Fundamentals of Interactive Journalism

An elderly community sees its roles reverse as a young child hands them candy for a change

The holiday celebrates a miraculous victory, where a revolt led by religious Jewish rebels defeated a Syrian-Greek king and his allies, briefly reestablishing an independent Jewish state, before the Romans finally extinguished the ancient Judean state a century later. A tiny isle of victory in a stormy sea of persecutions.

My grandfather (right) ponders the meaning of the holiday.

In terms of politics, the closest gentile holiday to Chanukah may be Cinco de Mayo, where the Mexican rebels defeated the occupying French forces at Puebla in 1862. Though the Mexicans won this battle, Napoleon III was able to control most of Mexico for another six years. So why the holiday? Because it provided enough inspiration to keep the Mexican spirit going for those six years. Eventually Mexico regained its independence.

In similar fashion, the Chanukah victory kept up the spirits of the Jewish people much longer than six years. For centuries, we recounted this miracle, praying that it would somehow repeat itself in our time. Today, we have an independent state. Not a perfect one, but it’s better living under someone else’s control.

Considering so many changes my grandfather has witnessed in his 87 years on this earth, what’s not to be thankful for? We can now observe the holiday without fear, often with kindness and support from our neighbors.

We still turn on the news, and all too often hear of illegal settlers, occupiers, and lobbyists. At least for this holiday, we brush off the negative coverage, and celebrate the very fact that we are still alive today to celebrate Chanukah. Having remained on this earth for this long, we hold strong the belief that the negative attacks will pass, that everything is for the best, and it’s all part of G-d’s plan.

My grandparents raised me, it was almost like having a second set of parents. From the perspective of a holocaust survivor and veteran, my life seems so much easier. My immediate goals are to succeed in mastering this constantly changing profession, to be an advocate while maintaining a balanced view, to think creatively, while still finding a way to bring the bread home.

The life of my grandparents seem so difficult compared to mine, but they’re rooting for me. So are the other elders of the Selfhelp apartments in Flushing. When I work, I never feel alone. I know that back in Queens, there is a community where I once lived, where my existence depended on their survival, and where my work ensures that their stories are never forgotten. This holiday is more than an Adam Sandler song, but I’d like to thank him, too.