IN AMERICA INSTRUCTOR'S GUIDE

In New Orleans, Hanukkah means decorating your door with a menorah made of hominy grits. in Texas are seasoned with cilantro and cayenne pepper. Children in Cincinnati sing Hanukkah songs and eat oranges and ice cream. While each tradition springs from its own unique set of cultural references, what ties them together is that they all celebrate a that is different in America than it is any place else. For the past two hundred years, American have been transforming the ancient holiday of Hanukkah from a simple occasion into something grand. Each year, as they retell its story and enact its customs, they bring their ever-changing perspectives and desires to its celebration. Providing an attractive alternative to the Christian dominated December, rabbis and lay people alike have addressed contemporary hopes by fashioning an authentically Jewish festival that blossomed in their American world.

The ways in which Hanukkah was reshaped by reveals the changing goals and values that emerged among different contingents each December as they confronted the reality of living as a religious minority in the United States. Bringing together clergy and laity, artists and businessmen, teachers, parents, and children, Hanukkah has been a dynamic force for both stability and change in American Jewish life. The holiday’s distinctive transformation from a minor festival to a major occasion that looms large in the American Jewish psyche is a marker of American Jewish life. Drawing on a varied archive of songs, plays, liturgy, sermons, and a range of illustrative material, as well as developing portraits of various communities, congregations, and rabbis, Hanukkah in America reveals how an almost forgotten festival became the most visible of American .

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WWW . NYUPRESS . ORG NYU PRESS 2 INTRODUCTION Jews thantraditionacknowledged. Anewregard fortheheroes ofHanukkah’s Hanukkah foundadvocates whoinsisteditheldgreater importanceformodern could surviveintheprogressive moodofmid-nineteenth-centuryAmerica, religious environment, andcontinuingwithrabbinicdebatesabouthowJudaism to makeitresonate withtheirlocalJewishcommunityaswellProtestant South Carolina congregation whovoicedanewmeaningfortheholidayinorder divergent goalstheyhopedtoachieve.BeginningwithmembersinaCharleston, into somethingthatheldimportanceforthemand theparticular, oftenwidely wide swathofJewishinterest groups tookholdoftheoccasionandshapedit inventions. ThisiscertainlythecasewithHanukkah. Startinginthe1840s,a and practices, communitiesandobjects,traditions harmoniously—stories Jews havefacedoveralmosttwohundred years. themselves haveresponded tochanginghistoricalcircumstances thatAmerican power andallure ofAmericanculturalstandards ontheother. Thoseapproaches suspicions aboutboththeauthorityofreligious tradition,ononehand,andthe across awidespectrumofapproaches, from wholeheartedembracestowary clergy andlaitywhoseattitudesaboutbothJudaismAmericahavevaried Theyhavebeencreatedcultural significancebychangingitsperformers. both to supplementthebriefHanukkahrite,interpret itsmeaning,ortochange conserves traditionandenlarges itasorders thepracticalactivityofworship.” community, forthe(implied)universalmembership..[Ritual]accordingly both of deployingmeaningsonseveralplanes:fortheindividual,local of adaptingtothechangingcircumstances ofcommunitylifeandcapable of religion pointoutthatritualsare “fluidandmultidimensional,capable religious decisions,dubbedthe“Decemberdilemma.”Contemporaryhistorians Hanukkah’s ritualshavelongshinedabrightlightonthedifficultiesofJews’ impotence, anddisorder,” argued anthropologist BarbaraMeyerhoff, and ripe forreinvention. Rituals are “prominent inallareas ofuncertainty, anxiety, inspired from bywhattheymight learn it.”Ritualsandholidaysare especially the handsofthosewhoare lessboundbywhatactuallytranspired andmore out that“memorybecomesmore magical,fantastical,andcommandingin not surpriseus.JewishstudiesscholarandeducatorYehuda Kurtzerpoints that speaktoJews’Americanexperience.Theircreative useofthepastshould the Jewishpastandemerge withelementsthatare craftedintonewtraditions SUMMARY Holidays are oftencomplexevents,bringingtogether—notalways Those myriadHanukkahculturalcreations largely consistofwayseither The religious livesthatAmerican Jewscreate sometimesreach deepinto NYU PRESSTEACHER’S GUIDE 3

INTRODUCTION Why is it easy for ordinary people in the U.S. to make changes to their to make changes to their people in the U.S. Why is it easy for ordinary practices? religious that allowed Hanukkah to the four foundational conditions What are become popular in the U.S.? says each American Jew makes? What is the choice that the author significant making Hanukkah a more Why did liberal rabbis advocate for event? importance? see in Hanukkah’s What did Jewish American women What is the December Dilemma? for Hanukkah. material goods attitudes toward Describe the two different Why do some American Jews feel that Hanukkah should not be considered a significant holiday? Why are domestic rituals easy to change? domestic Why are 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 1. HANUKKAH IN AMERICA QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION QUESTIONS origin, the who led a revolt against a foreign conqueror of and of Judea and conqueror against a foreign led a revolt Maccabees who origin, the signaled that Hanukkah Temple, worship in the Jewish then reinstated Over the course of nearly two significance for Jews in America. itself held a new to make arguments and Jews have added their own creations centuries, various years of By the opening be overlooked or ignored. the festival would not sure public, Jewish American known, broadly it has become a century, the twenty-first event. 4 CHAPTER 1 WHAT IS HANUKKAH? forbade fastingduringit. TheyalsodesignatedHanukkahtobeaminorfestival. threat toJewishreligious life.AsHanukkahwasajoyousoccasion,therabbis asaninstanceofdivineintervention thatremoved aforeign they establishedanewHanukkahcelebration.They explainedthesuccessful shattered forever. failed, thepriesthoodlostpowertolead,and Temple-centered 70 C.E.andtookmanyJudeanstoRomeasslaves. TheJewishpolityinJudea revolted againstRome.Rome,afteraprotracted war, destroyed theTemple in combination ofunjusttaxesandreligious insults,JewsinGalileeandJudea was effectively aRomanprovince. Forreasons stilldebated, butprobably a by Rome,oustedeveryHasmoneanfrom publicoffice.By63C.E.,Judea confidence intheHasomoneans,andHerod, theruthlessrulerlaterappointed to RomeandextendedRome’s control oftheterritory. Judeanseventuallylost each newhighpriest).Ultimately, theHasmoneans’foreign allianceslinkedJudea despite thefactthattheirfamilydidnotdescendfrom Zadok(whichlegitimated the highpriest—andanotherbrother, Simon,followedsuitafterJonathan— traditionalists whohadsupportedtheirrevolt. Judah’s brother Jonathanbecame king drew uponGreek customs.TheHasmoneansalsosoonangered thesame look more likeaGreek city-state.Theceremony installingthefirstHasmonean king andhighpriestfrom thesamefamily, theHasmoneansreshaped Judeato within ittheseedsforevengreater destruction.Ironically, byinstallingboth celebrate becausewarragedandtheTemple remained inAntiochus’hands. mirrored theautumnfestivalofSukkot,whichfighterswere notableto “garland[s]…and floweringbranches..[and]palmfronds” intheircelebration the stonealtar. Theyrejoiced foreightdayswithvariousofferings toGod.The accompanied byharps,lutes,andcymbalsintheTemple, aftertheyhadrebuilt first accounts,theMaccabeesowncelebrationbeganwithhymnsofthanksgiving But thatstorydoesnotappearintheearlydocumentsaboutevent.Inthose a tinydrop foreightdaysuntilmore thatmiraculously burned couldbemade. ceremony talkaboutthe lack ofpure oilwithwhichtorelight themenorah, and eight daysof“gladnessandjoy.” Today, aboutthisdedication Jewswholearn annually onthetwenty-fifthofHebrew monthofKislev, tobemarkedwith and themenwiththemdecreed acelebrationoftheTemple’s rededication Maccabee-led Judeanfighters retook itfrom theAssyrians.Judah,hisbrothers, Hanukkah commemoratesthatrededication oftheTemple inJerusalemafter the SUMMARY As rabbisreshaped JudaismtoaccommodateJewishlifeinthediaspora, Yet thesuccessfulrevolt topreserve theTemple ultimately carried The Hebrew word Hanukkahmeans“”andtheholidayof NYU PRESSTEACHER’S GUIDE 5 CHAPTER 1 WHAT IS HANUKKAH? The rabbis designed Hanukkah recitations to focus on God’s power. In In power. to focus on God’s The rabbis designed Hanukkah recitations rules for Hanukkah rites, ordinary While rabbinic discussions set the new customs for celebrating Since the early days of the 19th century, HANUKKAH IN AMERICA

