December 2020 | Kislev-Tevet 5781
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» DEDICATION Jewish Observer A publication of the Jewish Federation of Central New York of Central New York PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID, SYRACUSE, NY & ADDITIONAL OFFICES SYRACUSE, ISRAEL & THE JEWISH WORLD | WWW.JEWISHFEDERATIONCNY.ORG DECEMBER 2020 | KISLEV-TEVET 5781 Happy Chanukah! EPSTEIN SCHOOL 2013 DON’T MISS: INSIDE: LOOK: BEAUTIFUL VOICES 2020 HONOR ROLL NEW CHANUKAH IN OUR COMMUNITY OF DONORS BOOKS FOR KIDS ( 8 ) ( 9 ) ( 16 ) December 2020 | jewishfederationcny.org 1 Jewish Observer December 2020 of Central New York Published by Jewish Federation of Central New York From the Editor D’var Torah 5655 Thompson Road Hannukah: A Complex DeWitt, NY 13214 Chanukah commem- Contemporary Holiday phone: 315-445-2040 x106 orates the rededication fax: 315- 445-1599 of the Second Temple in by Rabbi Daniel Jezer jewishfederationcny.org Jerusalem in the second century BCE when, accord- The popular legendary Han- ing to legend, Jews rose nukah cruse of oil story has cap- tured the Jewish imagination for up against their Syrian hundreds of years. In reality, this Greek oppressors in the President/CEO ................................................................................Michael Balanoff story does not appear in the his- Maccabean Revolt. Cha- Board Chair ......................................................................................Neil Rosenbaum torical books of the Maccabees. nukah, which is Hebrew Editor .......................................................................................................Barbara Davis Barbara Davis We first hear of the story 150 years after Judah Maccabee -reded for “dedication,” is known icated the Temple in the year 164 BCE. as the Festival of Lights, because when the Temple was The Maccabean revolt is a story of a miracle, the same miracle rededicated, only enough oil was found to illuminate the that enables us to celebrate the existence of the State of Israel. ner tamid or eternal light, for one day. Miraculously, the It relates the miracle of survival, best known as when a few Jews The Jewish Federation of Central New York is a proud member of the Jewish Federations of North America. oil lasted for eight days. were successful, despite overwhelming odds. If ever we needed a Chanukah miracle, it is this year. Hannukah is much more than ancient history. It is also the most Many of us are feeling that we only have enough emo- contemporary of all Jewish holidays, for within the story lie many Produced by tional oil to last a day, but we need it to last for eight of the problems that beset our Jewish people and today’s world. It days, or eight weeks or eight months. After the darkness is a story of coping with very serious social, religious, political and and despair of the global pandemic, after a brutal elec- economic problems, all of which are intertwined. Hannukah is both tion campaign and a year of coming to terms with the a revolt and a civil war amongst our own people. Creative Director ...................................................................... Jean-Pierre Thimot major problems that affect our country – from system- The narrative begins 150 years before the Maccabees with the [email protected] ic racism to climatological desecration – what we need conquest of the eastern world, the middle east, by Alexander the Lead Designer ................................................................................... Kimberly Miers right now is some miraculous and festive illumination. Great of the western world’s Greece. As a result of this imperial- [email protected] Senior Graphic Designers ..............Josh Flanigan, Adam Van Schoonhoven, But where do we find it? ism, serious religious, political and social conflicts arose in Judea. Nicholas Vitello The answer may lie is those very Chanukah candles Segments of the Judean population, in varying degrees, wanted to Director of Advertising ...............................................................Barbara E. Macks that we light each night, starting small but building up adopt the Hellenistic western (Greek) culture. This was the antith- Sales Director ........................................................................Cynthia Oppenheimer to a blaze of radiance. Each candle can represent an act esis of the eastern traditional Jewish life. Inevitably, as time went [email protected] of courage that you can take, a proactive dedication of by, the divisions in the population deepened. After 100 years, the Senior Account Executives ...Terri Downey, Keren Green, Mary Beth Holly, your own Judaism and an act of bravery like that of the ruling Seleucids exacerbated the divisions by insisting that all of Caroline Kunze, Robin