first candle on the Hanukkah menorah, for it's the first night of this minor eight-day Jewish holiday that's become a major one over the years. There are blessings to be recited, songs to be sung, latkes to be eaten . . . . But just what does Hanukkah celebrate? Answer: A successful Jewish revolt against a Syrian empire ruled by the Seleucid dynasty of Greek kings some 2,200 years ago. Well, not exactly. The revolt was not so much against the Syrian emperor, Antiochus Epiphanes, as against his attempt to impose Hellenistic culture on ancient...

It happens every year at this time: the battles of political correctness. When a community puts up a Christmas tree, one of two things happens. Either there is a battle to take it down totally, or someone fights to get a Chanukkiyah (that's the real name, not Menorah), Kwanzaa candles, or a symbol of some other religion's holiday placed right next to it. Then Fox News follows by running stories about the latest battle in the "war against Christmas," and the ACLU starts suing any town whose mayor ever went to a church, mosque, and/or synagogue. Hey, ACLU: Give it...

It happens every year at this time: the battles of political correctness. When community puts up a Christmas tree, one of two things happens. Either there is a battle to take it down totally or someone fights to get a Chanukia (that's the real name not Menorah), Kwanza Candles or a symbol of some other religion's holiday placed right next to it. Then, Fox news follows by running stories about the latest battle in the "war against Christmas," and the ACLU starts suing any town who's Mayor ever went to a Church, Mosque and/or Synagogue. Hey ACLU give it up...

There are only 35 shopping days left until Christmas. I'm keenly aware of this primarily because of those overcaffeinated Glee-show-choir-in-red-white-and-blue-alpine-sweaters-and-ear-flaps-making-high school-cheerleading-pyramids Gap ads that started running about a week ago. You know, the ones where they chant a little ditty titled, annoyingly, "Happy Dowhateveryouwannukah." "Go Christmas! Go Hannukah! Go Kwanzaa! Go Solstice!" the exceptionally good-looking, multicultural, skinny-jeans-clad cheerbots shout. "You 86 the rules, you do what just feels right," they cheer, before entreating us to "do whatever [we] wannukkah" this ambiguous winter holiday season. Their jangly dance number ends by wishing us "a cheery night." How festive, you say? Meh....

Google Earth is helping Jews in Israel and all over the world understand the miraculous victory of the Jews over Greek invaders 2,000 years ago thanks to the initiative of a rabbi who brings history back to life on the computer.

Last night was the first night of Hannukah, the holiday with as many meanings as it has spellings. Why do we celebrate ? Pick one or pick all: 1. A successful Jewish revolt against a Syrian empire ruled by the Seleucid dynasty of Greek kings some 2,200 years ago 2. A revolt against assimilation and the attempt to impose Hellenistic culture on ancient Judea 3. A Celebration of the re-dedication of the Holy Temple 4. Recognition of a Miracle where one day's worth of oil burnt in the menorah for eight days 5. A Civil War against those Jews who...

Presidential Message The story of Hanukkah recalls the miraculous victory of a small band of patriots against tyranny, and the oil that burned for eight nights. Through centuries of exile and persecution, Jews have lit the menorah. Each year, they behold its glow with faith in the power of God, and love for His greatest gift -- freedom. This Hanukkah we celebrate another miraculous victory -- the 60th anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel. When President Harry Truman led the world in recognizing Israel in May of 1948, many wondered whether the small nation could possibly...

(UPDATED) Every time a community puts up a Christmas tree, one of two things happen: Either there is a battle to take it down totally, or someone fights to get a Chanukia (that's the word not Menorah) placed right next to it. Then Fox news follows by running stories about the latest battle in the "war against Christmas" Two great examples of this PC craziness happened two years ago. One at the Seattle airport, and the other involving Ice Skater Sasha Cohen.... ....People who look toward December as an opportune time for the celebration of PC multi-culturalism have to stop!...

Baby Jesus disappeared last year from a Nativity scene on the lawn of the Wellington, Fla., community center, village officials didn’t follow a star to locate him. A GPS device mounted inside the life-size figurine led sheriff’s deputies to a nearby apartment, where it was found face down on the carpet. An 18-year-old woman was arrested in the theft. Giving up on old-fashioned padlocks and trust, some churches, synagogues, governments and ordinary citizens are turning to technology to protect holiday displays from pranks or prejudice. About 70 churches and synagogues eager to avoid the December police blotter jumped at a...

Please click on the link and then on the "play video" to hear President Bush's speech at the annual White House Chanukah Party. Afterward, Daniel Pearl's parents, Ruth and Judea light the chanukiah. (No offense to anyone, but I'd turn it off after "Maoz Tzur".) Text of speech: 5:27 P.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Good evening. Laura and I welcome you to the White House. Mr. Attorney General, thank you for being here. Secretary Chertoff, and family. Hanukkah is a time of joy and festivity in the Jewish religion. We're honored to gather with members of the Jewish community...

Holiday Shopping: Putting Our Money Where Our Mouth Is Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah FRiends! This is the time of year that is special because is engenders the spirit of giving and selflessness of its sacred origins. Each of us, in his or her own way, has a special place in our heart for this joyful time. As we put others' needs and desires first, as we look forward to the expression of surprise and delight on our loved ones' faces as they receive our gifts, as we peruse the ailes, let us consider the economic import of our duty. Some...

Are you having trouble trying to figure out what to buy your favorite Jihadist for Christmas this year? Look no further, The Rogue Jew is here to help you out so that you don’t LOSE YOUR HEAD this holiday season, we wouldn’t want to disappoint that favorite IslamoNazi in your life. Is there a Muslim that you know that likes to go camping in Iraq or Iran? Perhaps he or she enjoys those nice long weekend getaway at their favorite cave in the mountain regions of Afghanistan? For that special Islamofacist/Outdoor enthusiast, the Koran now comes in two ply. No...