the daily prayers said each night at home during Hanukkah, as well as in daily home during Hanukkah, as well as in daily the daily prayers said each night at during the holiday and in grace after and Sabbath prayers in the into the hands of the delivering “the strong meals, Jews today thank God, for Zechariah, including the phrase, the prophet from weak.” A special reading after is recited Lord,” but by my spirit, saith the “not by might, nor by power, God with the Maccabean credit portion. Those prayers and readings the God’s a powerful image of transcendent power and of creating victory, Jews. willingness to come to the aid of variety. the holiday in far greater their own ideas about Jews have expressed new Hanukkah poetry and songs, inspired The idea of miraculous rescues and new with history, that liberally mix folklore accounts of the Maccabean revolt a spinning customs. Games have long been part of Hanukkah celebrations and miracle Happened top engraved with letters that stand for the phrase “A Great has miracle Happened Here”) the letters stand for “A Great (in There” been part of the most popular game. Hanukkah developed. The story of how and why American Jews transformed a mix of hope and anxiety in their Hanukkah into something grand reveals “one of experience in America. By 1972, one American rabbi called Hanukkah of Jewish holidays.” the most relevant

Unlike major festivals of the Jewish calendar—, , and — Sukkot, and Jewish calendar—Passover, festivals of the Unlike major lighted, remain time that the candles only for the work on Hanukkah they banned The sages who compiled or last day of the holiday. first entire rather than for the discussions in Aramaic about their that record (the 5,894 folio pages the their discussion of six centuries after 70 C.E. embedded biblical laws) in the occasion of . important another about the much more Hanukkah within sundown on from each week in the Jewish calendar that occurs The day of rest common occasion when Shabbat is the most on Saturday, Friday to sundown Jewish worship for a post-Temple rabbis reshaped lighted. As the candles are rites to be performedlife, they established at domestic tables that recalled lights and the is the kindling of practices. Thus, on Shabbat, there Temple the on the holiday about rededicating blessing of wine and food. Their thoughts Shabbat. In this section, Hanukkah, fit well into their discussions about Temple, they explained the Maccabean completed in the sixth century C.E., probably of Jews. continuing protection victory as evidence of God’s 6 CHAPTER 1 WHAT IS HANUKKAH? QUESTIONS FORDISCUSSION 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. Jews anewappreciation oftheMaccabees? Why didChristianbiblesandnon-religious historiesoftheJewishpastgive Why doyouthinkitdidso? How didpopularJewishculture keepthememoryofMaccabeesalive? presence? How didHanukkahmenorahsreflect theholidayandaddtoitsmaterial history andreligion? How didrabbis’Hanukkahcelebrationreflect theirperspectiveonJewish among Jews? How didthedestructionbyRomeleadtonewreligious leadersemerging political problem? How didJudeans’encounterwithHellenicculture becomeareligious and Why wastheTemple inJerusalemsoimportantancientJudea? NYU PRESSTEACHER’S GUIDE MODERN MACCABEES CHAPTER 2

SUMMARY

Sometime in the middle of the nineteenth century, Hanukkah began to evolve from an often neglected occasion in the Jewish calendar to one deemed particularly relevant for American Jews. Surprisingly, it did not begin with a new emphasis on actually celebrating the holiday but with a new interest in the Maccabees themselves. Their image became a recurring trope in heated debates about how Jewish life could thrive in the new land. Competing factions vied for religious leadership of the country’s Jews, and each sought the legitimacy of the past by claiming the mantle of the Maccabees, whose powerful family, the Hasmoneans, had achieved military, religious, and political leadership in ancient Judea. Those ancient heroes offered an authentically Jewish model that inspired and, each side hoped, legitimated its own bid to lead. Hoping to win over the Jewish masses, each faction argued its case in the English-language Jewish press. As they did so, they also impressed on American Jews the important role that the Maccabees had played in ancient Jewry’s survival.

Throughout the nineteenth century, some Jews tried various ways to adapt Judaism to American life. As they began looking for images to help understand and expand what a proper response to American challenges might be, Hanukkah became ripe for reinvention. In Charleston, South Carolina, one group of Jews made Hanukkah into a time for serious reflection that responded to their evangelical, Protestant milieu. At mid-century, a heated debate about the future of Judaism itself erupted among American rabbis, some whom claimed to be Maccabees for the modern world. Later, young laymen championing new Jewish institutions to promote religious and cultural life emerged, similarly drawing on the Maccabees to claim authority for themselves and to justify their own youthful leadership. In the century’s last years, the movement to resettle Jews in their ancient homeland near the Mediterranean Sea likened its effort to that of the Maccabees. Each of those very different projects aimed to help Judaism thrive under challenging new conditions, and each drew on a strong appeal to the Maccabees to justify its novel work.

Most rabbis believed the future of Jewish life in America rested on their own ability to motivate ordinary Jews to greater religious devotion.Talk of ancient Maccabees fighting a great world power in order to restore Jewish practice dotted their rhetoric. Traditionalists more often spoke of the grandeur of the Maccabean past and the duty of modern Jews to honor it. Reforming rabbis used more militaristic Maccabean imagery, drawn from both the and American culture, and dismissed the legend about miracles established in the Talmud. Reformers sometimes claimed that they themselves were the Maccabees of today and often told the ancient story in contemporary

