Promotional Information

Reveals how an almost forgotten festival became the most visible of American Jewish holidays.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1 What Is Hanukkah? 2 Modern Maccabees 3 Children Light Up 4 Remade in America 5 Homegrown Heroism 6 Forging a Common Tradition 7 Hippies, Hasidim, and Havurot Conclusion Acknowledgments Notes Index About the Author

About the Author

Dianne Ashton was Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and World Religions at Rowan University. She is the author and editor of a number of books, including Hanukkah in America: A History and Rebecca Gratz: Women and Judaism in Antebellum America.

Reviews

"Hanukkah, traditionally a minor Jewish festival, grew like a beanstalk in America, becoming one of Judaism's most widely celebrated holidays. In this definitive history, Dianne Ashton explains how this happened, and what it teaches us about America, about religion, and about Jews."-Jonathan D. Sarna,author of American Judaism: A History"More than merely the 'Jewish Christmas,' as it is often mistakenly characterized, Hanukkah's story--as told through Dianne Ashton's sweeping history--is a fascinating window on the evolution of Jewish integration into American society and culture." -Alan M. Kraut,American University "A successful and accessible history, Ashton's book will appeal to general readers and specialists with an interest in American Jewish history."--Matt Rice, Library Journal "[T]his work shows how Jewish communities used 'an element within Judaism that corresponded to an element of Christianity in order to resist Christianity.' A fact-filled, mostly interesting account of Hanukkah's development in the United States."--Kirkus Reviews "Most will be familiar with modern efforts to counter the pervasiveness of Christmas by boosting Hanukkah's significance, but Ashton's thorough treatment of her topic is sure to enlighten - she discusses everything from the official observances of Hanukkah at the White House to how the rise of the celebration affected mainstream ad campaigns and the number of opportunities available to Jewish women. It all adds up to powerful support for her thesis that Hanukkah now enjoys "a more significant place in the American Jewish calendar than it had known" since the events it commemorates." - Publishers Weekly