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Unfortunately, many of these links have gone dead, but there should be a lot of resources still here.
JEWISH HISTORY RESOURCES / JEWISH LIFE IN EUROPE
YIDDISH RESOURCES
Among the immigrants from the German-speaking countries were many Jews, commonly referred to as German Jews. To aid the German religious diversity, almanacs and calendars, such as "Des Lahrer Hinkenden Boten neuer historischer Kalender" of 1922, would present Protestant, Catholic and Jewish holidays. Hanukkah, derived from the Hebrew word "cheth-nun- vau-caph-he" meaning dedication, is also called the "Fest of Dedication and the "Festival of Lights." It always starts on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev. Because the Jewish calendar is based on the moon rather than the sun, the Jewish holidays fall each year on varying dates of the solar three hundred sixty five day calendar.
Hanukkah predates Christmas. It is similar to the Christian holiday in the reaffirmation of community and family values; gifts are exchanged, candles are lit in the candelabrum or "Hanukkah lamp" (cheth-nun-vau-caph- yodh-he) and it is a time of rejoicing. However, Jews who observe it don't observe it in relation to Christmas. For the practicing Jew, Hanukkah is not wrapped around Christmas. Jewish children cannot sit on Santa's lap at the mall, and during Christmas they may be easily over- whelmed by the signs of Christmas, to such a degree that they can feel like outsiders.
The holiday commemorates an event in 165 B.C. when Jews in Syria fought, to keep from being assimilated into the Hellenic Society of Grecian rulers, who had banned Jewish worship. The Hanukkah festival not only commemorates this victory but is a celebration of the obtaining of religious freedom. To many Jews it symbolizes the Jewish position as a minority in a mainly Christian nation and has a special meaning for them in keeping their identity. While they believe and fully support American diversity, they recognize that they have common goals as a people.
The 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev marks the beginning of the
eight-day observance. It commemorates the military and spiritual victory
of Judas Maccabaeus and his army over the King of Syria, who attempted to
crush the Jewish faith in one God. Jewish armies defeated the forces of
Grecian ruler Antiochus Epiphanes and took possession of the temple in
Jerusalem. The Jews wanted to cleanse the temple, but had only one day's
supply of oil for lighting. The Talmud says the oil burned for eight days
and Hanukkah celebrates that miracle.
Ruth Reichmann
Max Kade German-American Center
HANUKKAH FOOD
HANUKKAH MUSIC
The CD Chanukkah, The Jewish Experience (LaserLight Digital 12 414) has
several songs that are almost comprehensible to a German speaker (Dreh sich,
Draedele and Oi Chanukkah, Oi Chanukkah, du feine, du schoene, for
example). Unfortunately the texts are not included. The CD also includes an instrumental version of Rock of Ages, which the Narrator describes as a traditional German-Jewish hymn familiar to all Jews
from German-speaking countries. Tom Leech, N. Kentucky U.
Rosh Hashanah - Jewish New Year (1st and 2nd Tishrei; approx September), during which the Jewish year reaches its spiritual heights. It marks the celebration of the creation of the world, but its spiritual significance lies in the stress on the concept of "return to God" 1. A serious, yet joyous opportunity to assess one's existence, re-order pioririties and take note of one's place within all humanity, it is a time when the entire world and every person is judged for the way life is being lived 2. Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the intense 10-day period referred to as the Days of Judgement (the final 10 days of the 40-day period referred to as the Days of Awe). Also referred in prayer books as the Day of Remembrance and the Day of Sounding of the Shofar (ancient musical instrument made from a ram's horn), the idea of God's sovereignty over the universe is paramount and the sounding of the shofar is regarded "as a call to penitence and a reminder of the shofar sound at Sinai." 3 Traditional foods are apples and honey, also honeycake, to signify a sweet year and round challa (egg bread) to signify the cyclical and eternal nature of life and expressing the hope that the coming year will be unbroken by tragedy. 4
Yom Kippur - Jewish Day of Atonement (10th of Tishrei; late September/early October) is the most solemn day of the Jewish year. Described in Leviticus 16:34 "to make atonement for the people of Israel for all their sins once a year, during which the observant "afflicts" his/her soul, and involving sacrifices during Temple days, today the observant Jew participates in a complete fast (from sundown on Yom Kippur eve until sundown on Yom Kippur day), a day of prayer, the lighting of Yahrzeit candles (commemorating the passing of parents and grandparents) and completion the process of teshuva (returning to God) begun at the start of the Days of Awe, 40 days ago. Summarized in Celebrate! The Complete Jewish Holidays Handbook: "It is a day when physical needs are sublimated to spiritual pursuits so that the entire nation of Israel can reconcile itself with one another, with God and to its role in the world. The endpoint of the process of self-examination and repentance begun 40 days realier, it marks the resolution of the judgement period begun on Rosh hashaha. It is designed to leave the observer purified, ready to face life with renewed vigor and purpose." 5 Preparation for Yom Kippur include setting aside charity money to be brought to the synagogue prior to evening services; it is the "deadline" for expressing regrets and asking forgiveness, as God does not forgive unless the greived party has first forgiven (if the aggrieved party stubbornly refuses to be pacified, he is regarded as cruel) 6 ; and a festive late afternoon meal prior to the Yom Kippur eve. At sundown, Yom Kippur is concluded with a light meal where the communal fast is ended. 7
The observers greet one another on Rosh Hashana: "L'shana tova tikatevu" (May you be inscribed in the Book of Life for Good." and on Yom Kippur "Y-mar Chatima tova" (May you be sealed in the Book of Life for Good).