HANUKKAH IN AMERICA 7 8 CHAPTER 2 MODERN MACCABEES QUESTIONS FORDISCUSSION assert theirown“fit”withAmericansociety. comparable tothenation’s ownpatrioticrhetoric,takinganotheropportunityto among ordinary Jewscreated animageofJewishmilitarybraveryandsuccess of thecountry’s Christians.Most importantly, rabbisandHanukkahadvocates they promoted animageofJewishbraveryandfaithalready admired bysome thefoundingdocumentsofUnitedStates.Atsametime,ideals informed philosopherswhoseEnlightenmentsecular universalismespousedbymodernist they insertedtheparticularitiesoftheirownreligious perspectivesintothe should adapttoAmerica.BylinkingtheimageofMaccabeeswithmodernity, to clergy andlayleaders on allsidesofaheateddebateabouthowJudaism American Jewishleadersbecauseitsstoryprovided imagesandlessonsuseful debates lentnewsignificancetotheheretofore minorfestival. story intothefabricofAmericanculture. Thosenineteenth-centuryHanukkah trend thatdominatedAmerican JewishlifeasAmericanJewswovetheirown into thestoryofMaccabeanrevolt. Indoingso,theycontributedtoalarger language. BothsidesalsoblendedAmerica’s rhetoricoflibertyandrevolution 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. story, How didKayamDishmaya’s HanukkahpageantandI.M.Wise’s serialized and whatdidtheydowithit? Who were thegroup calledKayamDishmaya?HowdidtheyviewHanukkah Leeser promote Jewisheducationandtheofwomen? Why didtradition-mindedrabbisandleaderslikeSabato MoraisandIsaac gentile neighbors? with aresponse tothelocalnon-Jewishreligious beliefscommontoher How didPeninaMoise’s hymn, lessen thepowerofrabbisandcongregational leaders? How didtheproliferation ofsynagoguesgive more powertothelaity and these debates? Maccabees andwhydidtheydoso?Whatordinaryfrom Jewslearn How didcompetingleadersofAmericanJewsusetheimage Hanukkah emerged asa newly meaningfulholidayfornineteenth-century The First of the Maccabees the of First The Feast of Lights of Feast , bothreflectVictorian culture inAmerica? NYU PRESSTEACHER’S GUIDE , combineJewishtradition 9 CHAPTER 3 CHILDREN LIGHT UP Post- American culture increasingly looked to children for for looked to children increasingly culture American Post-Civil War teachings among its strived to inculcate its group While every religious Judaism had already Era, therefore, By the early years of the Common in the synagogue, in the late 1860s, Rabbi Max children interest To HANUKKAH IN AMERICA

emotional rewards. Earlier in the century Americans began looking to domestic to domestic century Americans began looking Earlier in the emotional rewards. the less trustworthy honesty that could offset for the emotional relationships in urbanizing part of success that became a growing interaction with strangers hardship,” emotionally to offset on children “Adults relied America. By wartime, thought were children Anne Carver Rose. Because explains family historian adult, these innocent” than those of any “simpler and more to bring feelings that attitude Americans saw returned without reserve.” feelings “could be magazines especially women’s their cultural products; back to them in reflected it. promoted importance. Since ancient times, for Jews, that goal carried particular children, determined to their children the parents from the transmission of the religion of the Middle East, popularity in many parts Despite Judaism’s future. religion’s an end. As early as 586 B.C.E., to Jewish proselytizing events ultimately brought and exiled many of the the first when Babylonia destroyed with outsiders came to be seen as a “marriage eastward, residents country’s When the Hasmoneans, who to Jewish identity and widely condemned.” threat in the areas undertook mass conversions than 400 years later, led Judea more Publius When Roman emperor trend. history’s they reversed they conquered, anti- he restored Jews to proselytize, Aelius Hadrian (ruled 117-138) forbade story) IV (the villain of Hanukkah’s first enacted by Antiochus Jewish measures Christian rulers carried on that custom. years earlier. hundred three through begun its transformation an ethnic tradition passed down into largely extensive investigation into families. Jewish leaders and rabbinic writings urged performance sincerity before of the public conversion ceremony. a convert’s the familial to proselytizing, Although American Jews faced no legal restrictions ingrained in Jews. Rabbis expected tradition that stood for millennia remained were, that only marriage could induce a gentile to join them. Jewish children only future. Judaism’s quite literally, of Lilienthal came up with a Hanukkah celebration held in the vestry rooms M. Wisehis own synagogue on Mound St. in Cincinnati. By 1870, Rabbi Isaac of the synagogue for children instituted a similar event at his Plum Street school that he led. At both venues, Institute, a Jewish religious Yelodim Talmud singing and enjoyed a Hanukkah festival where Jewish children Cincinnati’s framed an elaborate version instrumental solos, speeches, and refreshments

SUMMARY 10 CHAPTER 3 CHILDREN LIGHT UP Tsur” near Hanukkah. their Christianplaymates who received giftsatChristmas, whichusuallyoccurred families togivegiftstheir children atHanukkah sothattheywouldnotenvy charge. Theideacaughtonquicklyandnewspapers around thecountryurged charitable societiesgaveHanukkahgiftsofclothing tothechildren intheir or inindustrialschoolsrunbyuptown’s Jewishcharities.Somewomen’s lived. Theseentertainmentswere sometimesheldinlarge uptownsynagogues Lower Eastside,where mostofthenewJewishimmigrantsinNewYork City uptown alsoorganized elaborateHanukkahentertainmentsforchildren ofthe for immigrantsandpoorer Jews.Women inNewYork’s wealthycongregations and tradeschools,alongwithsettlementhouses visitingnurseservices, the Rabbishopetogainreal influenceover theirflocks.” As NewYork educatorJuliaRichmanpointedout,“onlywiththeaidof..(could) muchofthelaborneededtomountHanukkahcelebrations.women performed asmothersofSunday-schoolchildren,auxiliaries orsisterhoods,informally ladies’activities. WhetherasfinanciersorSunday-schoolteachers,informal became theenginethatdevelopedandpromoted thesenewHanukkah sensibilities. even asthelyricsfittheirmodern to feelthattheywere singingthe“authentic”and“right”songforHanukkah, American culture, theykeptthetraditionalmelody, whichallowedAmericanJews of thesong.Althoughtheymodifiedlyricsandlengthtobetterfit between rabbisGustavGottheilandMarcus Jastrow, rewrite basedonaGerman circulated butoneendured. held specialappealforthem. impress youngJewswithitsimportanceandtoshowyoungstersthatJudaism on theritualofthisminor, almostforgotten festivalseemedanidealwayto used tocommunicatethosethingswhichare mostoftenindoubt.”Elaborating ritual “isgoodforconveyingamessageasifitwere unquestionable,itisoften their youngcharges would encounter. Lilienthal understoodthatthisfestivalmightbetheonlyHanukkahexperience and“ladies ofthecongregation” whohadworked“withawill.”BothWise enjoyed icecream andother sweets,allinaroom festivelydecoratedbythe children attended.Afteransweringtheholidayblessingsinachorus,they of theholiday’s traditionalcandle-lightingceremony. More thantwohundred . InAmerica’s growing JewishcommunitiesanumberofEnglishtranslations American Jewsorganizedschools, nightschools, daynurseries,afternoon A dynamicrelationship betweencongregational rabbisandlaywomen The holiday’s mostpopulartunewasthethirteenth-centurywork, Anthropologists notethatbecause whostudyritualinitsmanyforms “Rock of Ages” of “Rock wastheproduct ofacollaboration NYU PRESSTEACHER’S GUIDE “Maoz “Maoz 11 CHAPTER 3 CHILDREN LIGHT UP By creating new ways of celebrating Hanukkah in order to delight Jewish to delight Jewish Hanukkah in order new ways of celebrating By creating But “Judaism is not safe if relegated only to synagogue celebrations celebrations only to synagogue relegated is not safe if But “Judaism Why did Reform leaders Wise Jewish children and Lilienthal think that especially? them needed a holiday that would interest both festival reflect a Jewish children’s in creating How did their interest and Jewish tradition? American culture like Judaism? Jews especially concerned that children Why were celebrations and how did women so important for new Hanukkah Why were in America? important they help to make Hanukkah more Hanukkah celebrations their own to create Why was it easy for local groups their own talents and interests? that expressed attitudes without contemporary How did new Hanukkah songs express tradition? rejecting did women and girls have on the telling of the Maccabean What effect story? Why did Reform rabbis come to think that domestic rituals needed to sermon during be celebrated despite their earlier focus on the rabbi’s synagogue worship? secular elements of easy for Jews to participate in? Why were full of Christian Why did rabbis insist that secular Christmas activities were of faith in Christ? symbolism and proclamations just as did labor, women’s Why did domestic Hanukkah rites also require synagogue festivals? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. HANUKKAH IN AMERICA QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION children during the Christmas season, Jews added conviviality to synagogue life to synagogue life season, Jews added conviviality during the Christmas children within its walls. Amid the growing and their families children more and brought Jewish offered festivities, new Hanukkah festivals popularity of Christmas Christian . to those enjoyed by their celebrations comparable children encouraged Jews to expand Hanukkah’s Both reforming and traditionalist rabbis . importance for Jewish children

