Six-month-old Daniel Gorbach is celebrating his first Hanukkah. As the baby's mother, Irina, lit the second candle of Hanukkah on Thursday night, she remarked that she couldn't celebrate Hanukkah in her former home in Ukraine.
"If I had tried to light candles, the next day someone would break my window. Who knows - they could kill us," she said.In July 1992, three generations of Russian Jews left Ukraine headed for safe haven in Salt Lake City. They included Irina and her husband, Eduard; Irina's parents, Vladimir and Ella Volynskiy; and Ella's parents, Semen and Bronya Gerchikov.
The Jewish community sponsored the families, helping them get settled.
With the birth of Daniel last July, the extended family now includes four generations.
"We came here for roots - because I am Jewish and my parents are Jewish. I would like my grandson to have his tradition that we were forbidden," said Ella Volynskiy, an accountant.
Last year, at a party at the Jewish Community Center, history of Hanukkah was explained to the family. This year's party will be Monday, Dec. 13, at 7:30 p.m.
The traditions of Hanukkah include lighting a candle each of the celebration's eight nights. Homes are often decorated with Israel's national colors, blue and white. Gifts or Hanukkah gelt (money) are given each night.
Children play a game with a four-sided top called a dreidel. A Hebrew letter marks each side, the initials of Nes gadol hayah sham - a great miracle happened there - commemorate the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem after it was desecrated.
Syrian king Antiochus Ephiphanes placed images of pagan idols on the holy altar and forced Jews to sacrifice pigs or be killed.
A three-year revolt by the five sons of Mattiyahu resulted in the capture of Jerusalem. The sons were called the Maccabees, an acronym of the initials of the verse "mi kamocha ba'eilim Hashem?" "Who is like You, O Lord among the mighty?" from Exodus 15:11.
The temple was cleansed and one jar of holy oil that should have burned only a day in the menorah burned for eight days.