BGI Hanukkah Celebration
Sunday, December 5, 2010
BGI Fellows planned a festive Hanukkah lunch with some games and songs to celebrate Hanukkah. Professors Ed Kaplan and Janna Kaplan lit Hanukkah candles and led the discussion of the history and meaning of Hanukkah during lunch. Eating is such a communal activity in both Russian and Jewish cultures, fellows felt that it was appropriate to have this discussion while eating. It also made the whole event seem more intimate and less official. The remaining hour was dedicated to the games, songs and socializing.
Lunch consisted of both, Russian and Jewish foods. Fellows enjoyed traditional Hanukkha jelly donuts and potato latkes along with blinchiki, knishes, Vinigried and Salad Olivier. The Samovar added to the celebration as did the various tortiki, rugulah and cookies.