Jewish of one influential the editors argued public festivals,” and elaborate is the home. For that place for religion because “the true…best newspaper, in future that Judaism’s Rabbi Sabato Morais felt sure tradition-minded reason, determinedAmerica would be by Jewish mothers. 12 CHAPTER 3 CHILDREN LIGHT UP 13. 12. American culture whilestill beingfaithfultotheirowntradition? How didnewHanukkahcelebrationshelpAmericanJewstofeelapartof culture? How didHanukkahcontributetothegrowth ofanationalAmericanJewish NYU PRESSTEACHER’S GUIDE 13 CHAPTER 4 REMADE IN AMERICA In the forty-three short years between 1881 and 1924, the American American between 1881 and 1924, the short years In the forty-three Romanian-born Moses Hermalin, inspiration for example, found arrived amid eighteen million non- These diverse Jewish newcomers Poverty and violence hounded Jewish immigrants out of Europe; While many immigrants seem to have accepted holidays commemorating HANUKKAH IN AMERICA

Jewish world underwent a transformation. In 1880, American Jewry counted a transformation.Jewish world underwent American Jewry counted In 1880, to the Germanic of whom traced their heritage 250,000 souls, most roughly immigration the U.S. government By the time restricted of central Europe. areas majority from Jews lived in America, the vast than two million in 1924, more Yidden Jewish. They were imbued with an identity distinctly Eastern and Europe The diverse Hanukkah celebrations or Jewish. of , (Jews) in their language and hopes. their own particular memories in America reflected they created “Ah, how story, Judah in Hanukkah’s of for his own life especially in the figure writers found religious his courage!” Other Yiddish and admire I love this hero or or a thirst for freedom, Maccabees’ story, devotion or nationalist fervor in the the adults among those immigrants, For a commitment to universal brotherhood. beyond its possible worth as a Jewish child’s Hanukkah held an importance far political of memories, new a rich trove It provided antidote to Christmas envy. the old pleasures, from joys. Torn meanings, familiar rituals, and simple the holiday with activities that who remade immigrants sought new ones. Those themselves as modernfitted their new situation imagined with a Hanukah Jews same time, by carrying out the rite, they suitable to their new home. At the life. Their culturally rich to continue Jewish religious also acted on their desire to understand their tumultuous lives within Hanukkah helped these immigrants chain of tradition. Judaism’s Catholic eastern mostly roman southernJewish immigrants from and Europe, in urban neighborhoods or Orthodox Christian, many of whom also clustered patterns and residential languages, religions, near employment. Their number, who the English-speaking Protestants distinguished these immigrants from Social analysts dubbed them “new immigrants” dominated American culture. on the country. and worried about their effect and access to new places marked their Americanization. abundance, security, Yiddish newspapers. to appear in was one of the first English words “Presents” of material abundance... Many scholars have pointed out that “the prospect for many immigrants. made America different” them the American past such as the 4th of July and Thanksgiving, some of influence in the Christian from used political muscle to shield their children

SUMMARY 14 CHAPTER 4 REMADE IN AMERICA America couldeasilyignore thewholeHanukkahevent. them tootightlyinEurope. Disaffected Jews seekingmore personalfreedom in America hopingtoloosen theholdofJewishauthoritiesthattheyfelthadbound eloquence andpassionfrom intellectuals.Significant numberofJewscameto Hanukkah’s importance. Several religious scholarspublishedpamphletstoinstructordinary Jewsabout along withthoseofintellectuals,politicalthinkers, socialists,scholars,andpoets. Hanukkah essays,shortfiction,andpoetryconveying theviewsofdiverserabbis, regions acrossEurope. Eastern ManyYiddish newspapersoffered readers immigrants despitethefactthattheyhailedfrom manydifferent townsand concerts intoastapleofJewishimmigrantlife. repertoire—enhanced simpleholidayhymntraditionsandmadeHanukkah entire lossofJewishidentity, andtheexpandingknowledgeofaJewishsong the desire forreassurance thatone’s venture toAmericaneednotmeanan some amountofleisure timeandincome,nostalgiaforaJewishlifeleftbehind, clubs andinstitutionsinJewishhomes. element inexpandingHanukkahcelebrationsboththeirdensenetworkof took advantageofaburgeoning musicindustry, Jewishmusicbecameakey thoughts ofmuchthatisdearest totheJewishheartandhome.”Asimmigrants and Americaninfluences. Well-known melodiesheld“sadandsweetmemories, reflected thedifferent roots ofimmigrantcultures, revealing Jewish,European, own celebrationswhileitenlivenedthem.Myriadmusicalprograms often the holiday’s celebrationitself.Thus,Hanukkahmusicreflected theimmigrants’ sacred devotionsbutwovethemselvesaround theactivitiesthatconstituted to thefaith,theirHanukkahmelodiesevokedneitherreligious prayernor recitation ofpastdivinerescues andPsalm30’s pronouncement ofdedication the holiday’s broad historicalsignificance.Moreover, exceptfor“Maoz Tsur’s” forced conversions,justas itprotected themselves. Christianity. TheyexpectedtheU.S.constitutiontoprotect theirchildren from as partoftheirnewAmericanworld,theydrew thelineateffort toinculcate and staffs ofthecity’s schools.Moreover, whileJewsembracedcivicholidays some immigrantsfounditdifficulttoentrusttheirchildren tothegentileteachers increasing savageryandfrequency ofEurope’s pogroms againstitsJews,and public schools.Between1903and1906,NewYork’s Jewishpress covered the But someJewssimplydidnotcare abouttheholidaythatelicited The Yiddish languagecreated animmediatebondamong Jewish These trends—the availabilityofsheetmusicandcantorialsoloists, Hanukkah celebrationsamongthenewimmigrantsseldomdiscussed NYU PRESSTEACHER’S GUIDE 15 CHAPTER 4 REMADE IN AMERICA For turn-of-the-twentieth-century immigrants, Hanukkah became For turn-of-the-twentieth-century became Hanukkah immigrants, How did Jewish immigrants who arrived between 1880 and 1924 change between 1880 and 1924 change How did Jewish immigrants who arrived American Jewish culture? among new immigrants in New York In what way did Hanukkah practices American culture? City reflect attitudes different songs expressed Explain the ways in which Hanukkah Jews’ lives in America? the holiday and toward toward the admiration and support of Jewish How did the activities of cantors win City? immigrants in New York intellectuals have to say about Hanukkah? speaking What did Yiddish of the Maccabees has been seen that the story of Hanukkah and We’ve times. What different Jews at different by different reshaped and retold among the new immigrants? emerged retellings 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. HANUKKAH IN AMERICA QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION an occasion to enact their adjustment to America while, at the same time, at the same time, their adjustment to America while, an occasion to enact customs. Religious rites and performing activities generated by Judaism’s not only rabbis Now, choice but to work with market forces. traditions had no and shopkeepers determined the range producers, but editors, restaurateurs, meanings Jews could choose the holiday which options from of purchasing in the early twentieth that blossomed they could learn. The Hanukkah culture in America, simultaneously the experience of being Jewish century thus changed Jews, and tying religion ordinary empowering authority, untraditional religious inextricably to the market.

