THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2010

How did it get so late so soon?
It’s night before it’s afternoon.
December is here before it’s June.
My goodness how the time has flewn.
How did it get so late so soon?

- Dr. Seuss (Theodor S. Geisel)

Where have you gone 2010? We are already into the month of December and Christmas is only twenty-four days away. As we leave the darkness of November behind, we approach the season of light. I await the Winter Solstice on the 21st of December because it marks the beginning of more light in the evening. Just four days later, the great feast of Christmas is celebrated. That, of course, is no coincidence. The symbolism is everywhere.


HAPPY HANNUKAH

In the spirit of the season of light, I’d like to wish a Happy Hannukah to those of the Jewish faith. The eight-day holiday began at sundown yesterday and it ends at dusk on December 9th. It is known as the Festival of Light and it commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean revolt about 2,200 years ago. At that time, the Holy Land was ruled by Syrian-Greeks who outlawed the study of the Torah. According to the Talmud, a small band of faithful Jews known as Maccabees rebelled and drove them from the Holy Temple. When the Maccabees attempted to light the Temple’s menorah (candelabra), they discovered that it had been contaminated by the Greeks. They found enough pure oil to last one night. Miraculously, however, the oil lasted for eight days and eight nights, the amount of time needed to procure new oil.

Here are some Hannukah quotes:

As long as Hannukah is studied and remembered, Jews will not surrender to the night. The proper response, as Hannukah teaches, is not to curse the darkness but to light a candle.

- Rabbi Irving Greenberg
From The Lesson of Hannukah: Living with imperfection

Just as Hannukah candles are lighted one by one from a single flame, so the tale of the miracle is passed from one man to another, from one house to another, and to the whole House of Israel throughout the generations.

- Judah L. Magnes


LANGUAGE CORNER

There are many alternate spellings of “Hannukah.” Here are some of the other spellings.

Hanukhah

Chanukah

Chanukkah

Channukah

Hammuka

Channuka

Hanukkah


Readers, if you know of any others, let me know and I’ll be happy to add them to the list.


ON THIS DAY

On December 2, 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte crowned himself Napoleon I, Emperor of the French in an elaborate ceremony at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Pope Pius VII handed Napoleon the crown and the 35-year-old Corsican-born conqueror placed it on his own head.


SPORTS

A report in the Toronto Star yesterday suggested that Rogers Communications is attempting to take over Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. As much as I detest MLSE for what they have done to the once-proud Toronto Maple Leafs and for their exorbitant ticket prices, I’m not so sure I want the team to fall into the hands of Rogers. Such a deal would give Rogers too much control over sports and communications in this city.

Basketball

The Toronto Raptors earned a much-needed blowout victory over the Washington Wizards last night at the Air Canada Centre. The Raptors won by a score of 127-108. Toronto rookie Ed Davis made his NBA debut and managed 11 points.

- Joanne