301 jo /vt, jo 11 w ^ w v^j ^ es6x 'si jacivus/iotsi ' av>(^IhlMMIIHMHiliMMillHIiiHliMBIIIliilillliiaMMMHilillliliMIHHIilliliHIHIilliiMBiHMlMMHMtfWIlHiM^MMHMIHiMiiiMHHIillllfHMIflltfM^^ Hanukkah cefebration begins soon by Ray Walker Battalion reporter First there was darkness, then there was light —that's the idea behind the Jewish Festival of Lights — known as Hanukkah. An oil lamp that miraculously stayed lit for eight days in an ancient Jewish temple provides the basis for the eight-day celeb ration of Hanukkah. The celebration, occurring in December, is often mistaken as being the Jewish equivalent to Christmas. “Hanukkah is not a Jewish Christmas," Rabbi Peter Everett Tarlow said. “It is not even one of our biggest celebrations." Hanukkah, meaning (fest of) "dedication," is a celebration of the rededication of the Jewish temple in the Seleucide king dom (164 b.c.). The Jews, who had remained faithful to their one God, were forced by the Greek Assyrians to abandon their religion and glor ify Zeus. The Assyrians, who believed only those who fol lowed their beliefs were their equals, ransacked the Jewish temple and converted it into a fort. Maccabee of the tribe of Judah, fighting for the right to be equal and for the right to be dif ferent, led a Jewish army and conquered the Assyrians. The temple then was rededicated. Legends say that when the Jews entered the temple after winning the battle, they found the Ner Tamid still was lit. The Ner Tamid was an oil lamp that hung above the arc in which the holy scriptures were kept. It was used as an eternal flame repre senting God's truth. The Greeks had emptied out all but one small container of oil — only enough to last one day. If the flame had gone out, it would be symbolic of losing God's truth. The Jews began to make oil for the lamp knowing it would take them eight days. On the eighth day, the oil was ready and the flame was still burning. "A little bit of light can cure a lot of darkness," Tarlow said. "Light symbolizing individual ity and national freedom, dark ness symbolizing dictatorship and tyranny." This year Hanukkah begins on Dec. 1 and will last through Dec. 8. Each day during Hanukkah, one candle on the menorah, a candelabrum with nine bran ches, is lit. Eight of the candles symbolize the eight days and the ninth candle symbolizes God's truth. "The big deal in Hanukkah is lighting the candles," said Judi Vinderman, a Jewish medical student, said. The eight days are centered around children. The first night three prayers are taught to the children and two prayers are taught to them each day following. "The entire Jewish religion is centered around educating the children,” Keith Newman, a Jewish medical student, said. "That's why the Jewish people have always been literate." The children play a game cal led dreidel. It is a netting game played for candy or match StiCKS. "Fried foods are usually pre pared during Hanukkah," Tar low said. "The oil symbolizes the oil in the lamp." Latkes, a potato pancake, cus tomarily are cooked during Hanukkah. Throughout the eight days the children receive gifts. "The gifts used to consist of candy and nuts," Tarlow said. "Now it has become commer cialized and the children actual ly receive gifts." Commercialization has hit Hanukkah much as it has hit Christmas. Santa Claus isn't part of the Christmas story. Likewise, Harry Hanukkah, similar to Santa, and the Hanuk kah bush, the Jewish equivalent to a Christmas tree, are not the ideas of the Jewish faith. "That's all Madison Avenue stuff," Newman said. Dinners feature medieval theme by Nicole Williams Battalion reporter Imagine yourself in Medieval England during the wintry De cember days leading up to Christmas. The season is filled with par ties celebrating this festive time of year, and you have been in vited to a dinner at the manor neighboring yours. You accept the invitation and come well-dressed, greeted by the doorman and introduced to the other lords and ladies in attendance. As you enter the long gallery, you are taunted by laughing jes ters, amused by talented magi cians and mimes, and enter tained by strolling minstrels. Soon dinner will be