Chanukah and adult faith

What does it take to celebrate a holiday with such violent roots?

By Danya Ruttenberg

URL: http://www.jewishjournal.com/articles/item/chanukah_and_adult_faith_20071130/

A lot of people have trouble with Chanukah. I did, for years. I'd go to parties and nibble on my latke or sufganiyot while grumbling under my breath about how there was nothing here to celebrate. I'd light my Chanukiyah, but I'd only do the bare minimum needed to fulfill the mitzvah and I'd do my best not to enjoy it. My problem then, and the problem of the people who this year have already informed me that they're all but going to boycott the holiday, is that the history of this particular celebration is, well ... complicated.

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Comments:	A friend has recommended you read the following from The Jewish Journal... Chanukah and adult faith What does it take to celebrate a holiday with such violent roots? A lot of people have trouble with Chanukah. I did, for years. I'd go to parties and nibble on my latke or sufganiyot while grumbling under my breath about how there was nothing here to celebrate. I'd light my Chanukiyah, but I'd only do the bare minimum needed to fulfill the mitzvah and I'd do my best not to enjoy it. My problem then, and the problem of the people who this year have already informed me that they're all but going to boycott the holiday, is that the history of this particular celebration is, well ... complicated. http://www.jewishjournal.com/articles/item/chanukah_and_adult_faith_20071130/ Sign up for our free email news alerts at http://www.jewishjournal.com/email.

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