16 CHAPTER 5 HOMEGROWN HEROISM threats toJewishlifeandsurvival.Jewsselectedfrom easilyavailablestock raising issuesaboutAmerican Jews’religious loyalties, aswellevaluating to AmericanJews.Theholiday aboutdedicationbecameanidealvehiclefor faced. shaped Hanukkahintoafestivaluniquelysuitedto address theuncertainties they strengthen Jewishidentity. Incommunalsettingsand inhomes,Jewsthisera Hanukkah’s domesticrites,easilyembellished,becamepivotalintheeffort to experiences thatprovided emotionalsupportandinculcatedJewishidentity. Jews, especiallymothers,alsostrivedtocultivatemore religiously richdomestic schools, provided vehiclesforexpressing fearswhilealsocontainingthem.Some inJewishsocialorganizationsdramas performed andclubs,aswell inreligious Europe andsometimesviolentanti-Semitismrear itsheadinAmerica, original quotas thatkeptmanyJewishstudentsout.AsJewswatchedNazismrisein newspapers and,bythe1930s,heard on radios. Selectuniversitiesinstituted its welcomehadbeenreached. Anti-Semiticideascouldberead inAmerican makeup thatprevailed intheUnitedStates1890,itsignaledthatlimitto Europe)parts oftheworldoutsidewestern inaneffort torestore theethnic Europeimmigration fromandsouthern andtheLevant(alongwithmost eastern Jews againsttoomuchassimilation.WhentheU.S.Congress sharplylimited distrust ofimmigrantsandtheirchildren, atthesametimethattheywarned era reveal Jews’anxietiesaboutrisinganti-Semitism andthecountry’s growing of America’s larger gentileculture toenjoythepleasure oftotalacceptance. religious communityinitstimeofneedastheysteppedintothewelcomingarms peers, andmanyoftheirchildren, mightabandonboththeirreligion andtheir twenties, through creative dramasandplays,Jewsvoicedfearsthatsomeoftheir emotionally flattenthe religious highpoints intheJewishcalendar. Now, inthe erase thespecialluxurythatholidaystypicallybrought toJewishhomesandthus had toldimmigrantsthatindulgingtoomuchinAmerica’s abundancemight the myriad clubsandschools,fearsofanotherkind“deathfrom pleasure” than For example,originalamateurdramasforadultsandchildren,in performed holiday aboutdedicationbecameapalimpsestforexpressing theirconcerns. provided avehicleforthinking abouttheirowncontemporaryJewishissues.The I andtheendofWorld War II,AmericanJewsonceagainfoundthatHanukkah SUMMARY Yiddishe Tageblatt Tageblatt Yiddishe Beginning inthe1920s,many newplaysforHanukkahbecameavailable But howwelcomingwasAmerica?OriginalHanukkahdramasfrom this In theconfusingandchallengingyearsbetweenendofWorld War had warned aboutin1907.Then,thatnewspaper’shad warned editors NYU PRESSTEACHER’S GUIDE 17 CHAPTER 5 HOMEGROWN HEROISM magazine in 1940. magazine in 1940. Reconstructionist told readers that the “Maccabean war [shows that the “Maccabean war [shows told readers Reconstructionist These didactic, brief, Hanukkah plays lacked much artistic merit, but their artistic merit, but their Hanukkah plays lacked much These didactic, brief, sentiments. The National Federation Many women acted upon the plays’ story for Hanukkah’s II sharpened many Jews’ appreciation War World Jews’ responses to threats against them that emerged in the interwar in the interwar against them that emerged to threats Jews’ responses HANUKKAH IN AMERICA

depicted for emotional impact. The playwrights aimed instead authors really to send simple cultural references familiar settings and used well-known their audiences’ behaviors, emotions, and messages. They hoped to influence literary or dramatic critics to ever Judaism and did not expect ideas toward encounter their work. local of American Sisterhoods (Reform) urged Committee on Religious Schools each chapter several Hanukkah observance and offered to promote groups told members that chair options to implement. The committee’s programming than any other Jewish holiday and scope for work” Hanukkah gives them “more school teachers. They should religious them to work with local rabbis and urged and a box of candles.” A growing every child with little tin menorahs “provide story held even that Hanukkah’s argued groups chorus of rabbis and women’s in the past—even if they had to contemporary meaning than it had greater it. the terms to prove redefine in order and clearer no time…has its celebration been of larger “At of military victory. the proclaimed significance than…this year,” of plays produced by small publishing houses like Bloch and the Hebrew Bloch and the Hebrew houses like by small publishing produced of plays these skits along with and promoted which printed Publishing Company, and religious and other prayer books, literature, their line of songbooks, house also produced publishing The Reformeducational materials. movement’s reflected which, in the interwar years, and textbooks plays, juvenile literature, of Jewish of Jewish observance and the importance for various styles respect them useful to many groups. peoplehood, making

us] what a religion can do to save even a small and weak people from being being can do to save even a small and weak people from us] what a religion overwhelmed by a powerful enemy.” and activities. While parents’ nuanced cultural creations more years elicited new, they came to remained, synthesize Jewish and American culture to desire pointed believe that the synthesis needed to be a healthy one. Spokespeople Western significance as the foundation for both Christianity and out Judaism’s civilization. If the anti-Semitism of the interwar years called for Hanukkah’s capacity to raise capacity to raise If the anti-Semitism of the interwar years called for Hanukkah’s power to determine the fate moral’s Jewish morale, wartime seemed to prove of nations. The 18 CHAPTER 5 HOMEGROWN HEROISM QUESTIONS FORDISCUSSION Judaism. in thiserathatAmericanJewsespeciallyneededanemotionallyrichdomestic mark theboundarybetweenJewishandgentileculture. Theconvictionemerged organizations insistedthat inDecember, thethresholds ofJewishhomesshould for adultsreveal complex considerationsandconflictingemotions. Women’s them inHanukkahlore and promoting thegrandeurofMaccabees.Dramas 10. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. the Maccabees? the waythatHanukkahstorywastoldinthisera, andalsotheimageof How didZionismandthemovementtoestablisha Jewishhomelandeffect Maccabean storyandusedtheimageofMaccabees? How didWorld War IIandNazisminfluencethewaythatJewstold How didthisera’s songsreflect newperspectives? Why didanti-Semitismgrow inthe1920sand1930s? greater meaningnowthaneverbefore? Why didsomerabbisandwomen’s groups argue thatHanukkahheld In whatwaysdidrabbisretell theMaccabean storyinthisera? did theydoit?Howthesegroups differ? What didJewishwomen’s organizations dotopromote Hanukkahandwhy How didtheMaccabeesappearinthisera’s plays? How were playsforadultsandchildren different? World War IandthecloseofWorld War II? wereWhat newconcerns expressed inoriginaldramaswrittenbetween Simple one-act,originaldramasentertainedchildren whileinstructing NYU PRESSTEACHER’S GUIDE 19 CHAPTER 6 FORGING A COMMON TRADITION In the two decades after World War II, Jews, like other Americans, joined II, Jews, like other Americans, joined War after World In the two decades useful guidance could be elicited from Even thinkers who doubted much of personality” “core Rabbis and Jewish leaders wanted every Jew’s HANUKKAH IN AMERICA

