For December, the Heersink School of Medicine Office of Access & Engagement set out to learn more about this season’s holidays by connecting with our faculty, staff, and students.
In part one of our holiday series, we explored the history and traditions of Chanukah, celebrated on the 25th day of Kislev (the ninth month of the Jewish religious year) in the Hebrew calendar, as light triumphing over darkness. To capture the spirit and significance of the holiday, we spoke with Rabbi Levi Weinbaum from the Chabad of Alabama, first-year social work student David Kirby, postdoctoral fellow Anna Stoll, and former Jewish Medical Student Association President Ben Honan.
Where it all began
Chanukah, also known as Hanukkah, is the Jewish eight-day “festival of lights” celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting--adding a flame each night. This tradition commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem during the second century BCE after its desecration by Greek-Syrian forces.
The Menorah, a symbol of hope and perseverance, celebrates the miracle of light during Chanukah.
At the time, King Antiochus IV of the Seleucid Empire sought to suppress Jewish practices and impose Hellenistic culture, even dedicating the Temple to Greek gods. In response, a group of Jewish rebels known as the Maccabees, led by Judah Maccabee, rose to reclaim their faith and freedom.
“The Maccabees hid in caves because they didn't want to fight,” says Rabbi Levi Weinbaum. “But it eventually came to a point where they had to. They said, ‘Who do we fight for? We fight for you, God, to keep the Temple and the Menorah alive.’ And that's how they started.”
When the Maccabees reclaimed the temple, they found only a tiny amount of oil to light the Menorah—enough for only one day. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days, symbolizing divine intervention and resilience.
“The Menorah was the original way that the Jewish people expressed their thanks to God, by lighting a candle in the temple every day.”
The holiday’s miracle of the oil reminds us that even in times of scarcity, faith, and perseverance can lead to unexpected blessings. In a world that can sometimes feel dark and uncertain, the tradition of lighting the Menorah is an act of resilience that inspires hope in the present.
Rabbi Levi shares that this tradition is crucial in reminding us that light can emerge from darkness even in difficult times. His insight into the power of a flame underscores this idea: “If you put one tiny flame inside a pitch-black room, the light that it brings to that room is ginormous.”
This notion of a small light making a significant impact mirrors the spirit of Chanukah and the broader Jewish experience, where hope and faith shine brightest when challenges are greatest.
Connecting Chanukah to medicine
The themes of hope and resilience during Chanukah are deeply connected to the field of medicine, especially in moments of uncertainty. David Kirby, an undergraduate social work student at UAB, highlights how these themes resonate with those in health care, particularly trauma-related psychiatric care.
As Kirby notes, Chanukah’s focus on the miracle of the oil speaks to the importance of persistence and finding light in times of darkness, paralleling the experiences of many patients.
“Hope is a necessity for a person or group of people to move forward,” shares Kirby. “When you’re working with trauma survivors, it’s the same thing—people who experienced trauma, especially in their younger years, are insanely resilient. They adapt to the environments that they come from, and they learn how to thrive in them despite all odds.”
The concept of rededication is also significant in medicine. Just as the Maccabees rededicated the Second Temple, health care professionals must continuously renew their commitment to patients and their oath to care for others. For Kirby, this serves as a reminder that the opportunity to renew one’s commitment to others is always worthwhile, despite the challenges.
“My choice of career and the path that I’m taking in education is my way of dedicating myself to the planet as a whole. Anything that I can do to help push the larger collective forward is what I want to be doing, no matter how little it is. I think that is one of the most Jewish things I could do with my life.”
Fond memories, traditions, and celebrations
For many Jewish families, Chanukah is an opportunity to gather, share meals, and create lasting memories. Anna Stoll, a postdoctoral fellow at UAB, shared some of her most cherished Chanukah memories.
“My family hosted a Chanukah party every single year,” she recalls. “What we loved most was that our entire block came, including our family. My mother was a big collector of Menorahs, and we probably had about 85 by the time she passed away. My father would set one out for every person there to light.”
One year, their collection of Menorahs led to a memory that Stoll says she will never forget.
“We had so many Menorahs that it was so hot, the middle imploded, leaving this big ball of wax in the middle. After that, we learned to spread them out a little bit, but it always brings me joy—the fact that there were so many [Menorahs and guests] that we had this problem is beautiful in my mind.”
These shared moments of light, laughter, and community are at the heart of the Chanukah celebration, representing a miracle of the past and the connections we create in the present.
For Ben Honan, former president of the Jewish Medical Student Association at UAB, celebrating Chanukah at the university is especially meaningful.
“It’s really exciting to feel like UAB is celebrating everyone’s culture,” he shares. “Getting to experience other people's traditions and customs—there is no substitute for that. The value of it cannot be overstated.”
“This time of year is always special to me because friends from my classes will walk with me from the medical school to the corner where the Menorah is. It means a lot that they set aside a little bit of their afternoon to learn about my culture.”
Ben’s fondest childhood memories of Chanukah include lighting the Menorah with family and cooking traditional foods like latkes (pancakes made from grated potato). He also fondly recalls the annual Chanukah luncheon at his local Temple, where his favorite food—blintzes (crepes with cheese)—are served. While not traditional to his family's heritage, these little culinary delights have become a cherished part of his Chanukah celebrations.
Upcoming ways to celebrate Chanukah at UAB
Chanukah is a time to celebrate the miracles of the past and the light that continues to guide us today. At the Heersink School of Medicine, this season allows faculty, staff, and students to engage in meaningful celebrations that highlight community, tradition, and joy.
Public Menorah Lighting, 2023
Join us for our upcoming celebrations, where attendees can learn more about Chanukah and celebrate with peers.
The Student Chanukah Celebration, open to all students, will be held on Dec. 4 from 12 to 1 p.m. outside the Medical Student Experience Office of Access & Engagement, located in Volker Hall, Room 109A, on the first floor. This informal gathering will allow students to share stories, enjoy traditional foods, and participate in holiday fun like spinning the dreidel. Though it's a toy, the dreidel's design is very much an homage: on each of its four sides is inscribed a Hebrew letter that together stands for “A great miracle happened there.”
On Dec. 27, the Heersink School of Medicine Jewish Medical Student Association and Chabad of Alabama will host a Public Menorah Lighting outside the Wallace Tumor Institute from 12 to 1 p.m. This special event—open to all faculty, staff, students, and members of the public—will feature the Menorah lighting ceremony, festive music, latkes, donuts, and Chanukah gelt (chocolate coins traditionally given out during the holiday).
Both events serve as an opportunity to celebrate alongside the Jewish community while embracing the holiday’s universal themes of light, hope, and resilience.
Stay tuned for part two of our holiday series, where the Heersink Office of Access & Engagement will explore the historical significance and traditions of Kwanzaa.