What Does Hanukkah Mean? Hanukkah 2012 Starts Dec. 8

Temptation to switch is the real story of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.

Would you switch from Coke to Pepsi? What about changing your driving habits to reduce carbon emissions? Would you Occupy Wall Street? Would you change your religion? Temptation to switch is the real story of the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, which begins this year on Sat., Dec 8 at sundown, and lasts for eight days. It’s relevant today as a way to think about what we’re willing to give up. How much pop culture can we accept into our lives, and how much of our tradition (be it Indian, Catholic or Jewish) do we want to preserve? Pressure to conform Some 2,000 years ago, Greeks dominated the world from Western Europe to India and imposed their cultural philosophy, “Hellenism,” on their subjects. Greek culture, language and philosophy were …

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Latkes: Crispy or Soft?

Get the Fairmount Temple recipes and vote in our poll!

Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple was gracious enough to share its latke recipe with Patch. (Thanks a latke!) Get out the oil and give them a try. Think yours beat these? Give us your own recipes in the comments, and don't forget to weigh in on our poll. CRISP POTATO LATKES Grate potatoes and onion. Beat eggs well, add to potatoes. Add salt and flour. Mix well. Fry in frying pan in deep fat, dropping from tablespoon. Turn only when underside is golden brown. Fry on second side. Makes about 18 pancakes. Delicious with apple sauce or sour cream! From Tastes of Judaism: Fairmount Temple Cookbook, which you can order here. Republished with permission.

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Happy Hanukkah: Menorah Lighting at Solon Chabad

The celebration of Hannukah kicked off Wednesday as Solon Chabad lit a giant menorah.

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Picture Perfect: How To Photograph Candlelight

A month of hints on taking happy holiday photos

This is the fifth article in a series called "Picture Perfect" about how to take great holiday photos. From now until the New Year, candles will be a big part of holiday celebrations. Hanukkah started Tuesday night and Kwanzaa begins Dec. 26. Both observances include a candle lighting ritual — a perfect opportunity to snap a memorable photograph. The trick to capturing candlelight is getting enough illumination for a good image without destroying the effect of the candle. Relying on the camera’s automatic mode won’t do. The flash is triggered and the result is a flat, lifeless photo. I made one so you can see just what I’m talking about. So don’t depend on a spontaneous snapshot; construct a quick-and-dirty setup and you’ll take a photo …

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Happy Holidays: Post Your Decorations Photos

Use this post to share photos of your holiday decorations, anything from lights on your home to dazzling Christmas trees.

With Thanksgiving now behind us, we know that Solon residents are now turning their attention to the December holidays. That means decorations. And we want to see them. Whether you celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah, we know Solon residents are decorating their homes and preparing for the festivities to come. So use this post to upload your favorite photographs of your holiday decorations. In the caption, tell us your name, what street your house is on and what your favorite part of the holidays. Happy Holidays from Solon Patch!

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