There is more to Hanukkah gifts than meets the eye
How American Jews reshaped an ancient, minor holiday
THIS YEAR, for the first time since 2005, the start of Hanukkah falls on December 25th. (The next time will be in 2035.) The two celebrations will both involve lights—strung around trees and homes for Christians, kindled in a nine-branched menorah for Jews—and festive foods (usually a roast meat for Christmas, and oil-fried bites, including potato pancakes and jam-filled doughnuts, for Hanukkah).
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This article appeared in the Culture section of the print edition under the headline “Festival of lights, stars and stripes”
From the December 21st 2024 edition
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