By: Natalie Gordon and Dalia Vered

TKI (Tefilah Kehilah Institute) is a leadership program through Jewish experiential prayer.  In the past few weeks, the TKI students learned about the celebration of Hanukkah throughout Jewish communities worldwide and over time. Our goal is to demonstrate that each Jewish community has its own Chanukah heritage–a distinct emphasis of part of the Hanukkah story, food, traditions, et al–yet Jewish life coheres through the celebration of the same holiday.  

 Throughout this process, TKI has split into different groups focusing on Jewish regions around the world and their unique cultural adaptations and celebrations of Hanukkah. For example, one group focused on the Middle East, Morocco in particular. By the means of careful examination of Jewish texts and ample research they were able to discover a popular Northern African tradition celebrated in Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, and Morocco. This tradition celebrates the seventh night of Hanukkah as Judith’s night of triumph and was set aside as Chag haBanot, the Festival of Daughters. North African Jews believe that Hanukkah has a special appreciation for women because of Judith, who saved her people by killing an enemy general during battle. Judith represents the heroism of women throughout Jewish history and is recognized as a genuine Hanukkah hero.

 Another group chose to focus on the Jewish population of Europe, Russia specifically. After indulging in the study of middle aged to modern texts, they were able to learn that community lighting of the menorah is one of the most important aspects of Hanukkah in Russia. Each year, the Jewish community gathers in Moscow as the mayor lights the first candle of the menorah in the city center. This act symbolizes religious tolerance and celebrates the miracle that Russian Jews can openly express their religion, specifically, Hanukkah. Observer Marianna Belenkaya states, “Only fifteen years ago no one would have believed it possible to openly celebrate Jewish holidays in this country. The Jewish community in Russia today is a living proof that miracles did not happen only in ancient times and can occur even today” (“Hanukkah in Russia”, Sputnik News, December 28, 2005). Hanukkah is representative of not only the miracle of the oil, but the miracle of the endurance of the Jewish people, religious tolerance, and the celebration of tradition.

 Other groups focused on Israel, Argentina, Mexico, the United States, Spain, Italy and Ethiopia.  

The TKI leaders engaged the entire campus community with an experiential T’fillah fair based on their journey. Students got a taste of Hanukkah around the world and throughout time both literally (for example, a latke bar with toppings representing the various locations Jews live) and culturally.