Hanukkah in Haifa
This week is the height of the holiday season in much of the Western world, yet life in Israel continues more or less as usual. Although Hanukkah is a major cause for celebration among young Jews living in Christendom, Hanukkah is nevertheless a holiday of relatively minor religious significance. Israelis do celebrate Hanukkah of course: menorahs, latkes, gelt, dreidle, sufganiyot...etc., but there are no lavish Christmas celebrations to compare with. Hanukkah in Israel is not a particularly commericialized holiday; nor is Christmas for that matter. The small Christian minority in Israel is primarily Orthodox, and Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7. I have to admit that as an American it felt a little unusual not to see any signs of Christmas, but it was also a big relief not to have to do any holiday shopping or feel like I was missing out on something.
Although New Year's is celebrated in Israel, for most Israelis it is considerably less significant than Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. New Year's Eve is called "Sylvester" in Israel to distinguish it from Rosh Hashanah. (Why "Sylvester"? Well, in the Catholic Church, Saint Sylvester's Day is celebrated on December 31st. Of course it seems pretty strange that Israelis would name a holiday after a Catholic Saint, but there's a twist: in the 4th century A.D., Saint Sylvester - who was reportedly a vicious anti-Semite - convinced Constantine to prohibit Jews from living in Jerusalem. Israelis therefore call New Year's "Sylvester" as a way to mock, not to honor, Saint Sylvester).
Happy Holidays!
Although New Year's is celebrated in Israel, for most Israelis it is considerably less significant than Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. New Year's Eve is called "Sylvester" in Israel to distinguish it from Rosh Hashanah. (Why "Sylvester"? Well, in the Catholic Church, Saint Sylvester's Day is celebrated on December 31st. Of course it seems pretty strange that Israelis would name a holiday after a Catholic Saint, but there's a twist: in the 4th century A.D., Saint Sylvester - who was reportedly a vicious anti-Semite - convinced Constantine to prohibit Jews from living in Jerusalem. Israelis therefore call New Year's "Sylvester" as a way to mock, not to honor, Saint Sylvester).
Happy Holidays!
posted by Deborah at Wednesday, December 28, 2005
2 Comments:
Hi Deborah.
I just came across your blog via the Jerusalem Post blog award page.
I've really enjoyed reading all of your blog just now. It's funny to read about you going to the Grand Canyon etc, as I was only there a couple of months ago whilst in Israel on a 2 week holiday! (I'm from the UK). My sister made aliyah 2-3 years ago, and lives in Haifa also, AND goes to Haifa university also! She's doing an English degree. Maybe you have heard of Neve Sha'anan or the Ziv Centre in Haifa? Well, thats where my sister and her boyfriend live.. It's near the Technion.
Best of luck with everything. I shall be out in Israel in 2 weeks time for a 6 month kibbutz ulpan.
Am Yisrael Chai!
~M-L~
My understanding is that Dec. 31st is the date of Saint Sylvester's death. Since he was such a irredeemable shit, the Sylvester parties in Israel actually celebrate his passing.
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