Hanukkah closes with culture fest
On the eighth day of Hanukkah in a land touted for openheartedness and cultural diversity, a few hundred souls bundled in coats gathered at Levy Park Sunday to nosh on brisket, thump on drums, play gaga — a twist on dodgeball thought to have originated in Israel — and schmooze at Houston’s second annual Jewish Culture Fest.
The Jewish festival of lights recalls the story of rebellious Maccabee army who found just one day’s worth of oil to light in the holy temple they’d recaptured from the ancient Greeks. But the oil miraculously lasted for eight days and nights, according to the Talmud.
The Houston fest — the largest one-day public event organized by the local Jewish community — rekindled giddiness and good cheer among participants from many backgrounds, including some who spontaneously stumbled upon the stage and circle of booths.
And so, as the eight-day celebration drew to a close on a chilly Texas day, festivalgoers and their
companions shared what Hanukkah means to them in the sometimes miraculous, often turbulent world of 2018.
To 88-year-old Barbara Mishael, the holiday has always been about coming together with loved ones and across cultures.
The takeaway for her is, “that people of all creeds and devotions should be able to live together.”
Mishael left Florida in June to relocate to a Jewish retirement community near her family in southwest Houston. Debi Mishael, her daughter-in-law, said she taught her children that the Christmas-adjacent holiday is “about not assimilating,” and that “it’s OK to be proud of who you are and stand up for what you believe in.”
The daughter-in-law said the festival also offered them the added benefit of kosher brisket, which she had ordered in advance from a food truck scheduled to be at the event.
The miracle of the barbecued brisket was courtesy of Austinbased and Houston-bred pit master Joel Davis, who planned to donate a portion of his proceeds to help rebuild Congregation Torah Vachesed in southwest Houston, which was damaged by a fire in late November.
Davis, who works in advertising for his day job, named his mobile barbecue catering business JoeBob’s BBQ, in honor of the nickname his grandmother used for him, he said as he served up a plate of beef sausage.
Davis said he sees the holiday as an opportunity to teach his 9and 11-year-old children about their Jewish heritage and “to be good people.” Erwin Goldstein, the mashgiach, or hired kosher supervisor from Houston Kashruth Association overseeing Davis’ kitchen for the day, added that Hanukkah to him is about honoring the Jewish people amid elements that threaten their survival.
“What they’re trying to do is destroy the Jews,” he said. “Hitler tried. We are still here. You’re just not going to do it.”
The festival gave 8-year-old Sadie Schwartz the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to debut her slime business, which drew a swarm of tiny customers, pulling grown ups behind them. At the youngster’s request, Schwartz’s grandparents had agreed — as her Hanukkah gift — to foot the bill for her a booth to sell the mix-it-yourself creation.
“It’s satisfying, you can poke it and stretch it and make bubbles with it …. It’s stress relieving,” the young entrepreneur explained. What could be so stressful to the third grader? Homework, she said.
Guillermo Garduno, 54, of Huffman, who was raised Catholic in Mexico, sat beside his daughter Karina cradling drums in his their laps provided by the stage performer. Karina had learned about the festival on Facebook and knew her dad would love it.
“I love the Jewish culture and tradition,”the father said. “I try to follow Jewish festivals.”
Hadas Levy, 28, who recently moved to Houston from Israel, staffed a beanbag toss painted in the shape of Israel, with holes for several key locales along with her fiance, 29-year-old Gil Brav, a trained tour guide who explained all the intricacies of the sites on the map.
Levy said the point of Hanukkah is “increasing the light” and “spreading the light you have inside with the world,” regardless of your background.
And finally, a few hours before the eighth candle was lit, Rabbi Samantha Safran shared her insights.
Safran, who organized the event on behalf the Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center, said in this time and always the holiday offers a moment for collective healing.
“Bringing light means bringing hope,” Safran said. “When we light the menorah, it reminds us to bring light into the world no matter how dark it may seem.”