THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: While every year, over two million people immerse themselves in Christmas celebrations, the Jew street at Mattanchery wears a sober shade with no celebration or lights.
But in sharp contrast to earlier trends, the Jew street will be part of the Christmas celebration this time, after 38 years, thanks to Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights that overlaps with Christmas.
The 111-year-old festival of Hanukkah that goes on for eight days has coincided with Christmas for the fifth time. “Since 1900, the first night of Hanukkah has fallen on Christmas Eve three times, the last one being in 1978,” says Thaha Ibrahim, a shopkeeper running the only authentic Judaica shop at Jew town, ‘Sarah’s Embroidery Shoppe’ owned by Sarah Cohen, the oldest member of the Jewish community in the city.
Being a Jewish holiday commemorating the re-dedication of the second temple in Jerusalem, Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar. ‘Chrismukkah’, as this hybrid holiday is known, is one that is eagerly awaited by many, notably interfaith families.
In all of Kochi, there are only about 26 people who belong to the Jewish faith. Elias Josephai, fondly called Babu, an unofficial leader of the Malabari Jewish community, took the Express team through the varied yet symbolic traditions observed during the course of the festival.
Menorah
Menorah, meaning ‘candelabrum’, refers to a nine-branched ceremonial lamp in which the Hanukkah candles are placed. In Jewish home, a new branch is lit on each night of Hanukkah, thus progressing to the eighth on the last night. This is in celebration of the miracle of Hanukkah. The extra light, with which the others are lit, is an additional visually distinct branch usually placed in the middle of the rest. Legend has it that when the Jews celebrated their victory over a tyrant king and rededicated the temple in Jerusalem, a small quantity of oil used to light the temple’s menorah miraculously lasted for eight days.
Dreidel game
Playing with the dreidel, a four-sided spinning top, is a traditional Hanukkah game in Jewish homes all over the world with varying rules. Inscribed on each of the sides, are the four Hebrew letters that represent the words, “A great miracle happened there,” alluding to the miracle of the oil. The game starts with the proper supplies that include 10 or 15 coins for a player. Spinning the top and accumulating all the coins based on a set of codes is what the game is all about.
Yet another fascinating tradition is the Hanukkah gelt meaning ‘Hanukkah money’ referring to the money or even chocolate coins given to the Jewish children during the festive occasion. “One that most kids fervently look forward to is receiving Hanukkah gelt or money”, said Leya, the younger daughter of Elias Josephai. Expanding the gelt-giving tradition to a tradition of givng gifts is an addition to the observances during the festival.-