Every year during the Howard County Jewish Community School's annual Hanukkah Bazaar, children who have money to spend eagerly search for gifts to buy their parents and other loved ones. When they leave this year's bazaar, which will be held today, the youngsters will learn that they don't have to spend money to give.
The youngsters will learn that the eight-day Jewish holiday known as the Festival of Lights is not meant to be materialistic. The holiday begins at sundown next Sunday. "This year, we decided to add a twist to share the other side of Hanukkah -- to donate gifts to people who are needy," said Jacques Fein, co-chairman of the school's bazaar. "We really want to see the kids be aware of the giving aspect of Hanukkah."
All the nearly 200 students in kindergarten through 12th grade have been encouraged to bring toys to the bazaar, which will be held from 9 a.m to 12 p.m. at the Oakland Mills Middle School in East Columbia. Previously, the bazaar was held solely to raise money for the 25-year-old Jewish school.
"We are hoping that all the kids at the school will bring something new or pretty close to new that they don't want anymore," Mr. Fein said.
The toys will be distributed to pediatric units at Howard County General and St. Agnes hospitals, the Johns Hopkins Children's Center, Jewish Family Services and the House of Ruth. The school's seventh-graders are coordinating the toy drive.
The school holds its classes at the Oakland Mills Middle School on Sundays and at the Meeting House in Oakland Mills during the week.
At the bazaar, youngsters will be entertained by Half-Pint the Clown and will learn "the ABCs of Hanukkah," including the history of the holiday and how to light the menorah, the candleholder traditionally used during Hanukkah.
Hanukkah commemorates the removal of pagan objects from the Temple of Jerusalem after a Jewish military victory more than 2,000 years ago and of the single jar of oil that kept the temple's "eternal light" burning for eight days and nights.
During the eight nights of Hanukkah, one candle is used to light another on the first night and an additional one each of the following nights. The festivities include by children playing with a small spinning toy called a dreidel and eating latkes, which are potato pancakes.
Hanukkah is a relatively minor holiday on the Jewish calendar, but it has taken on a higher profile and has become almost synonymous with spending, Mr. Fein said.
"To me, it's another aspect of being Jewish," Mr. Fein said. "Unfortunately, because of its time -- it occurs at the same time as [the Christmas season] -- it causes confusion with kids."
"It's difficult for Jewish kids," said Jeffrey Bieber, the bazaar's other co-chairman. "We're inundated with Christmas."
To give Hanukkah more meaning, families must learn more about the traditions of Hanukkah, Mr. Bieber said. "There are a lot of parents out there who themselves have a sense of Hanukkah . . . that we give gifts and light candles," he said. "But why?"