religious congregations in increasing numbers. As new congregations sprouted sprouted As new congregations numbers. in increasing congregations religious people and women’s more rabbis’ messages reached in postwar suburbs, In the mushroom. and saw their numbers linked to , organizations communal centers of Jewish in suburbs—became the 1950s, synagogues—often continued that the national rush to join organizations from life. They benefitted of in groups the 1960s. Indeed, membership through in the postwar years marked that era of associations to bowling leagues, religious all kinds, from networks major national broadcast three When television’s American history. that lent an aura of mass culture to dominate the national airwaves, they rose clubbiness. conformitysupported the era’s that augmented the drive toward Jews in America came to see decades, In those postwar years, as in previous experience. Once again, they the lenses of their American Judaism through their own own needs and reflect with Hanukkah to make it serve their tinkered values, ideal, and concerns. to be Hanukkah the view that Jews who considered story repeated Hanukkah’s Western civilization. holiday misunderstood its significance to only a children’s and became a great the rabbinate in Breslau Joachim Prinze, who had trained for is an States, pointed out that “freedom defender of civil liberties in the United quite faced circumstances had never really untested Jewish experience.” Jews Judaism could survive in America only like their situation in the United States. and “celebrate approaches” “kindergarten if Jews “liberate” themselves from but for its own value, of the ” their Hanukkah not in the shadow would have been neither knowing that “without the Maccabees there importance to about Hanukkah’s assertion Prinze’s nor Paul nor Christianity.” seen, world history echoed those made by earlier rabbis. In 1857, as we have the Israelite. It also echoed of his newspaper, Isaac M. wise told it to readers for that the Maccabees preserved general argument more Deborah Melamed’s Prophets. by the Hebrew propounded civilization the moral traditions Western because It seems unlikely that Prinze meant to suggest that Judaism was great he—like Wise and Melamed—hoped to it made Christianity possible. Rather, history. instill a sense of pride and dignity in Jews by showcasing their venerable again in the postwar era, it became a standard emerged as this argument Now, reasons to make significance that supported other understanding of Hanukkah’s important Jewish occasion. the holiday a more SUMMARY 20 CHAPTER 6 FORGING A COMMON TRADITION synagogue schools.” years. Bytheearly1960s, “approximately 590,000children nationwidestudiedin In 1959,thecombinedincrease reached more than 131percent overprevious numbers. SchoolsinallJewish denominationsexperiencedrisingenrollment. in synagogues,andtheyenrolled theirchildren inreligious schoolsinrecord offshould turn thesetinorder tocreate aJewishenvironment fortheirfamilies. might jointhemassviewingaudienceonotherevenings, atHanukkah,women three-fourths ofAmericanhouseholdsownedatelevision.WhileJewishfamilies lived, longbefore smalltowns.Buttelevisionspread quickly. By1955,roughly eight. Television stationsservedNewYork City, where overtwomillionJews late 1940s,whenradiohadsixteenhundred stationsbuttelevisiononlytwenty- both secularandChristianideas.FewAmericansownedatelevisionsetinthe December’s massculture, withitsChristmasprogramming, womencouldblock be usedtoextendthefamily’s Hanukkahexperience.Byshuttingaccessto Kussy, timeordinarily spentlisteningtotheradioorwatchingtelevisionshould to create idyllicJewishworldsintheirhomes. shared understandingofJewishculture. Gordon showedJewshowtousethem provided materialwaysforJewstorecognize eachotherandtovalidatetheir identity. Through thepurchasing, displaying,andgivingoftheseobjects,they Sisterhoods intheinterwaryears,theseitemsprovided markersforJewishh Like thecards, records andcandiesmarketedbyNationalFederationofTemple commodities becameavailableforenactingJewishreligious andculturallife. many pages.Asthepostwarconsumermarketexpended,more Jewishlycoded of Hanukkahmusicnowavailablefrom Victor, Columbia,andDeccarecords filled guessing games,listsofHanukkahchildren’s books,songandrecordings lyrics, decoratingadviceaboutblueandwhitelightscrepe paper, detailsof offered instructionsforcreating Hanukkahparties.Recipesforfoods,songs, give attendeestheconfidenceto replicate thoseritesdomestically. members didnotcelebratethemathome.Theyhopedthoseexperienceswould domestic holidayritualsintheirsynagoguesbecausetheyfeared thatsome congregations arrangedcongregational Passoversedersandothernormally religion evenmore energetically thanitdidinthepast.SomeConservative valuable. Afterthewarended,conservativemovementpromoted domestic Hanukkah, where identity isshapedinfundamentalways,becameespecially to beself-identifiedasJewish.Religiouscelebrationsheldathome,such Postwar Jewsargued thatreligious instructionbelongedinhomesand According toWomen’s LeagueforConservativeJudaismfounderSarah Conservative RabbiGordon’s enricheddomesticHanukkahfestivalalso NYU PRESSTEACHER’S GUIDE 21 CHAPTER 6 FORGING A COMMON TRADITION Your Neighbor Celebrates: , to be used by gentile leaders in creating accurate interfaith accurate interfaith creating , to be used by gentile leaders in The schools turned to music to reinforce lessons, to help students students lessons, to help turnedThe schools to reinforce to music in the interfaith tolerance, begun to promote The postwar movement In 1968, ’s mayor, John Lindsey lighted a large, ornate ornate John Lindsey lighted a large, mayor, City’s In 1968, New York era Many Americans who had experienced the challenges of the interwar What was the attitude toward religion in postwar America? How was that in postwar America? How was that religion What was the attitude toward in the popularity of Hanukkah? reflected How did postwar American Jews use Hanukkah as a child-rearing tool? How did postwar American Jews use Hanukkah as a child-rearing 2. 1. HANUKKAH IN AMERICA QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

practice Hebrew pronunciation, to enliven the classroom experience, and, experience, and, the classroom to enliven pronunciation, practice Hebrew of all types taught customs and Jewish spirit. “Schools to promote especially, expanded. musical repertoire and Hanukkah’s ceremonies,” 1930s with the formation of Christians and Jews, turned of the National council ministered II. Military chaplains had War in World to chaplains’ experiences such as and organizations religions, many different to soldiers who practiced serving these materials to guide them in provided board the Jewish Welfare of the Anti-Defamation the Chicago branch new constituencies. After the war, the concise style of Cooperation adapted Department of Interreligious League’s series called the chaplaincy materials for its postwar

