Embracing All Holiday Traditions By Caroline Anneaux
This time of year has special meaning to families of all different shapes, sizes, races and religions. Luckily, Anderson County has a welcoming community to help each person celebrate the holidays and embrace their traditions. Elaine and Bill Epstein are members of Temple B’Nai Israel of Anderson. The small, but very beautiful temple blends in with the neighborhood homes surrounding it, and Jewish families from Anderson have attended services there since the opening of the temple in 1948. The Epsteins joined the congregation in 1950, and all four children were raised at Temple B’Nai Israel. Holiday celebrations are still a significant part of the Epstein’s lives despite the fact that their children are grown and no longer go with them to services. “Our family and temple celebrate Chanukah every year during the month of December,” says Elaine. “Although Chanukah is not typically considered a religious ceremony because it is not mentioned in the Scriptures, we always celebrate this joyous occasion.” Chanukah, known as the Festival of Lights, is the celebration of the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Although Judah Maccabee and his four brothers drove the Greeks out of Judea, this is not the cause for celebration.
Jewish people do not celebrate wins or defeats, because someone always loses; and in war, many lives are lost during the battles. Instead, they celebrate the miracle that the oil, intended to burn one day, lasted eight days until more oil was found to replenish it. So, the lighting of the menorah represents the miracle of keeping the eternal lamp burning. When Elaine was a little girl, her great-grandmother would give all of the children By one dollar toCarter represent Lisa Marie Chanukah gelt; a traditional coin minted by the Hasmoneans after the defeat of the Greeks. Over the years, it has become very popular to give and receive gold-foil covered chocolates during Chanukah. The children use the chocolate coins when playing the game, Dreidel. “Chanukah is a very happy holiday for our family,” says Elaine. “Bill and I really enjoy getting everyone together. Eating a big meal with all of the kids and grandkids and watching them open lots and lots of gifts is really fun for all of us.” The Saturday night that falls during Chanukah is reserved for the adults to celebrate together. Each year, someone offers to host this get together in their home. The hostess organizes everyone to ensure there are
Chanukah celebrations include family, friends, gifts and food. andersonmagazine.com 40 November/December 2015