SENTINEL WATCH December 2, 2002 Issue

Hanukkah and Christmas: appreciating one another's traditions

BY Kim Shippey Sentinel staff

Hanukkah IS a time for religious observance, family, food, and fun. I know it quite well, because although I belong to a Christian family, one of our daughters has a Jewish husband, and every December we do our best to honor and share in this eight-day Festival of Lights.

This year, Hanukkah began at sundown on November 29, and we happily joined in lighting a menorah (a candelabrum with nine branches), valuing the festival's significance, and encouraging the children around the table to think compassionately about those less fortunate than themselves.

The celebrations of Hanukkah and Christmas merge effortlessly in our diverse, international family during what we call our time of "double joy." The coincidence works well because, across the years, we've found the celebrations have much in common.

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