By Gena Ansell-Lande
TINTON FALLS – On Dec. 18 Monmouth Reform Temple (MRT) held its annual “Flamefest” to commemorate the upcoming celebration of Hanukkah. This year the first night of the eight-day celebration falls on Dec. 24, which happens to coincide with Christmas Eve. Because the Jewish calendar is a lunar/solar combined calendar, the dates change from year to year.
More than 100 families brought their menorahs as Rabbi Marc Kline and Cantor Gabrielle Clissod led the group in prayer and songs at the community lighting.
Kline, who has been with the temple for just over two years, said he loves this day because of the sense of community it brings to the congregation.
“While Hanukkah is considered a minor festival, it is a great day with our MRT families. We recall the miracle of faith, as we retell the holiday’s story. Between the menorah-making contest, the candle lighting, latkes-making and eating, singing, and the wonderful family spirit that we get to share, this day rocks,” he said. “This is a season for coming together and changing the world.”
The joy carried on throughout the day as families and friends sang songs and played dreidel games. Of course a Hanukkah celebration would not be complete without the traditional fried foods like potato latkes and jelly doughnuts, also known as sufganiyot.
For Clissold, the cantor, this day has always been one she looks forward to all year. “For over 30 years our families come with their channukiot (special menorahs). We sing songs, light candles, and come together as a community. To see the whole room lit up and everyone singing brings hope to my heart that we – as a congregation – are bringing light and hope to our world.”
Hanukkah commemorates the Jewish recapture and rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem during the second century B.C. According to lore, when the temple was reclaimed the Jews wished to light the temple’s menorah, only to discover the Greeks had contaminated all of the oil. All that remained was enough to last for just one night. This “one-day supply” of oil lasted eight days and nights, as the Israelites celebrated the miracle of faith that led to the victory over the Greeks, and the rededication of the temple. To commemorate this miracle, Jews light the menorah on each of the eight nights of the holiday. Because the holiday celebrates the miracle involving the oil, it is customary to eat fried foods like sufganiyot and latkes.
Because Hanukkah falls so close to Christmas this year, many interfaith families, including those from Monmouth Reform Temple, get creative in their celebrations.
“We are respectful of each other’s traditions and celebrating both holidays has only broadened our perspective,” said Kristen Blumberger, Little Silver, who along with her husband John and three children, attended the Flamefest. “Christmas usually trumps Hanukkah in our household but that’s not to say we don’t celebrate Hanukkah wholeheartedly. Our children receive a present each night and usually one is typically larger, while the rest being less expensive gifts.”
Amy Sukinik of Little Silver said: “In our family we light candles each night and also do a gift exchange of some sort. Usually, we will light candles and exchange gifts with my parents one night, with my siblings on another, and with extended family on another.”
She and husband Reid Conway and daughter also celebrate a night with friends – Jews and non-Jews. “Christmas is also celebrated in our home and Santa brings Rosie gifts to the house and then we spend the day with Reid’s family eating, fighting, opening gifts, and listening to Christmas music.”
Kline teaches that the tradition demands that we respect the faith of all people. “In so many homes this year, we get to celebrate everyone, at the very same time,” he said.
