■L. '
The Canadian Jewish News^ Thursday, December 2\, 1989-Bl
Offers somcthihg for everyone
.. .■■By-::: /
DR. FRED WEINBERG
Chanukah is the holiday that has it all. A military victory, heroes, martyrs, lights, miracfes, special food, gifts and garries. For the children it is a fun hoii-
. day. AlJ-thesafactors make it the most popular of Jewish observances, and therefore not really a "minor festival."
The story behind this yom tov is not found in the Bible since the events occurred relatively recently, in the year 165 BCE when the small band of Maccabees were miraculously victorious over the-Syrian Greek army of Antiochus IV after which they re-dedicatedlhe Temple" of Jerusalem, starting on the 25th day of the Hebrew
:moiitfi'of Kislev.
Commemorated is the miracle in which the single remaining pure and sealed flask of oil (a one day sup-
_ply) buriied-forl-the enTtlre" eight days of the holiday. To mark , the event, .the whole family is involved, particuiarly die children, in the progressive lighting of the chanukiah starting with ,. one light on the first night until eight lights are lit on
the last day. To further proclaim the miracle, the lights must bc' kindled be-' fore any member of the household — child or adult; goes to sleep and the candle must bum for at least a half hour to perforrii the mitzvah appropriately.
-the style of the Chanukah lamp and its composition varied through the centuries and was determined by the environment in which the Jews lived. There are earthenware oil laimps from Talmudic limes, but the most popular, is a bench type with a back panel which may be made out of any material — wood, clay, silver, brass, tin. lead, glass, pewter, walnut shells or even gold.
At first the Chanukah lights were placed in such a position as to be noticed from outside by passersby. This was usually on the left of the entrance to the house opposite the mezzuzah, In
"the course of time the in- , tolerance of some neighbors after the Jews left the ghettos made this impossi-.
; ble.' But the lights are still
■frequently placed near a window. AVomen are also obligated to light the. menorah.
A young boy lights a menorah at Congregation B'haiB'rith in Santa Barbara, Calif. The menorah is used during chanukah to mark the day when Jews cbm-memprate the Maccabean victory over the Syrians::in. 165 BGE^ [RNS. pho-to/Cdurtesy Carol VVeinstock] -'^i/':;—--^^ ■
After reciting the blessings over the lights, the rousing tune*'Maoz-Tsur" is sUng. This song swings along stridently and it.s melody conjures up the marching ranks of the Maccabeean heroes even though the tune itself is probably only a few hundred years old.
Following the lighting ceremony, parents, children and friends celebrate with special dishes served on Chanukah, among which are latkes, potato pancakes, even though it may be a great leap from the oil used for the latkes to the miracle of the single small flask of oil that lasted a full week. Another popular Chanukah dish is griven, riiade from chicken or goose fat fried to a delicious, dry, crackling state.
Gifts are given to chiK dren and traditionally consist of Chanukah gelt, that is, coins probably for use in the dreidel and other games, the long winter nights of Chanukah were used for. games because during the year, games were considered frivolous and a waste of the time that should be dedicated to -Torah study/On Chanukah
however, fun and games _ are allowed and the most popular, with the children was dreidel, a game with a top of carved wood or lead with the .Hebrew letters nun, gimel, hey, and shin standing for ness, gadol, hayah, sham — "a great miracle occurred there." According to the way the top falls after being spun, the spinner wins half or all : the^takes or must make an additional contribution;
The success represented not jUst a miiitary victory but a philosophical one. , The Greeks worshipped beauty, whereas the Jews ' celebrated duty. The Jews fought against a concept of life as perceived by the Gi-eeks coming from the gymnasium, circus or the swimming pool and which stressed the well-being of the body only, at the expense of the shul.
Chanukah is ever-increa- ' sing in its popularity both in Israel and the rest of the : Jewish world, perhaps be-. cause it is a joyous festival • for the whole, family as chorused in the: traditional Yiddish song:
"Chanukah, Chanukah, a yom tov a shainer a lichtiger, a^ frailicher ■ nitdo nbch a zairierv"
CYNTHIA GASNER
TORONTO -
There will soon be a. rare opportunity to view the works of graduate students of the internationally ac-
claimed BezaleL Academy of Art and Design Jerusalem, says entrepreneur, Howard Perlmutter, a member of the planning committee for this major exhibit. An exhibition of more
than 80 works of outstanding students of the Bezalel Acaderriiyt=wiil' be held at the Academy Houise of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (RCA), 8 Adelaide St. E., in Toronto, from Jan. 25 to Feb. 28. There
A menorah by Hedva Sejgaljfi'om the collection of the Bezalel Academy.
