THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 22, 1995 TAG: 9512210153
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JENNIFER C. O'DONNELL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
All week, lights have been burning on a menorah and symbols of the Jewish faith have been hanging from the fireplace and chandeliers at the Chesapeake home of Samuel and Kathy Fox and their family.
The Foxes and their sons, Benjamin and Zachary, are among the many area families that celebrate Hanukkah, the season that commemorates Jewish independence.
``Hanukkah is a holiday that we can date very precisely,'' said Rabbi Michael Panitz, of the Temple Israel in Norfolk. ``It started 165 years before the Common Era or the birth of Christ when the land of Israel was ruled by the Seleucid dynasty.
``For a long time they ruled peacefully then Antiochus IV tried to make everyone in his empire acquire his religion, which was a form of paganism,'' said Panitz.
The Jews refused to listen to Antiochus and a revolt ensued. Eventually, the revolt was successful and the Israelites liberated their temple which had been converted into a pagan shrine.
Hanukkah, which means festival of dedication, refers to the rededication of the Israelite temple.
``The holiday is eight days long because the story that's been passed down said that when the Israelites rededicated their Temple, the lights burned for eight days when they were only supposed to burn for one,'' Panitz said.
The observance began at sundown Sunday.
Over the years, Hanukkah has become a major holiday for American Jews, said Panitz, who added that this year in particular is especially important for people of the Jewish faith.
``Anytime Jews go through a trauma we look to our religion for guidance and solace,'' he said of the recent assassination of Israel Prime Minister, Yitzhak Rabin.
Like other members of the Jewish faith, Fox and her family light a candle on their menorahs for each day of the holiday and family members and friends exchange presents.
``We have our own little family tradition with the presents,'' said Fox. ``We hide them, and the children have to find them. But we don't really emphasize gift giving because we don't want to take away from why we celebrate the holiday.''
Hanukkah is also a time to spend with loved ones. Fox and her family gather each year with her husband's sister as well as close family friends.
Their typical Hanukkah feast includes tuna, bagels, egg salad, raw vegetables, noodle kugel, potato pancakes with apple sauce and sour cream and many other dairy dishes.
``It's not a holiday for losing weight,'' said Panitz. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by L. TODD SPENCER
Sammy, Kathy, Zachary and Benjamin Fox, clockwise from left, play
the Jewish holiday game, dreidles.
by CNB