Lenhard, Rachel Wasserman Maccabees. What if each night you did something that Judea forsake the traditional, “barbaric” way of life and adopt Hel- made a difference in your own life or the life of some- lenism. BUFFALO SPREE PUBLISHING, INC. one else? What if each night you and your family donated The divisions between the Jewish factions were not exclusively President & CEO .............................................................................Sharon C. Levite some Chanukah gelt to a different cause? What if each religious and cultural. Urban populations had much more interplay Publisher/Chief Revenue Officer ............................................. Barbara E. Macks night you spoke out against racism, antisemitism, cruelty with the Seleucids than did the rural population and therefore Associate Publisher/Editor-In-Chief .........................................Elizabeth Licata to children and animals or poverty? What if each night were more inclined to adopt the Hellenistic way of life. The ru- Vice President/Administrative & Finance .......................... Michele Ferguson you dedicated a part of the next day to doing an act of ral population was more conservative. The urban population was Corporate Counsel ...........................................................Timothy M. O’Mara, Esq. thoughtfulness? What if each night you dedicated your- wealthier than the more rural farmer population. The resentment self to be a better Jew, whether through prayer, study or of economic disparities exacerbated the religious and cultural split. The divisions and antipathy between segments of the Judean pop- deeds of lovingkindness? What if you taught your chil- Submissions: ulation so deepened that the Maccabean revolt was at the same dren that being brave and being a light to the world is Submit stories and photos no later than the 1st of the preceding time a civil war, pitting one Jewish group against another. The what Chanukah is all about, not presents? month prior to publication to [email protected]. books of Maccabees relate, in great detail, the fighting between You can be the Chanukah light this year, the candle To Advertise: these Jewish factions as well as the war against the Seleucids. lit with bravery, compassion and meaning. You can be To advertise, call Cynthia Oppenheimer at 716-783-9119 x2240. Even after Judah Maccabee rededicated the Temple, using the shamash, the helper candle, lending your light to others Ad space & materials are due by the 16th of each month prior to eight-day festival of Sukkot as a model for temple dedication, the and helping them by lending your support to their caus- publication. For a rate card and any additional information, please fighting did not stop. It lasted over a decade longer. email Cynthia Oppenheimer [email protected] or es. Albert Einstein once said, “There are two ways to live Superpower political influence also played a significant role Barbara Macks [email protected]. your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other then as now. Small countries today, as in ancient times, need to To Subscribe: is as though everything is a miracle.” We need Chanukah join an alliance with a major world power. One of Judah Macca- To subscribe, email [email protected]. Free for miracles this year, but we have to make them ourselves. bee’s significant decisions was to correctly read the world political Central New York area residents and donors to the Federation’s This issue of the Jewish Observer is filled with stories map. He realized that the newly emerged world superpower, Rome, annual campaign. Non-resident subscription is $36 for 12 issues, about everyday miracles, about people who are devoting would be amenable to conclude a mutual defense treaty with his payable to the Jewish Observer. themselves to others and to making our world a better small state as this would bring benefit to both, curbing the power THE JEWISH OBSERVER OF CENTRAL NEW YORK (USPS 000939) (ISSN 1079-9842) place. They are proud Jews, standing strong like the Mac- of their mutual enemy, the Seleucids. Rome, as an ally, was then Publications Periodical postage paid at Syracuse, NY and other offices. Published cabees, and the light they bring to our community bright- 12 times per year by the Jewish Federation of Central New York Inc., a non-profit partially instrumental for the Maccabean victories and the survival corporation, 5655 Thompson Road, DeWitt, NY 13214. Subscriptions $36/year; ens the winter gloom. There is a story about beautiful of our people. student $10/year. POSTMASTER: Send address change to JEWISH OBSERVER OF voices, reviews of books to celebrate the holiday and to At the rededication of the Temple in 164 BCE, the Jews offered CENTRAL NEW YORK, 5655 Thompson Road, DeWitt, NY 13214. take you to