Hanukkah: Not Christmas for Jews

While the two holidays fall in close proximity to each other and are celebrated in popular culture together, Hanukkah does not hold the religious significance for Jews that Christmas holds for Christians.

Each year, Hanukkah falls in close proximity or during Christmas according to the Hebrew calendar. Because of that, the two are celebrated side by side under the “Happy Holidays” moniker. But in terms of religious significance, Hanukkah doesn’t rank as high for Jews as Christmas ranks for Christians. “It’s hard to not make a big deal of out Hanukkah living in America, and I’m not sure it’s a bad thing,” said Rabbi Rhoda Silverman of Temple Emanuel in Reisterstown. “That’s not a problem for me as long as we don’t forget about everything else that makes us Jewish.” Jonathan Schwartz, senior aide to Baltimore County Council Chairwoman Vicki Almond and a member of Temple Emanuel, sees Hanukkah as having two roles in the lives of American Jews…

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Go Wild With Your Holiday Shopping at the National Zoo

Support animal care, science and research with these great gift options.

  Do some good for yourself, your family and friends and the animal kingdom by doing your holiday shopping at the National Zoo this year. For the kids: Bring home plush versions of Crystal or Cody, the zoo’s gray wolves with these realistic 16” renditions of the popular canines for just $20. Colorful owl or butterfly-themed purses are always in style and sure to be a hit with the girls in your life. Each version features working zippers, an inside pocket and a 10” strap for $22. For the animals: Show your favorite zoo animal how much you care by purchasing one of these great enrichment toys. You can either purchase items on the zoo’s online store, or visit the Enrichment Giving Tree to find out what’s on their wish list and you can drop it…

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Last Minute Holiday Food Gifts

Two Neighborhood Shopping Centers Offer Easy Parking and Ample Gift Options

 At this time each year, many of us find ourselves asking “Where does the time go?” Just as we finish wrapping, we discover, I forgot a hostess gift…There’s nothing for Granddad…That’s not enough for my wife…! The horror of last minute shopping doesn’t have to rival a Stephen King novel, if you focus and use your assets--namely, neighborhood shopping centers. During a pleasantly easy parking experience in the shopping center off Sangamore Road in the western part of Bethesda, a.k.a. The Shops of Sumner Place, I took in a panoramic view of my options. Although nothing screamed “Apple Store,” I did have some choices, none of which required standing in long lines. In fact, the first stop was a delightful discovery, Edible Arrangements. Who …

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A Family Affair

Families Mark the Holidays With Special Traditions

Every December, people drive by our house and wonder if they are seeing double. They're not; we just have a slightly peculiar tradition. All over Chevy Chase, families define the holidays with deeply personal rituals and customs.

The joys of the holiday season include the festive whirl of activities, the giddiness of gift-giving, familiar aromas of once-a-year feasts and the warmth of time spent with family and friends. We anchor this time and try to inspire lifelong memories, through the traditions we carry on or create for our families. My own family's most noticeable tradition began innocently enough. When my husband and I moved to Washington D.C., my mother began buying the annual White House Christmas tree ornament as a gift for us. Within a few years, we had amassed quite a collection, and the story might have ended there if it hadn't been for my growing — how shall I put this? — internal dissonance over our Christmas tree. Yes, Virginia, I am a control …

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