The eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, which...
The eight-day Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, which recalls the recapture of the Jerusalem temple 21 centuries ago, will begin this year on Sunday at sunset and, coincidentally, end about the time Christians have finished opening all their Christmas presents Dec. 25.
Therein lies the dilemma of modern Jewish parents whose children expect Hanukkah presents--one each day.
“Beginning in October, I start to hear, ‘What are you going to get me?’ ” says Rabbi Ed Feinstein of Encino’s Valley Beth Shalom. “The Grinch of December commercialism has stolen my kids.”
Writing in the Conservative synagogue’s newsletter, Feinstein offered “a modest recommendation” to alternate getting nights with giving nights.
“On the first night, give the kids their biggest gifts,” the rabbi suggested. Then on succeeding nights:
2nd: Have children select a toy they don’t play with and give it to a local collection point for needy children.
3rd: Children get gifts.
4th: Take a blanket to a homeless shelter (or to a synagogue for delivery).
5th: Children get gifts.
6th: Take food to a food bank.
7th: Children get gifts.
8th: Wrap up a book to give to a library.
“Let them understand that there are those, even at this magical time of year, who don’t have what they need, much less what they might want,” Weinstein said.
FILIPINO CHRISTMAS
As many as 50,000 Filipino Americans are expected to participate, starting this evening, in a series of Advent celebrations that have grown in number each year throughout the Los Angeles Catholic Archdiocese. Called “Simbang Gabi,” the devotional services focus on Mary, the mother of Jesus, and move in sequence from parish to parish for eight nights through Dec. 23, with a ninth service at one’s home church on Christmas Eve.
From 76 participating parishes last year, the total climbed this year to 90 parishes from Oxnard to Long Beach to the San Gabriel Valley, said Msgr. Loreto “Mac” Gonzales, director of the archdiocese’s Filipino Pastoral Ministry.
PEOPLE
* The Rev. Russell Spittler, an Assembly of God minister, will become provost of Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena on Jan. 1, replacing Robert Johnston, who recently joined the Fuller faculty. Spittler holds a doctorate in New Testament studies from Harvard and is an authority on Pentecostalism.
* Comedian Steve Allen will perform as pianist and philosopher tonight and Sunday at the University of Judaism’s Gindi Auditorium. The creator and first host of television’s “Tonight Show,” Allen has also written 46 books and 5,300 songs. The Encino resident likes to field questions on philosophy, religion and moral issues--which he will do when not playing the piano at 8:30 p.m. today and at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $23 and $18. Information: (310) 476-9777.