Fifth Day
Hanukkah and the National Jewish Welfare Board
by David P. Rosenberg, Senior Reference Librarian – Collections, Center for Jewish History
Above image: Chaplain Samuel W. Chomsky lights the traditional Hanukkah candles, December 19, 1954. Text on back of photograph: “Over 300 servicemen and veteran patients of all faiths were the guests of the Beverly Hills B’nai B’rith Men’s Lodge at a USO-Jewish Welfare Board Hanukkah dinner and show at Frank Sennes’ Moulin Rouge, Hollywood, Calif., Sunday afternoon, December 19, [1954]…" National Jewish Welfare Board Records, c/o American Jewish Historical Society.
The National Jewish Welfare Board was founded in 1917 to provide support for soldiers in times of war. It was also a founding member of the United Service Organizations (USO).
Quizzes
When looking at Hanukkah program guides, a list of 35 questions by Mordecai Soltes keeps on recurring. This list, which was reused by many organizations’ holiday program manuals, has some simple questions while others are more challenging. The copy I’m referring to here was printed in a 1952 Hanukkah program material for young adults and adults. It was published by the Jewish Center Division of the National Jewish Welfare Board.
Here are some sample questions:
- Why is Hanukah considered a minor festival?
- To what unusual event does the custom of kindling lights during Hanukah trace from its origin? In what community was the banner of revolt first unfurled in what city?
- In what city was the decisive battle fought between the Jewish forces and Syrians?
- By what special name was Antiokhus, the leader of the Syrians, called?
Out of the Archives
The National Jewish Welfare Board did not limit itself to publishing bulletins. The YIVO library here at the Center for Jewish History holds The Hanukkah mystery : a play in 3 acts. by Freehof, Lillian S. (Lillian Simon), New York, National Jewish Welfare Board, 1951.
Sound recording
In addition to being the Executive Director of Jewish Community Center of Staten Island and first President of the American Association for Ethiopian Jewry Graenum Berger was on the board of the Jewish Welfare Board and reflects on the experience in an oral history that is part of the UJA-Federation of New York Oral History Collection. The recording and transcript are available here. in addition, his papers are held by AJHS here at the Center, and there is a finding aid online here.
Arts and Crafts
A undated (c.1955) program manual compiled and edited by Philip Goodman, Director, Jewish Education, Jewish Center Division, National Jewish Welfare Board, has an arts and crafts section. It has suggestions for Designs, Stippling a Menorah, An Electric Menorah, Dreidlich, A metal Menorah and a Clay Menorah. A different manual suggests making a Menorah with loops of construction paper as the candle holders and other pieces of construction paper representing the candles.