The holiday seasons are festive and bright, a true cultural phenomenon. However, other religions don't recognize Christmas as a holiday, and this can make them feel marginalized. One of the most common religions you may encounter during the holiday season is Judaism, and you should know the history and observances of Chanukku to help your patient celebrate their holiday, too.
NursesSpiritualityArticle
I grew up in a very Jewish neighborhood in Pittsburgh. It was nothing for me to see Orthodox Jews walking to Temple on Saturday morning, wearing the long locks and black suits. Even as someone who grew up so closely with that culture, I still didn't understand the ins and outs of what it meant to be Jewish. Sure, we included Jewish friends in our Catholic Christmas merrymaking, but I never really understood what the Winter holidays meant to my friends.
When I became a nurse, I learned that it was important to be culturally aware of my patient's religious needs. I was told that, but I wasn't given much background into what that actually meant. What does it mean to be Jewish during the holidays? What would a Jewish person need or expect during this season? Will they be offended with all the Christmas hoopla? Nursing school didn't answer these questions for me, but with Google, all things are knowable.
What is Chanukkah?
Chanukkah is referred to as the festival of lights. The Temple in Jerusalem was invaded and desecrated by a group of Greeks. The Israelites wanted to reconsecrate the Temple, but they only had enough candle oil to last them for one night. They lit the candle that night, and then found on the second night that there was enough for another lighting. This occurred for eight days, and it established the miracle of Chanukkah, showing that God was with them and provided for them when they were in need.
The dates of Chanukkah vary from year to year. It can extend anywhere from the end of November to the end of December. It lasts eight days and has a set of observances and rituals that commemorate the holiday. In 2014, Chanukkah will be from the evening of December 16th until the evening of December 24th. Many years, the holiday will overlap with Christmas, and this is why it is lumped together with the holidays. However, Chanukkah is a very minor holiday when compared with the important Jewish observances of Passover, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur.
Jewish Observances of Chanukkah
The most common symbol of Chanukkah is the menorah. This is a candelabra that holds eight candles, symbolizing the eight nights that the oil was miraculously available. Most families enjoy spending nights together lighting the candle and having family time. It is usually disappointing to be away from the home during the nights of Chanukkah, so Jewish patients in the hospital may be disappointed that they cannot light the candles with their family. If they care to, a menorah can be set up in their room and candles lit -- depending on fire ordinances -- to help them celebrate the holiday.
Unlike Christmas, this holiday is not usually associated with presents. It has only become a time for presents because of the pressure parents and families feel with the coming of Christmas. In the past, children would play games for candies and the story of Chanukkah would be told to impress upon the children the miracle of God. In addition, kids would play with a specialized spinning top known as a dreidel. Some of the dreidels were homemade, but many now are purchased. However, adults usually don't play this game, but a pediatric patient may appreciate the fun of spinning it around.
Balancing Chanukkah with Christmas
Many Jewish people feel that Christmas has pushed the holiday of Chanukkah to the sidelines. Since Christmas is a huge cultural phenomenon worldwide, Jews feel as if they want to be part of the excitement of the holidays, too. Although Chanukkah is considered a very minor holiday, it has exploded as a rival to Christmas. Jewish children want presents like their Christian friends, and they want to get in the holiday spirit that is so prevalent around this time.
For this reason, many Jewish families are now giving gifts for the eight days of Chanukkah. Typically, seven of the days would entail giving small gifts, like books or socks. Only one day of Chanukkah is actually like Christmas where the big ticket gifts are given. Many Jews feel marginalized by the holidays because they just can't escape Christmas and their holiday is misunderstood. This leads to Jewish leaders demanding equal footing -- which they deserve -- even though the holiday is considered minor.
The best way to know how to help your Jewish patient through the holiday is to ask. First, find out when the festival is. Then, ask them how they would like to celebrate. Consider bringing a small gift, even if it is a pudding cup from the patient refrigerator. When you decorate the unit for the holidays, put up symbols of Chanukkah, too. It would make the Jewish patients in your care feel like their religion matters, and that's the whole point of being culturally aware as a nurse.
