Review: Writers wax on Jewish Festival of Lights

The title of this book is cute and inviting but it’s not about the many, all correct ways you can spell Chanukah, the Jewish Festival of Lights. The point that the title seems to make is that the views of 18 writers are as varied as are ways to spell the holiday.

“Ranging in tone from comedic to snarky, poignant to poetic, each contributor shares with us the meaning of Chanukah as they’ve experienced it,” writes Emily Frankin, the editor of the collection, in the introduction.

My personal favorites are Erik Orner’s graphic story, “Tradition Breaks” and Steve Almond’s essay, “Chanukah Your Hearts Out.”

	“How to Spell Chanukah … And Other Holiday Dilemmas – 18 Writers Celebrate Eight Nights of Lights” edited by Emily Franklin Algonquin Paperbacks, $13.95, 255 pp.

The graphic story recollects the frustrations facing a female college student in the 1980s who’s staying at school over winter break. Trouble is winter break came early under a new academic year schedule and she can’t stay in her dorm; it’s closed.

Where to go? Her boyfriend is skiing in Vermont. A storm is approaching. She turns down an invitation to stay with an acquaintance and his girlfriend in town.

The one person remaining in the dorm is the resident assistant who insists she leave, but later lets her stay with her in her room. They talk. They kiss. The resident assistant makes a menorah out of aluminum foil, “which became the ugliest, loveliest menorah I’ve ever seen.” That’s the windup of the well-constructed story.

Almond’s thoughtful essay has an honest, pointed message. He suggests the reader make a blessing for each of the eight nights of the holiday, even if you don’t light the appropriate number of candles or sing a relevant prayer.

Most importantly, Almond urges, “reflect on those whose love binds you to this world, if you have done right by them, if you have been good to those in need of goodness, and spoken against those who would do this goodness harm.”

And, he adds, be sure to eat the requisite high-cholesterol latkes (potato pancakes), with sour cream and apple sauce.

By the by, Chanukah (or is it Hanukah or Hanukkah?) started at sundown last night, Dec. 8.

David Steinberg is the Journal’s Books editor and an Arts writer.