THE pe n d u l u m PAGE 18 // WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8. 2010 STYLE FRIENDS FOpD FUN dtHillel Hanukkah party

Sarah Beese Temple’s menorah for eight dreidel, which is a four-sided Reporter days. Problems ensued when top with Hebrew letters on the troops discovered that each side, with chocolate The lights went out for there was only one day’s worth coins called gelt as prizes. blessings Friday evening on of oil. They lit it anyway, and Freshman Tessa Jones the eve of the Shabbat, the it surprisingly lasted for eight recalled her family’s weekly Jewish day of rest. days and nights. Hanukkah celebrations. Except this night was different; To celebrate and remember “My sister and I would watch Elon University Hillel put this miracle, Jews light a the 'Rugrats' Hanukkah," she together a Hanukkah Party special menorah called the said. "When we were younger for all members of the Elon hanukkiyah for eight days we watched it to learn about community. Oaks 212 was every year. One candle per Hanukkah in a fun way. As a resonating with the sounds night is lit, until all the candles family we would read books of dreidel tournaments, Pin are lit on the eighth night. about Hanukkah and how the Candle on the Menorah, In recent years, Hanukkah it is special to everyone in and many other activities for has become more similar different ways." those in attendance. to Christmas, with children Another traditional part Hanukkah, the Jewish receiving a gift for each night of Hanukkah is the food, and festival of lights, celebrated of the celebration. if Hillel’s celebration was any by more than 300 million in Though a Jewish holiday, indication, the food at this the United States each year, everyone was invited to Hillel’s event was a delicious and is a tradition that takes its Hanukkah party to celebrate important part of the holiday. roots from ancient times. In the miracle of the oil burning Potato pancakes called latkes 1G8 BCE, the Greeks seized for eight days. Friday’s party and jelly filled donuts known the temple in Jerusalem, and had a more special meaning as sufganiyot are eaten to Emperor Antiochus forced than most Hanukkah parties remember the oil that burned Jews to worship Greek gods. because it fell on Shabbat. for those eight days. Many Resistance from a group As explained to those in in attendance remarked that k nown as the Maccabees began attendance, the menorah had the latkes and food reminded and the Temple was soon back to be lit first, because to do it them of home, and the under Jewish ownership after after Shabbat prayers would celebrations they had with HEATHER CASSANO | Staff Photographer the rebellion was won. be considered work. their families Unfortunately, the temple ABOVE RIGHT: Elon students get food at the buffet at the Elon Hillel Hannukah There are special rituals Jones agreed. “Going to the party. In the tradition of the holiday, Hillel served oily foods like potato latkes and was no longer spiritually pure, on Hanukkah, and different celebration last night made me donuts. because of the worshipping of families have different remember all of the wonderful ABOVE LEFT: Professor Tom Mould and his son Jack Barnett-Mould celebrate foreign gods in it. To remedy traditions. Most families light times 1 spend with my feimily when they get gimmel while playing dreidel at the Hanukkah party. Spinning gim- this, and to purify the Temple the hanukkiyah, a special during the holidays and now mel on the dreidel means that they get all the gelt in the middle. again, Jewish troops decided menorah for the eight days. BOTTOM: Memt>ers of the Elon Hillel play dreidel for gelt. The dreidel has four 1 get to celebrate with my new Hebrew letters on it that represent how many chocolate coins a player can take or to burn ritual oil in the Others play the game of family at Elon,” she said. give back.

takes the stage

Taylor Reneau because they’re here for Multimedia Intern iim us," Kusterbeck said, “so 1 % think it has to be vice \ ersa Sierra Kusterbeck of ,in a wa>.” alternative rock band \ ’crsaEmerge came to \ersaEmerge took her Tap House after being place center stage at The asked by Elon’s SUBLive. College Street Tap House Originally from Florida, the at Elon Uni\'crsity in front band pla> ed the show after of students before they finishing up a full United launch their holiday tour States tour on Nov. 22. later this year. But the band did not Kusterbeck began always have the same the show Dec. 3 with 9 lineup they do today. They X’ersaEmerge’s new single started w ith a male vocalist “Fixed .At Zero,” which the named Spencer Pearson band released a video for before Kusterbeck joined in July. The band played the band as lead vocalist for about an hour before three years ago. She has exiting the stage to meet the been the lead vocalist since members of the audience. then and is the only girl in But who is VersaEmerge? the band. “Only the best band “It’s probably the best “We didn’t really know for the band. The main e\er,” said Robert Hicks, job in the world," said what to expect the first who traveled from East Kusterbeck, lead vocalist. influences behind the year we did the whole albums are bands such Carolina University. “You get to hang out with a thing,” said Blake Harnage, “X'ultures forever.” bunch of boys all day.” as Bjork, Radiohead and guitarist and backing Muse. Along with the music, VersaEmerge has vocalist, “but going into it “We just take little the fans are a large part of toured with bands such as the second year we kind of the lives of VersaEmerge. Cobra Starship and Boys details from each one and new more what to expect, incorporate it into our They try to make Like Girls in the fall of but it was still crazy.” themsehes available as 2009. They ha\e done two sound," Ku.sterbeck said. VersaEmerge released VersaEmerge is much as possible in order full runs of the popular its first full-length album to connect with their scheduled to do a holiday summer music festival, “Fixed At Zero” shortly BRIAN ALLENBY I Staff Photographer I supporters, which they call the \a n s Warped Tour. tour in the U.S. before Above: Drummer Devin Ingelido performed with before the 2010 Vans touring in the United “The Versa \'ultures.” The tour gives unknown Warped Tour. It has been the alternative rock band VersaEmerge at ColJege “V\'e just want to be bands the chance to gain Kingdom with pop-punk Street Tap House on Dec. 3. VersaEmerge has a large step in terms of band We The Kings in early garnered a fan base through touring and word of there with them, for them, exposure. publicity and marketing mouth. 2011. ^ Right: Guitarist Blake Harnage performs with Ver­ saEmerge. The band has switched lineups several times, but has recently released its first full-length CD and win be back on the road soon.