1 (Teshuva) "...who in His mercy is willing to receive the penitent, forgive his/her sins, and offer him/her an opportunity to begin the New Year with a clean slate. According to Jewish tradition, God's decision is not made in haste". The Jewish Book of Way, by Alfred j. Kolatch, p. 222. See also, Teshuvah: turning away from wrongdoing and returning to good, to God, to the commandments. Our errors need not be permanent blots on our records, that all is not lost just because we strayed, even great distances, paraphrased from Celebrate! The Complete Jewish Holidays Handbook, by Lesli Koppelman Ross, p. 158
3 To Be a Jew, by Rabbi Hayim Halevy Donin, p. 245.
4 The Jewish Book of Why, by Alfred J. Kolatch, p. 234.
7 All Jewish holidays begin and end at sundown.
Louise LevensonSnitz
Rosch Hashana is a somber holiday which remembers the creation of mankind. Pious Jews wish each other the following:
LeSchana Towa Tikatejwu weTechatejmu
beSsifran Schel Zaddikim.
Wishing you be written for a good year and placed in the book of the Righteous, the good and correct.
Möget ihr für ein gutes Jahr eingeschrieben und besiegelt werden
im Buch der Zaddikim, der guten und gerechten Menschen.
Source: http://juwel.borox.ch/juwel1/eckstein/Kap06c.htm
Purim is a festival celebrating religious freedom. The Megillah (Book of Esther) is read on the 14th of Adar (March 12th in 1998). Unlike many Jewish holidays, which are celebrated mostly in the home, this one is celebrated in the synagogue after the evening service on the eve of Purim, and again on the morning of Purim. People are encouraged to dress up, much as they do for Halloween in the U.S., or for Fasching/Karneval in Germany. It is customary when reading the Book of Esther to drown out the name of Haman, the bad guy of the story, with a loud noise, usually made by groggers, the special Purim noisemakers.
After the story of Esther has been read, the celebrants settle down
to a raucous meal. The most popular item is the three-cornered sweet know
as Hamantashen (Haman's hats). A lesser-known tradition is the injunction
to drink alcohol until you cannot tell the difference between the names of
Mordecai, one of the good guys, from that of Haman.
Harvey K. Morrell
Passover, also called Pesach, is one of the most popular festivals of the Jewish year (which in 1998 begins at sundown on Friday, April 10th). It is an important holiday when Jews gather with family and friends, to recite ancient tales, to reflect on the ideals of freedom and leadership, and to examine oppression and tyranny. According to tradition, Passover commemorates the story told in Exodus of the Jewish people's deliverance from slavery in Egypt.
Family and friends usually gather for a symbolic meal called a Seder (Seder means "order," as in the "order of events" at a Passover dinner). They usually read from a book called a Haggada, which recounts the tale of the Jewish people's struggle for freedom in the mythical story of Exod
Pentecost is related to Shavuos. which is celebrated on the 50th day (7
perfect weeks) from Pesach [Passover]. It commemorates the [mythical] giving
of the Torah to the Jewish people on Mt. Sinai and is also a grain or harvest
festival. Since it is a harvest festival the book of Ruth
will be read. Traditionally, this is a dairy feast day and lots of
cheesecake gets eaten. Here is a wonderful Web site that explains this and other Jewish holidays.
Harvey K. Morrell
FURTHER RESOURCES
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