Hanukkah menorah in City Hall near a Christmas tree. His side-by-side His side-by-side a Christmas tree. in City Hall near Jewish constituency, to please his large arrangement was an explicit attempt the following autumn. as he faced reelection whose support for him had waned, holiday traditions in the same room Placing these two markers of separate had been draped with Because the tree suggested that they belonged together. popular in the years since general increasingly that had become icons twenties, the two religious them in the nineteen electric began producing light festivals meant to create nature as similar of December seemed to be recast public many mirrored shortest days. This politically deft solution in the winter’s and hymns to winter Christmas assemblies with carols schools’ change from and snow. assemblies with songs about Santa, , those struggles with a commitment to securing from II emerged War and World place in America—as committed Jews. Hanukkah their own and their children’s and devoted Jewish children became an important tool for raising happy, enriching family life.

programming, as well as by Jewish chaplains. as well as by Jewish chaplains. programming, the Jewish Holidays 22 CHAPTER 6 FORGING A COMMON TRADITION 11. 10. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. activities becamepopularamongAmericanJews,whileothersdidnot? What didsociologistssuggestasthewaytounderstandwhysomereligious menorah, etc.,inpublicpoliticalevents? Why didJewishpoliticalmovementsuseHanukkahimages,likethe How didnewHanukkahstorieshopetoappealchildren? To teens? culture? How didHanukkahactivities,stories,andobjectscreate anAmericanJewish they create domesticHanukkahdecorations? What didtheChristmastree symbolizefor someJews?Inwhatwaysdid became especiallypopular? What didpeoplewantfrom Hanukkahmusicinthisera?Whatsongs why? Whywere womenand motherssoimportanttoHanukkahinthisera? How didJewishwomen’s organizations inthiserapromote Hanukkahand use them? What materialobjectsforHanukkahemerged inthiseraandhowdidJews achieved through domestic Hanukkahcelebrations? What social,religious, and familialgoalsdidmanyJewshopewouldbe NYU PRESSTEACHER’S GUIDE 23 CHAPTER 7 HIPPIES, HASIDIM, HAVUROT —130,000 copies sold soon after its —130,000 copies sold soon after its The Jewish Catalog The sixties’ political and social upheavals set the stage for different for different and social upheavals set the stage The sixties’ political its and its domesticity, timing, its story, Once again, Hanukkah’s their own motivated young Jewish Hippies to create experiences Three HANUKKAH IN AMERICA

religious values and practices to emerge toward the century’s end. Critiques end. Critiques the century’s toward to emerge values and practices religious and anti-Vietnam that developed with the civil rights of American society War a social, sense of significant challenges to the country’s movements posed enacted during the decade status quo. New immigration laws political, and legal either foreign- were year 2000, fifty-six million Americans meant that by the U.S. of the constituting twenty percent born foreign-born parent, or had one either East Asia or Latin America, bringing new population. Most came from American Among Jews, too, experiences of to the country. and religions cultures significance than in of Hanukkah’s diverse understandings life generated more assessments of Judaism and the years. That diversity included new previous surprise to most in a of the century, of its faith in the divine. By the end nature became widely recognized mystical group American Jews, one small Jewish aiming to completely change the quality of for public Hanukkah celebrations like the By the 1990s, American Jewry, American Jews’ December experience. people who practiced diverse religiously nation as a whole, looked like a more which denominational organizations many “varieties of Jewishness” over little control. exercised in its embrace by American Jews. One rabbi joyousness became signal factors of Chanukah.” It not only the celebration insisted that they “could not overdo reflects it also winter doldrums to sunny rejoicing”; “feelings from turns people’s fully the religion to celebrate theme—freedom “the acceptance of...Chanukah’s is not “the mimicry of our neighbors,” of our choice.” Embellishing Hanukkah as some earlier rabbis had insisted. Instead, he said, by adding to Hanukkah’s means to of religion activities, Jews show how much its message of freedom them. America. Hanukkah celebrations. First, they felt comfortable being Jewish in that they viewed the world somewhat differently Second, they became aware of young Jews than eighty percent by 1970, more than their gentile peers. Third, about attended college and sometimes that experience shaped their attitudes being Jews. Their university educations sometimes included formal or informal an intellectually sophisticated and spiritually broad that revealed instruction had lacked. child-oriented religious Judaism that their previous, people purchased Young SUMMARY release. Together, its three editions sold over a million copies. editions sold over a million its three Together, release. 24 CHAPTER 7 HIPPIES, HASIDIM, HAVUROT them. Through hisinfluence, by1975,somefivehundred congregants whobelongedtoverylarge synagoguesbutspentlittletimein one state alone.Asmanyas“twentypercent ofAmericansynagogueshadatleast 1960. By1963,ten denominations andsynagoguesorganized smallprayergroups asearly California’s Harold Schulwieissbelieved away atfamily lifelaterinthecentury. extended familythatmarked postwarJews’experiencecontinuedtohammer slightly more likelythangentilewomentobeemployed. Socialtrends awayfrom Jewish women’s participation inthepaidlaborforce in1950,by1990theywere to nearlytwointhree.” Althoughwedonothavefigures forthenationalrate of women whowork[ed]outsidethehomedoubledfrom fewerthanoneinthree mothers intothepaidlaborforce. From the1950sto1990s,“thefractionof country inthelatetwentiethcenturyaseconomic challenges pulledwivesand standard movement. bytheReform provided guidanceandadviceondomesticreligious practicesacceptedas holiness,” counseledone,whosetwohundred pageLiberalJudaismatHome rite itself.“Onlyduringtheactuallightingofcandles isthere atruefeeling of in manyfamilies’homepractices.More often, theyrefocused attention onthe felt uneasyaboutthedegree whichgiftsandgoodshadtakenacentralplace -giving, asthispracticehadbecomesowidelyacceptedthatmanyrabbis greater meaning.Bythe1970s,fewrabbisfeltneedtopromote Hanukkah acted ontheirfeltobligationtoward lessobservantJews. and minimallyobservantcamps,theChabadLubavitchChasidimstoodout.They the U.S.Supreme Court.AsAmericanJewrydividedintothehighlyobservant it brought publicmenorahlightingtonewheightsthatelicitedrulingsfrom undertook amissiontoincrease allJews’levelofobservance.Toward thatgoal, being oneofthecountry’s smallestreligious groups, Chabadnonetheless else candisplaywhatevertheywantto,whydowehavetobeshy?”Despite ethnologist whostudiedChabadsummedupitsattitudethisway:“Ifanybody and tocreate afestiveHanukkahcelebrationopentothegeneralpublic.One did somepostwarJews,buttoconductafullritualcandle-lightingceremony Hanukkah rites.Itdidnotaimforasimpledisplayofmenorah,as language inAmericanpublicdiscourseemboldenedChabadtostage religion inthepublicarena. Thegrowing respect forreligion andreligious seventies tobeabreakdown ofsocialmores byadvocatingalarger role for

