MJCC executive director Steven Morrison talks of Hanukkah
A holiday for the children
A holiday for the children
Another fond remembrance for Morrison is gift giving. “The gift giving has developed over the years and is really very modern, but thank goodness it was
modern enough for when I was a kid,” Morrison said. “We were very poor, so we didn’t get good gifts like some of my wealthier friends or my Christian friends
especially. They were very modest gifts, but it was fun.”
While there is gift-giving involved with Hanukkah — especially to children — Morrison emphasized that it isn’t the “Jewish Christmas,” even though its eight-
day observance sometimes overlaps the observance of Christmas. “This year, the fifth day of Hanukkah is Christmas Day, so people might get more confused,”
Morrison observed. “But one has to do with religious liberty and one has to do with the birth of Jesus. The holidays have no relationship other than the time of
year. Sometimes kids get a little confused. And I don’t know if it is a bad thing or a good thing. What we try to do in the Jewish community is have our children
understand that Christmas is a very important holiday. It’s not our holiday. But we wish people a Merry Christmas. I’m not one of those who is into Happy Holidays.
The expression is Merry Christmas. I have no problem saying that. I have no problem with a Christmas tree. I don’t have any idea what a holiday tree is. I never
have.”
The eight day observance of Hanukkah begins at sunset — the beginning of the Jewish day — on December 21. “For Jews at sunset of the first day of
Hanukkah, which would be December 21, we’ll light two candles,” Morrison said. “One is a leader candle. A Hanukkah menorah will have nine branches, one for
each day plus the shamosh, the leader candle. We’ll light one candle and say three prayers. The third prayer is simply thanking God for allowing us to reach the
season. We say that prayer throughout the year as various events take place. On days 2-8, we only say the two prayers.”
While each day will involve the same traditions, the day with the most celebration may occur on a weekend or other day during the period when people
have off. Since it will be on a Sunday, Morrison feels that day will be December 21 for many families. “There frequently will be a holiday meal,” Morrison said. “It
will probably include some fried food such as potato pancakes. And for those who do exchange gifts, there will be gifts. Most families will light candles every
night for the eight nights, the same thing at sunset. Probably most families will give gifts to children. Some may exchange other gifts. There are some families
that don’t do gift giving. There are some families who just light candles and do nothing else. Some families will do decorations. Others don’t believe in that.
There are no rules because this isn’t a biblical holiday.”
Morrison also noted that Jewish Social Services will take menorahs to the elderly in nursing homes this time of year. With the shortest day of the year
occurring on December 21, the menorah and Hanukkah have another level of meaning in terms of light and darkness. And the elderly — and the children —
appreciate the warmth that the visit and Hanukkah bring. Hanukkah is for the child in everyone.
modern enough for when I was a kid,” Morrison said. “We were very poor, so we didn’t get good gifts like some of my wealthier friends or my Christian friends
especially. They were very modest gifts, but it was fun.”
While there is gift-giving involved with Hanukkah — especially to children — Morrison emphasized that it isn’t the “Jewish Christmas,” even though its eight-
day observance sometimes overlaps the observance of Christmas. “This year, the fifth day of Hanukkah is Christmas Day, so people might get more confused,”
Morrison observed. “But one has to do with religious liberty and one has to do with the birth of Jesus. The holidays have no relationship other than the time of
year. Sometimes kids get a little confused. And I don’t know if it is a bad thing or a good thing. What we try to do in the Jewish community is have our children
understand that Christmas is a very important holiday. It’s not our holiday. But we wish people a Merry Christmas. I’m not one of those who is into Happy Holidays.
The expression is Merry Christmas. I have no problem saying that. I have no problem with a Christmas tree. I don’t have any idea what a holiday tree is. I never
have.”
The eight day observance of Hanukkah begins at sunset — the beginning of the Jewish day — on December 21. “For Jews at sunset of the first day of
Hanukkah, which would be December 21, we’ll light two candles,” Morrison said. “One is a leader candle. A Hanukkah menorah will have nine branches, one for
each day plus the shamosh, the leader candle. We’ll light one candle and say three prayers. The third prayer is simply thanking God for allowing us to reach the
season. We say that prayer throughout the year as various events take place. On days 2-8, we only say the two prayers.”
