[Reader-list] On Hanukkah, Jews in city put terror behind

[Aditya Raj Kaul]

On Hanukkah, Jews in city put terror behind
21 Dec 2008, 0252 hrs IST,

Priya Saxena
The Times of India

Link -
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Delhi/On_Hanukkah_Jews_in_city_put_terror_behind/articleshow/3867749.cms

 NEW DELHI: The city's Jewish community is emerging from fear and sorrow
induced by the Mumbai attack in which the community was targeted to
 celebrate its eight-day-long festival,
Hanukkah<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Delhi/On_Hanukkah_Jews_in_city_put_terror_behind/articleshow/3867749.cms#>.


Tucked away in one of the `you-can-miss' alleys of Paharganj is the Chabad
House. It is looked after by Rabbi Shenor Kupchik and his wife, Sara
Kupchik, counterparts of the Nariman House kosher supervisors Rabbi Rabbi
Gavriel and Rivkah Holtzberg, who were killed in the Mumbai terrorist
strike.

Chabad House is now abuzz with
Jewish<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Delhi/On_Hanukkah_Jews_in_city_put_terror_behind/articleshow/3867749.cms#>tourists
and community members who are busy preparing to celebrate a miracle
that happened in 162 BC. "More than 2,000 years ago, the temple of Jerusalem
was defiled by Syrian King Epiphanes and worshipping of the
Torah<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Delhi/On_Hanukkah_Jews_in_city_put_terror_behind/articleshow/3867749.cms#>was
forbidden. A small group of Jewish Hasmoneans fought a valiant battle
against the Greeks to win the temple back. In the temple, they found very
little oil to light the ritual lamp even for a day. But, miraculously, the
lamp kept burning for eight days without more oil being added. This is when
the Jews' suffering ended and the festival of lights Hanukkah originated,''
explains 22-year-old Rabbi Yisreal Kaplan, seated next to a wooden cabinet
with books written in Hebrew.

On the second floor of the house, the kitchen is filled with the fragrance
of Jewish bread Challah and women share recipes for the festival and Sabbath
Day. "We light a candle each day during Hanukkah in the main bazaar after
sunset. The Shamash (centre candle) is always lit and is used to light the
other eight candles on the
Menorah<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Delhi/On_Hanukkah_Jews_in_city_put_terror_behind/articleshow/3867749.cms#>,
the nine branch candle stand. We sing songs, play Dreidel and have special
plays. We distribute chocolate coins among the kids and also among the
winners of Dreidel,'' says Sara Kupchik, as she places some unbaked Challahs
in the oven.

Most of the traditional food is cooked in oil. "The popular dishes are
`Latkes' or potato pancakes and `Sufganiya', a kind of jelly donut. Also,
having dairy products and cheese is part of the Hanukkah tradition,'' said
Esti Biton, a 24-year-old social work student in Israel who is in India on a
holiday.

The run-up to the festival has ended now, and it's time to send each other
Hanukkah wishes. The feeling of insecurity from any unforeseen attacks is
not visible in the hearts of these brave Jews. "My husband and I are living
in the Capital for the past four months. I feel sad when I think of what
happened in Mumbai. But we are not scared. What has to happen will happen,
no matter which part of the world you live in. God is with us and this is a
time to draw strength and move on,'' asserts 25-year-old Sara.
 priya.saxena at timesgroup.com

-- 

-- 
Aditya Raj Kaul

Freelance Correspondent, The Times of India
Cell -  +91-9873297834

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