announced and guests will be seated for an evening of good food, good friends and good en tertainment. But wait, this is not the 15th century but the 20th century. And this is not Medieval Eng land but College Station, Texas. Even at Texas A&M it is possi ble to get a hint of 15th century Europe preparing for Christ mas. The MSC Madrigal Din ners provide just that. Madrigal Dinner perform ances offer entertainment re miniscent of Renaissance Europe during Christmastide and have brought a little bit of medieval Christmas to Aggie- land for three years. Similar to a dinner theater, the performance is continuous MSC Outdoor Recreation Committee Equipment Rental (At the Grove) RENTAL PRICES Weekend Week Tents: 5-6 Man 4 Man 2 Man - Mountain Tents 2 Man - Pup Tents Backpacks Sleeping Bags Boats: Canoes Kayaks Stoves:. Backpacking Coleman 2 - burner $ 15.00 10.00 6.00 5.00 5.00 5.00 25.00 20.00 3.00 4.00 $37.50 Small 1.50 3.75 25.00 Lanterns 4.00 10.00 15.00 Ice Chests 4.00 10.00 12.50 Fuel Bottles w/ Fuel 5.00 2.50 12.50 Ensolite Pads 1.00 2.50 12.50 Panchos 1.00 2.50 Folding Saws 1.00 2.50 62.50 Shovel and Pick 1.00 2.50 50.00 Water Bottles .50 1.25 Utensil Sets .50 1.25 8.00 Sierra Cups .50 1.25 10.00 Compasses 1.00 2.50 Pentax K1000 w/ 50 mm lens 2.00 10.00 7.50 Pentax K1000 w/ 50 and 135 mm 3.00 10.00 YURIKA FOODS Yurika Foods are now available for purchase at the Grove. Come try out these ready made meals that need no refrigea- tion are ready in 5 minutes and taste delicious. FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 845-4511 during working hour* HOURS: MONDAY 12-6 TUESDAY 3-6 THURSDAY 3-6 FRIDAY 12-6 Cameras available through the MSC Camera Committee. For information call Wayne Helton at 845-1631 throughout the multi-course dinner. Minstrels, instrumental ists and jesters entertain the au dience and try to get them to participate. The program is named for the madrigals, who are the lords and ladies who sat at the head table and were entertained by the various performers during their holiday meals. The audience is invited to par ticipate during the evening by following the various customs typical of the time period. A favorite custom is placing the napkin over the shoulder in stead of on the lap. The evening is organized and produced by a 60-member com mittee made up of students and community residents. About 45 members make up the cast and the other 15 are crew members. The committee is responsible for recruiting all of the perfor mers, including minstrels, mad rigals, jesters, jugglers, magi cians and mimes. The committee also is respon sible for the costumes, all of which are custom-made. The costumes resemble clothing worn during that time period and are very expensive to make. Annette Richardson, chair man of Madrigal Dinners, says some costumes are left from the previous two years, but they're expanding their collection be cause more people are joining the committee. She says a lot of the people who participate are involved in the vocal music groups on campus. Richardson, a member of the Women's Chorus, will perform as a minstrel. She says she be came involved because of the unique cultural experience it offers. 77ie theme for this year's progam is "An In terna tional Christ- mas" with Italy, Spain, Germany, Po land and England represented in the va rious musical selec tions performed — some in their native tongue. The theme for this year's progam is "An International Christmas" with Italy, Spain, Germany, Poland and England represented in the various musical selections performed — some in their native tongue. Instrumentalists will play flutes, piccolos, mandolins, violins, violas, recorders and lutes. Besides the musical selections unfamiliar to most people, some classic Christmas selections such as "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" and "O Come All Ye Faithful" will be included. At the end of the evening, cast, crew and audience all sing together Franz Gruber's famous "Silent Night." The Madrigal Dinners will be in the MSC Ballroom Dec. 1,2,3, 8, 9 and 10. Tickets are $13.50 for students and $16.50 for non-students and can be purchased at the MSC Box Office.