Celebrating Shalom Hunan Chanukah

By President Emily Jennewein



For many liberal Jews, the Christmas holidays are synonymous with Chinese food.  While our Christian friends celebrate their holidays, we Jews often gather for our own feasts, and more often than not, the meal is Chinese.

True to form, several hundred Beth Israel members and friends celebrated Beth Israel’s festive tradition of Shalom Hunan Chanukah again this year with a Shabbat service followed by Chinese dinner and sufganyot.  The service featured the lighting of Beth Israel’s giant chanukia, created several years ago by our own master woodworker, Louis Vener.  And our Shabbat and Festival Choir, Youth and Teen Choir and Chai Band performed lively and animated Chanukah songs.

The happiness and sense of community was palpable throughout the evening as congregants filled the beautifully decorated David & Dorothea Garfield Social Hall. Beth Israel’s hard-working, cheerful staff made certain there was a bounty of delicious food and that the evening flowed seamlessly. It warmed my heart that our staff, many of whom are not Jewish, seemed to enjoy the Chanukah celebration as much as anyone!

Professor Joellyn Zollman

But why the connection between American Jews and Chinese food? Our member, Professor Joellen Zollman told congregants how this relationship began and why it continues. Zollman explained that Jewish affinity for Chinese food was influenced by the proximity of Chinese communities on the lower east side of New York at the turn of the 20th century, and the idea that Chinese is "safe treyf."

Sociologists developed the term safe treyf to describe the idea that Chinese food was appealing to Jewish immigrants, Zollman explained, because it uses virtually no dairy, therefore avoiding the milk and meat combination that was repulsive to many American Jews who came from a kosher background, even if they were no longer maintaining the dietary laws themselves. Further, most treyf ingredients, especially pork, were so finally minced as to be unrecognizable. And, Chinese food uses ingredients familiar to Jews -- chicken, garlic, tea, and overcooked vegetables.

A joyful evening like this one exemplifies our congregation’s commitment to being an inclusive community of people who come together under the name of Beth Israel to pursue our shared interests and goals. The warmth and inclusiveness of our community are qualities that make Beth Israel the extraordinary place that it is.

So whether you enjoyed our Chinese Chanukah or plan to join us next year, I encourage you to join our Beth Israel community in February for any or all of the many wonderful programs that will continue our 150th anniversary celebration:

• On Fri., Feb. 10, Rabbi David Saperstein, who heads the Reform movement’s Religious Action Center in Washington, D.C., will speak here
• On Wed., Feb. 15, Dr. Jess Mandel and a panel of our members who are research scientists and health care providers at UCSD School of Medicine, UCSD Moores Cancer Center and the Salk Institute will present at Forum 150
• On Wed., Feb. 22, Torah scribe Julie Seltzer will teach the joy of baking challah, creating edible art 
• On Fri., Feb. 25, Rabbi/Cantor Arlene Bernstein will lead us in celebrating 150 show-stopping years from Broadway to Beth Israel

Members of the Beth Israel community are invited to contact President Emily Jennewein by writing to board@cbisd.org.