Hanukkah glows brighter here
By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer
When Shawn Steiman arrived at the University of Hawai'i five years ago from Kansas City, there weren't too many organized activities for Jewish people.
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There weren't even that many Jews at the university, for that matter.
Eli Kase, president of Shaloha Hillel, lights the menorah in observance of Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish festival of lights that began at sundown yesterday. More than 50 people attended the "Chanukkahpalooza 2004" celebration yesterday at UH-Manoa.
But last night, Steiman was joined by more than 50 other Jews and non-Jews at a Hanukkah celebration in the courtyard of the UH Campus Center. The event was sponsored by B'nai B'rith and Shaloha Hillel, a campus organization that celebrates Jewish customs and culture.
The evening featured Hanukkah food, arts and crafts for children, traditional songs and the lighting of the menorah.
Hanukkah began at sundown yesterday.
Last night was the third year Shaloha Hillel has held a Hanukkah event at UH. The first drew a handful of people, but last night's event, "Chanukkahpalooza 2004," attracted dozens of people whose spirits weren't dampened by a steady drizzle.
Steiman said there was practically nothing on campus for Jews when he came to the university. But the graduate student said that began to change about three years ago with the creation of Shaloha Hillel, which Steiman praised for organizing events such as last night's Chanukkahpalooza.
"This gives an opportunity to interact with different people — younger people, families, students," Steiman said. "Part of the Jewish community is not just the synagogue, it's actually celebrating holidays together. Going to pray is great, but religion is a lot about community."
Organizer Minoo Elison said Shaloha Hillel is an international group that provides activities for young Jewish people. She agreed with Steiman that there often isn't much for young Jews to do.
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"Ours is primarily for university students and young professionals who are Jewish to give them an opportunity to have an outlet," Elison said. "There's not a lot of ways for Jewish kids to interact."
Eliana Hanan, 8, of Kapolei, basks in the candlelight of the Hanukkah menorah at the UH-Manoa Campus Center. The Jewish festival of lights is an eight-day commemoration of the rededication of the Temple by the Maccabees after their victory over the Syrians.
But Elison said public events also allow non-Jews to learn and celebrate the Jewish culture.
"A lot of people ask me what's Hanukkah about. So a lot of this is for us, but it's also for the community to come and enjoy our own little celebration as well as get to know our traditions," she said.
Two of those people were Maisha Birchall and her 5-year-old daughter, Tera. Maisha Birchall, a junior majoring in psychology, was raised a Quaker in her hometown of Chicago.
Birchall said she went to last night's event because her daughter had learned a little about Hanukkah in school and was asking about the holiday. Not knowing all the answers, Birchall hoped to expose her child to people who could better explain.
"It's knowledge," she said. "It's good to know about other cultures, that our beliefs are different than theirs. And it's good to accept that not everyone is exactly the same, and you can learn from that."
Reach Curtis Lum at 525-8025 or culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.