'is no charge for this exhibition.
"It is most fitting that Bezalel, the oldest teaching institution in Israel and the only art academy accredited to award degrees in higher education, should ^Id this important exhibition in the oldest national arts organization in Canada," said Perlmutter.
: For over a century, RCA has promoted public recognition and support for visual arts. professionals both among its_ members and through its support of promising new artists. Their prestigious list of members includes Robert Bateman, Ken Danby, Norm Jewison, Raymond Moriyama, and Sorel
:'Etrbg:.;/;
.J- AttheJtumxif the century, under the crumbling Ottoman rule, sculptor Boris Schatz^ a pioneer in the plastic arts in Palestine, had a vision of creating Hebrew art in Eretz Israel.^ in 1906, with the blessing" of Theodore Herzl, he created the School of Artistic Crafts in the Bukharian Quarter of Jerusalem and named" if Bezalel.
Bezalel is the name of the biblical artisan who was appointed -by xMoses as head of the artisans who constructed the Ark of the Covenant of the Tabernacle.
Over the years, graduates of Bezalel have left their irnprint in Israel and around the world. More than 90 per cent of the recognized artists living in Israel arid Israeli artists living abroad have studied at Bezalel.
Today, there are more than 700 students, and the 120 teachers at Bezalel, many of them graduates of the school are considered ■ among • the best designers and artists in Israel.
After eight decades of. working from departments scattered throughout Jerusalem, seven departments and two linits will be brought together at a new campus on Mount Scopus. The Bezalel Museum is linked to the school.
Bezalel's first major exhibition in Toronto will feature the works of three departments. Gold and Silversmithing, Ceramics and Photography. Other departments at Bezalel are Environmental Design, Fine Arts, Graphic Design and Industrial De-sign, and" fKefe'~"aFe departmental units in Video and Film Animation.
Walter Bick, with his wife Jeanny, founded the. Canadian Friends 15 years ago andJias served as its president, r ;
Bick, retired owner of .Bick's Pickles, told The CJN that this premier exhibit is part of a fevitaiiza-tion and awareness
program that has been organized by a newly formed steering committee of Canadian Friends of Bezalel.
Bick explains that most students enter Bezalel after they complete their service in the Israeli Armed Forces. "They have to buy all their own materials — _iTiany cannot afford, the supplies. The Canadian Friends ha%corilributed to the Bezalel scholai^ship programs which.have assisted many Israeli artists." Among die world famous artists who have been associated with Bezalel are Mordechai Ardon and Yaa-, coy Agam. \,
institutton
Sarick says that the ceramics reflect life in Israel, blending ancient legacies, contemporary shapes and technologies through personal statements. The photography exhibit represents the works of two Bezalel students who visited Jewish communities in Amsterdam, Holland, in 1588, and Alsace-Lorraine, France in 198ft:
Sarick and his wife Esther are renowned art collectors, particularly of 18th and. 19th century Judaica.
Recendy, the :Saricks donated their collection of In-nuit art pieces, estimated at .more than $10 million, tp the Art Gallery of Ontario. With the completion of Stage Three of the AGO renovations, a special gallery and department will be eistablished containing the Saricks' Innuit collection. ■
Speaking of the Bezalel collection, Sarick says that he is "impressed" with the
Developer Sam Sarick, a member of the reorganized steering committee and aei"""-'"t)lltstandirig:craft
tive in the organization of production by theTsraeH the Bezalel exhibition, says Other members of the
the exhibition will make: Canadian Friends of Beza-
Canadians aware _of the lei Steering Committee in-
rich-cohtribution the Israeli institution is making in Israel arid around the world. -He adds that the collection brings together a diversjty-range of original : pieces. "Although they are not for sale in Canada, these artists', works are available in fine galleries 'throughout Israel."
elude, Anhelies Vogel, Ffancie and Martin Storm,— Joseph and Sandy Rotman, . Carol Perlmutter, and:Joan and Martin Goldfarb.
Janice Segal is coordinator of the exhibition. ;
For more information- -about the exhibition or group tours, call (416) 445-5046 or 445-9920.-