It think it depends on what you mean by “observe”. We can sure watch with respect what Jews do at this time of year. After all, the Jewish festivals are our heritage as well. They have significance for Christians because they concern the history of our salvation.I don’t see anything wrong with making use of some Jewish customs, especially so as to impress on children the fact that Christianity and Judaism are deeply interconnected. But there must always be the clear instruction that the New Covenant in Christ fulfills and surpasses the Old Covenant and all its observances just as the real thing surpasses its images or shadows.
And because of the story of Judith and Holofernes there may be some cheese or other milk products involved. Judith fed Holofernes salty cheese in order to make him very thirsty, thus provoking him to drink lots of wine. The wine went to his head. Judith thereafter removed said head from said Holofernes’ neck. The connection: Judith is thought to have been connected to the Maccabees; her intervention parallels that of the Maccabees with the miracle of the oil, and thus she is also a figure revered at Hanukkah.
There are some great paintings of the scene of Judith sawing away at poor old Holofernes. One of my favorites is the version by Artemisia. She has a look of real satisfaction on her face as she hacks away. I have included here, however, a less common depiction of the meal wherein Judith is setting Holofernes up for his demise with the meal of cheese and wine. It is by Cranach the Elder. A few other versions here. But I digress.
dreidel
Children also play with the famous little top called a “dreidel”. The top, which sometimes the children make from clay (there is a famous song about that which I learned from a childhood friend), is decorated with the letters. Nun (נ), Gimel (ג), Hey (ה) and Shin (ש), and acronym for “A great miracle happened there”. Some driedels from the Holy Land have the last letter as Pe (פ) to make the acronym say “here” instead of “there”. To play, you spin the top and, depending on the letter that turns up, you get a little prize or perhaps nothing. There are variations, as you can imagine.
Read More: Fr. Z's Blog – What Does The Prayer Really Say?