While each day will involve the same traditions, the day with the most celebration may occur on a weekend or other day during the period when people
have off. Since it will be on a Sunday, Morrison feels that day will be December 21 for many families. “There frequently will be a holiday meal,” Morrison said. “It
will probably include some fried food such as potato pancakes. And for those who do exchange gifts, there will be gifts. Most families will light candles every
night for the eight nights, the same thing at sunset. Probably most families will give gifts to children. Some may exchange other gifts. There are some families
that don’t do gift giving. There are some families who just light candles and do nothing else. Some families will do decorations. Others don’t believe in that.
There are no rules because this isn’t a biblical holiday.”
Morrison also noted that Jewish Social Services will take menorahs to the elderly in nursing homes this time of year. With the shortest day of the year
occurring on December 21, the menorah and Hanukkah have another level of meaning in terms of light and darkness. And the elderly — and the children —
appreciate the warmth that the visit and Hanukkah bring. Hanukkah is for the child in everyone.
Madison Jewish Community Council executive
director Steven Morrison holds a menorah with
the children of the Hilde L. Mosse Gan Hayeled
Preschool
director Steven Morrison holds a menorah with
the children of the Hilde L. Mosse Gan Hayeled
Preschool
By Jonathan Gramling
Part 2 of 2
Editor’s note – I should proscribe using terms learned long ago unless I look them up for their real
meaning. In the first part of this story, I used the term proscribe — to forbid — instead of prescribe when
noting the Jewish observances that are prescribed — “to set down authoritatively for direction” — by
the Torah. I shall have to prescribe more diligence on my part.
****
There are biblical holidays and then there are holidays in the Jewish faith community. There are
those that are prescribed in the Torah such as Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, where the major
observance is centered in the synagogue. And then there are those holidays like Hanukkah that have
evolved over time without biblical guidance. Rather than a spiritual basis, per se, Hanukkah has a quasi-
historical foundation based on the aspiration for religious freedom.
Therefore, it should be no surprise that Steve Morrison, executive director of the Madison Jewish
Community Council, has more earthly rather than spiritual recollections of Hanukkah, ones that take
him back to his childhood when his family had limited financial means. “A lot of holiday smells were
associated with the holiday, Morrison said as he smiled. “My guess is that if you come from a Christian
background, you have the cookie smells. But mine, because oil was became a part of the observance a
lot, was the frying of potato pancakes. That’s a very pleasant smell for me. It reminds me of great
childhood memories. And while I am talking about it, I am picturing my house from when I was a little
boy. Those were wonderful days.”
Morrison also noted that the enjoyment of latkes during Hanukkah isn’t universal. In Israel, jelly
donuts are the norm. What they have in common is they are both deep fried in oil, a connection to the
lighting of oil-based candles in biblical times.
Part 2 of 2
Editor’s note – I should proscribe using terms learned long ago unless I look them up for their real
meaning. In the first part of this story, I used the term proscribe — to forbid — instead of prescribe when
noting the Jewish observances that are prescribed — “to set down authoritatively for direction” — by
the Torah. I shall have to prescribe more diligence on my part.
****
There are biblical holidays and then there are holidays in the Jewish faith community. There are
those that are prescribed in the Torah such as Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, where the major
observance is centered in the synagogue. And then there are those holidays like Hanukkah that have
evolved over time without biblical guidance. Rather than a spiritual basis, per se, Hanukkah has a quasi-
historical foundation based on the aspiration for religious freedom.
Therefore, it should be no surprise that Steve Morrison, executive director of the Madison Jewish
Community Council, has more earthly rather than spiritual recollections of Hanukkah, ones that take
him back to his childhood when his family had limited financial means. “A lot of holiday smells were
associated with the holiday, Morrison said as he smiled. “My guess is that if you come from a Christian
background, you have the cookie smells. But mine, because oil was became a part of the observance a
lot, was the frying of potato pancakes. That’s a very pleasant smell for me. It reminds me of great
childhood memories. And while I am talking about it, I am picturing my house from when I was a little
boy. Those were wonderful days.”
Morrison also noted that the enjoyment of latkes during Hanukkah isn’t universal. In Israel, jelly
donuts are the norm. What they have in common is they are both deep fried in oil, a connection to the
lighting of oil-based candles in biblical times.
PHOTO TO FOLLOW. SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE (Our web file for this photo is missing. We are trying to recover it.) |