Westside Hanukkah Celebrations : Israeli Legislators to Light Candles for Peace in Synagogue Ceremony

Two members of the Israeli parliament--one Jewish, one Arab--will light candles for Middle East peace as part of Westside celebrations of the eight-day Hanukkah holiday.

The event featuring Knesset members Ora Namir and Abdel Wahab Darousha, both affiliated with the Labor Party of Prime Minister Shimon Peres, will begin at 8 p.m. Monday at University Synagogue, 11960 Sunset Blvd.

Darousha attempted to deliver a speech criticizing the Palestine Liberation Organization at a meeting of the Palestinian National Council last year but was refused an entry visa by Jordanian authorities, according to L.A. Friends of Peace Now, which is sponsoring the visit of the two Knesset members.

Namir, chairwoman of the Prime Minister’s Commission on the Status of Women, was described by the Jerusalem Post as “the leader of Labor’s peace lobby.”

They will light three candles at the Monday night event, where sponsors are asking a donation of $5, or $3 for seniors.

The Hanukkah holiday, which begins at sundown Saturday, marks a simultaneous victory against foreign oppression and cultural assimilation, said Rabbi Moshe Tutnauer of Sinai Temple.

The ancient Maccabees who defeated a Syrian ruler of Palestine were defending their religion against the Greek customs that prevailed at the time in most of the Middle East, Tutnauer said.

But even as they won, they began assimilating Hellenistic values that can be identified to this day, including the word synagogue , which comes from the Greek.

“Judaism has always fought a dual battle to preserve that which is unique and essential, and to incorporate within itself that which is positive in non-Jewish culture,” Tutnauer said. “The key has been the balance between these two forces. When the balance is lost, the structure may tumble.”

The custom of lighting candles is associated with the legend of a flask of oil found when Jewish forces rededicated the ancient temple in Jerusalem in 165 B.C.

Tradition says the flask held only enough oil to burn for one day, but it lasted for eight days instead. The candles are lighted in a decorative holder known as a menorah.

Other holiday events on the Westside include:

Dec. 7--Party featuring “100% instant weight-loss latkes” (potato pancakes) at Chabad House, 741 Gayley Ave., Westwood.

Dec. 8--Address by Rep. San Geydenson (D-Conn.), member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, at the Jewish National Fund banquet, starting at 6:30 p.m., preceding a cantorial concert. Information available from Diane Fishman Landau, 655-8100.

Puppet show, music and potato latkes at Wilshire Boulevard Temple, 3663 Wilshire Blvd. 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Admission: one can of food for the hungry.

Dance sponsored by Jewish Assn. of Single Professionals, Beverly Hillcrest, 7-11 p.m. Admission $10 in advance or $15 at the door. Information available from Deborah Winkler, 305-8889.

Community party at Bay Cities Jewish Community Center, 2601 Santa Monica Blvd., 2-4:30 p.m. Admission 75 cents.

Songs, dance, skits sponsored by Sholem Secular Sunday School at Mar Vista Park, 11430 Woodbine Ave, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Admission free.

Celebration sponsored by Temple Adat Shalom at Westside Pavilion, 10800 W. Pico Blvd., 2-3 p.m.

“Festive speaker and delicious meal” sponsored by L.A. Jewish Currents Committee at Yablon Cultural Center, 7211 Beverly Blvd. Donation $7.50.

Dec. 9--Luncheon, candle-lighting and music sponsored by local chapter of National Council of Jewish Women at council house, 543 N. Fairfax Ave., noon. Cost $3.50. For information, call 655-2256.

Dec. 10--Dinner with latkes sponsored by Temple Emanuel Singles at 8844 Burton Way, Beverly Hills, 7 p.m. Donation $10.50. Information available at 855-1274 or 273-3602.

Latke party sponsored by Temple Israel sisterhood at the temple, 7300 Hollywood Blvd. Information available at 876-8330.

Celebration featuring “latkes and learning,” sponsored by Jewish Studies Institute at Yeshiva University of Los Angeles, 9760 Pico Blvd., 7:30 p.m. Admission free. Information available at 553-4478.

Luncheon with musical entertainment, Los Angeles chapter of Hadassah’s Kinneret group at Islander Marina meeting room, 14015 Tahiti Way, 11:30 a.m. Donation $5. Information available at 827-7717.

Dinner and address on the role of women in the Hanukkah story at Women’s Evening Branch of National Council of Jewish Women, council house, 543 N. Fairfax Ave., 6:30 p.m. Fee $7 for members, $5 for guests. Information from Nan Sherman at 651-2930.

Dec. 12--Party and dance for singles 35 years old and up, Sinai Temple, 10400 Wilshire Blvd., 7:30 p.m. Information from Bernice Fox at 938-2531, ext. 257.

Dec. 13--Dinner for seniors at Westside Jewish Community Center, 5870 W. Olympic Blvd., 5-7:30 p.m. Cost $4 for members and $6 for non-members. Reservations required by Dec. 12. Information available at 938-2531, ext. 336.

Chicken, latkes and other delicacies at Temple Israel, 7300 Hollywood Blvd., including music by brass band and lighting of 100 menorahs. Cost $10 for adults and $5 for children. Information available at 876-8330.

Dec. 14--Concert by Cantor Nathan Katzman and his son, Mark, at Hollywood Temple Beth El, 1317 N. Crescent Heights Blvd., 8 p.m. Ticket information available at 656-3150.

Dec. 15--Psychics and brunch, sponsored by Established Single Professionals (ages 35-50) at Jewish Federation Building, 6505 Wilshire Blvd., 11 a.m. Admission $10. Information available at 836-4325.