havurah Jews alsoparticipatedina“domesticrevolution” underwayacross the As inthepast,manyJewsstrivedtoimbuehomecelebrationswith Some Americansreacted againstwhatseemedinthesixtiesand The firstcounterculture ;” thefigure doubledfor California. havurot countedthemselvesintheReconstructionistcamp. havurah beganin1968,butadventurous havurot couldrejuvenate interest among NYU PRESSTEACHER’S GUIDE havurot existedinthat 25 CHAPTER 7 HIPPIES, HASIDIM, HAVUROT In the closing decades of the twentieth century, a divided Jewry a divided Jewry century, In the closing decades of the twentieth Many American Jews looked to domestic holidays such as Hanukkah and Hanukkah and holidays such as to domestic Jews looked Many American What did Hasidim do to try to change the quality of Jews’ December the quality of Jews’ December What did Hasidim do to try to change experience? to Hanukkah? Jewish college students’ approach How the sixties effect years How did the way American Jews told the Hanukkah story in the latter their experience and attitudes? of the twentieth century reflect key factors and joyousness domesticity, story, timing, Hanukkah’s Why were in American Jews’ embrace of this holiday? material to Hanukkah’s approach How did the Jewish counterculture’s their values? objects reflect Why did communal Hanukkah festivities make it easier for intermarried families to have a Hanukkah activity? How had American Jewish society changed in the latter years of the changed in the latter years of the How had American Jewish society twentieth century? 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 1. HANUKKAH IN AMERICA QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION elaborated upon the various aspects of Hanukkah that held meaning for each of Hanukkah that held meaning for each elaborated upon the various aspects than had Jews in past confident as Americans or individual. Feeling more group spaces. The expanded public more their celebrations into eras, they brought Hanukkah goods available at the close of array of Hanukah activities and special its significance. the twentieth century also indicated

home complicated increasingly seemed to be their to enhance what Passover in this proliferated that guides to Jewish living especially lives. It is no surprise to publishing these items accustomed already groups era. Rabbis and women’s the mid-1980s, the conservative movement’s them. In continued to produce on family stresses to the increasing responded clubs Men’s Federation of Jewish the adult education that had begun in toward trend growing life and joined the workbooks, practical guides to Jewish life—texts, by producing postwar suburbs, religion help Jewish families infuse many subjects. To and audio tapes—on included lengthy many of these their Hanukkah creations, and spirituality into Families whose games, and recipes. songs, discussions of Antiochus’ oppression, left to find their in addition to Judaism often are heritage includes other religions Hanukkah. own, distinctive ways to celebrate 26 CONCLUSION increasingly likelytoworkwith,livealongside,andmarry peopleofother Judaism andChristianity, theybelieve, are respectful tobothholidays. they hadusedinthepast.Thesenewcards, whichblurthedifferences between that proclaim “MerryChrismukkah,”ratherthanthenonsectarianwinterscenes the mangerscene”nowwere sendinghybridholidaygreeting cards likethose family inKansasCitywhosechildren were “asfamiliarwiththemenorahas hoping toelidetheseason’s seriouspotentialforreligious conflict.Onesuch familiesforgedintermarried noveladaptationsofbothHanukkahand Christmas, continued tobeimportantAmericanJews.But a growing numberof family through Skype. Hanukkah songonYouTube, orarrangeaholidayvisitwithdistantfriendsand on theholidayorrecipesofanew forHanukkahfoods,watchtheperformance tothewebandsharemight turn withfamilyandfriendsrabbiniccommentary music thatmightbeproduced bybothnon-JewishandJewishcompanies.Jews of shortstoriesaboutHanukkahorlisteningtoanymanyCDs evenings mightincludelisteningtoNationalPublicRadio’s annualprogram of JewishhomesandsynagoguesintoAmericanculture. SpecialHanukkah that oftheMaccabees. officers, [and]emergency personnelwhoanswered thecallonSeptember11”to Philadelphia’s JewishExponentcompared theheroism of“fire fighters,police the difference betweenJewsandtheirAmericanneighborsseemedtofade. power, “todispelthedarknessthathasfallenonourworld.” the oil,“whichsymbolizesourcommitmenttoJudaism,”alongwithmilitary newspapers, claimedthatJewsnowneededbothkindsofHanukkahmiracles— situation. TheJewishTelegraphic Agency, whichprovides copytoJewish and commitmentshouldbeseenasespeciallyapplicabletothecontemporary Jews—Jewish newspaperspointedoutthatHanukkah’s specialmessageoffaith White Housethatkilledalmostthree thousandAmericans—includingmany on theWorld Trade Center, onthePentagon,andattemptedattack threats totheirexistence. Three monthsaftertheSeptember11,2001attacks Hanukkah’s storyawaytoapplytheconsolinglanguageoffaithwhilefacingnew SUMMARY Sociologists have surmised thatbecause“Americans havebecomeSociologists havesurmised Hanukkah’s abilitytoreaffirmJewishnessandstrengthen familybonds By thetwenty-firstcentury, Hanukkahhadmovedbeyondtheconfines At thesametime,however, inthefirstHanukkahafterattacks, As thetwenty-firstcenturyopened,AmericanJewsonceagainfoundin NYU PRESSTEACHER’S GUIDE 27 CONCLUSION Hanukkah gave American Jews an annual occasion to ponder the annual occasion to ponder the Hanukkah gave American Jews an How did new tellings of the Maccabee story reflect the September 11, 2001 the September 11, 2001 story reflect How did new tellings of the Maccabee attacks? good interfaith In what ways does Hanukkah serve as a vehicle promoting today? relations each year at that emerge the elements of American Jewish culture What are Hanukkah? significance in America than it had in Why did Hanukkah achieve greater other and earlier eras of ? 1. 2. 3. 4. HANUKKAH IN AMERICA QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION the dangers of dissension among Jews, and the demands of Jewish loyalty, Jews during the Christmas season, faithful courage they would need to remain most vivid. At the same time, Hanukkah also when, their minority status became enhancing familial bonds, the social goals of a vehicle for reaching provided communal ties. With and promoting so rich a capacity to educating children, significant more Jewish lives, Hanukkah achieved a new, and enlighten improve than it had known in two thousand years place in the American Jewish calendar of Jewish history. religions,” interfaith relations have generally improved. “It is difficult to to “It is difficult improved. have generally relations interfaith religions,” also it Yet of people you know.” lack of religion, or demonize the religion, Jewish with large areas Christian Americans who lived in seemed that many they understood to be the feel comfortable sharing what populations did not public growing against Hanukkah’s with Hanukkah. Christmas season to with to instruct their staff for merchants in calls could be heard presence of instead earlier, Christmas,” as they had decades their customers “Merry Holidays.” A encompassing phrase, “Happy more customary, the increasingly all comers to events in public venues welcomed number of Hanukkah growing Hanukkah events enjoy a celebration while learning something about the holiday. feeling invisible during the Christmas season. outside the home help Jews avoid 28 REFERENCES page. “YudeD.M. Hermalin, (December13,1901):front Maccabee,” IdisherZhurnal University Press, 1999),3. David G.Roskies,TheJewishSearch foraUsablePast(Bloomington:Indiana Dilemmas andOpportunities(Albany:SUNYPress, 2000),85. Daniel J.ElazarandRelaMintzGeffen, TheConservativeMovementinJudaism: (December 12,1968). “Christmas andHanukkahLightsGoOnAtCityHall,” NewYork Times (New York: ColumbiaUniversity Press, 2008),366-383. 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