Saturday, December 19, 1998

Holiday is about universal tolerance

By DAVE BACH

On Sunday both the fourth Advent candle and the eight candles of Hanukkah will be kindled to welcome the holiday spirit.

Some theologians say Hanukkah or the Festival of Lights gave birth to Christianity. Had not the Macabbees cleansed King Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem in 165 B.C.E., there would be no Jews today.

The populace was engaged in pagan worship, and this was a turning point for monotheism. Without Hebrews there would not have been a Jesus, and hence no Christianity.

Last year Pope John Paul II kindled the candles on a menorah and visited the synagogue in Rome for the first time in history. This practice of lighting the Hanukkah candles has sprung up in some Christian churches around the country, just as a few Big Country churches have Passover Seders to get back to the roots of their Judeo-Christian heritage.

After all, December is the month of miracles, with Christmas on the 25th. Also the 25th, but in the Hebrew lunar month of Kislav, is the first day of the eight-day observance of the Festival of Lights that commemorates one day's pure oil lasting eight days to keep the eternal lamp burning.

There seems to be a new trend in tolerance and understanding of how others pray to their creator. Many religions and cultures express reverance for their creator in a variety of ways. Muslims, for example, take off their shoes before entering the mosque to pray to Allah, as required by the Koran.

Often you hear Islamic members saying, "En Shallah," which means if God is willing." The Spanish salutation is "Vaya con Dios" or "Go with God."

The Greek greeting is, "A Theos" or "to God" as is the French, "A Dieu," which William Shakespeare borrowed as "adieu," becoming "farewell."

Even the British utter "God be with you," which became, "goodbye." Germans can sometimes be heard to exclaim, "Gross Gott in Himmel," which means "great God in heaven."

With the many expressions of belief, it is better to have universal tolerance in our free land than to have targets. This could lead to "Peace on Earth and good will to all mankind," which is really what all these holidays are about.

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah.

Dave Bach is a layreader at Temple Mizpah, 849 Chestnut.