This is the kind of holiday that most folks think of as the Jewish equivalent of Christmas. It is, and it isn't. It's about a miracle (you know..."They oppressed us. We killed them. Eat.") but the way we do it is rather different abroad and here. It's about renewal and rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem.

Diane Ashton (Historian) is writing a book about Hanukkah and some of her thoughts inspired this.

"The two holidays evolved after the Civil War when religion in America started to change and become a the religious culture of the U.S. began to change after the Civil War. This led to the evolution of the type of holidays Christmas and Hanukkah had historically been.

There was a lot of social change, urbanization, industrialization and migration, people in the U.S. began to think that sentimental home celebrations would help to stabilize all of the social changes.

This came at a time when marketing was emerging and the U.S. economy was beginning to produce more and more consumer goods. This paved the way for the rising middle class to display their wealth.

And so customs for Christmas became wrapped in this garb, and you get Christmas presents under Christmas trees, and a burgeoning Jewish immigration from Europe to display their desire to be like all other Americans and have a big celebration at this depressing time of the year when it's cold, dark and holidays tend to emphasize light, and birth/renewal (happens in the Spring too, viz Passover and Easter - my thought)."

Back to Cinci.

"There is nearly no record of people celebrating Hanukkah just a couple of centuries ago. But it began to be an important Jewish holiday in the second half of the 19th century when two Rabbis in Cincinnati noticed their Jewish children didn't have much connection to the synagogue.

The Rabbis developed a new celebration for children at Hanukkah that was held in the synagogue and included giving presents. National newspapers publicized the new celebration, and it was soon being celebrated all around the country.

Hanukkah was being reinvented at a time when the American culture had a booming holiday in Christmas. The Jewish community began to reshape Hanukkah as something their children and families could do when American families were doing the same thing around Christmas.

They didn't see Christmas as something they could do easily because it's Christian, but they did want to do something like that because it was American. They could now do something they couldn't do in Europe...celebrate a Jewish holiday openly as part of being Americans, like their neighbors."

To me, the miracle we all share is America which gave economic refuge, safety and freedom to people as part of their human rights. The same is true for any land where these are recognized as the due rights of people.

With all our faults, we can and should remember what a special place we have and not to forget that we are a work in progress. Remember what we all share and don't misspell: Freedom.

Remember those who protect us daily and give their lives for us: Our Armed Forces, Police and Fire Departments.

Remember to be grateful and loving: Light candles, don't curse the darkness. Fix what you can and care about.

Oh yes...and a happy, healthy, safe, free and loving holiday to all.

The quotes are Ashton's remarks.

Ethan, 3 months old. Happy Hanukkah, grandson!