Shabbat, Holidays, & Community

Christmas & Hanukkah

Tis The Season of Miracles ... and Confusion

Differences Between Christmas And Hanukkah

(webmaster note: slight editorial changes were made to update this 2024 article for 2025)

No Dreidels Or Christmas Trees Were Hurt In The Creation Of This Article

by Jeff Dunetz שמואל בן נח | Dec 23, 2024 |

People say America is a “melting pot,” but it’s really supposed to be a gumbo..all in the same broth, but keeping our own shapes. All too often, people lump the two together in the politically correct expression “happy holidays.” But the two holidays are very different.

[edited out because it's specific to 2024]

One sad thing about each faith’s end-of-the-year holiday is that most Jews do not understand Christmas, and most Christians don’t get Hanukkah. But they should understand the differences.

The major difference is that Christians are celebrating the birth of Jesus. Each faith believes Jesus was a nice Jewish boy who entered his father’s business. The real disagreement is about his father’s occupation.

As we are about to celebrate Chanukah and Christmas, it’s time for me to explain their other differences to my fellow members of the Jewish nation and to my Christian friends (with tongue firmly in cheek).

Conclusion: Chanukah and Christmas are different holidays with different meanings, but whichever one you celebrate…I wish you a joyous holiday surrounded by family and friends. May God fill the coming year with love, good health, peace, and more than a few laughs. After the past twelve months, we need it more than ever.

Passover Calendar

APRIL 1st -at home- Passover begins Wednesday evening, April 1st, with congregants celebrating the First Seder at home.

APRIL 2nd -at Ft. Leavenworth- A Second Seder dinner and observance for the community will be held at Fort Leavenworth on Thursday, April 2nd.

April 3rd -Shabbat eve service canceled- In preparation for the Beit Echad Seder on Saturday, April 4th, no services.

April 4th -at Beit Echad- B.E.'s community Seder will be held on Saturday, April 4th.

SEE BELOW FOR SPECIFIC DETAILS AND MAKING RESERVATIONS

Beit Echad Seder - Saturday, April 4th, 4PM

$30 per person, under 12 free. Make your reservation by Wednesday, March 25th

Ft Leavenworth Seder - April 2nd, 6PM

No Charge. Make your reservation and must request a base pass by Friday, March 20th

Rosh Hashanah 2026

Beit Echad will celebrate two days of Rosh Hashanah: a Friday night evening service, a special Saturday morning service, a Tashlich ceremony, a Saturday evening service as we enter the second day of Rosh Hashannah, and on Sunday a traditional morning service.

The first day of Rosh Hashanah is on Shabbat this year, and there is traditionally no sounding of - or opportunity to hear - the Shofar. Therefore, to offer variety in our services, the morning of the first day of Rosh Hashanah, will not be your typical Rosh Hashanah service, but will instead be a more abbreviated service and focus on discussion and study of the day's Torah portion. With a shorter service we will be able to then proceed to the pond behind BE for a Tashlich service and symbolically cast away our sins.  

The second day of Rosh Hashanah, on Sunday morning, will be the typical Rosh Hashanah service including all the Shofar soundings that we would miss on Shabbat, the previous day. 

Although a two-day event, religiously, both days are of equal significance - neither is more important than the other. So whether you attend one, the other, or both days. Whether it's Saturday morning for a "different" kind of Rosh Hashanah with learning and discussion, or Sunday morning for the traditional Rosh Hashanah service including a full Shofar service, we know you will find the significance you are looking for as we welcome this new year.

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Join us at Beit Echad on Friday Evening, September 11, as we welcome and celebrate the New Year 5787. Under the leadership of Rabbi Yonatan Rudnick, Rosh Hashanah Eve services begin at 7PM, and will be followed by our annual New Year dessert reception. Members are invited to prepare and share their favorite dairy or non-dairy desserts.