Hanukkah: Not Christmas for Jews

While the two holidays fall in close proximity to each other and are celebrated in popular culture together, Hanukkah does not hold the religious significance for Jews that Christmas holds for Christians.

Each year, Hanukkah falls in close proximity or during Christmas according to the Hebrew calendar. Because of that, the two are celebrated side by side under the “Happy Holidays” moniker. But in terms of religious significance, Hanukkah doesn’t rank as high for Jews as Christmas ranks for Christians. “It’s hard to not make a big deal of out Hanukkah living in America, and I’m not sure it’s a bad thing,” said Rabbi Rhoda Silverman of Temple Emanuel in Reisterstown. “That’s not a problem for me as long as we don’t forget about everything else that makes us Jewish.” Jonathan Schwartz, senior aide to Baltimore County Council Chairwoman Vicki Almond and a member of Temple Emanuel, sees Hanukkah as having two roles in the lives of American Jews…

•  20 Comments
• Photos (1)

PHOTO: Have A Christmas Tree With Your Menorah

The Owings Mills Volunteer Fire Company is fully in the holiday spirit.

• Photos (1)

5 Reasons Men Should Wear Something New This Holiday

For starters, dressing well is a compliment your host or hostess, according to Edward Steinberg, vice president of J.S. Edwards men's clothing and gifts store in Pikesville.

Edward Steinberg, an owner and the buyer for J.S. Edwards LTD Fine Mens Clothing in Pikesville, said there are plenty of reasons men should get dressed up for the holidays.   "Dressing for the holidays I think is important, especially if you are going to parties," Steinberg said. For example, when you wear something new for the holidays, you: 1. Get compliments and feel better about yourself 2. Have a better time knowing you look good 3. Don't feel uncomfortable being underdressed 4. Compliment your host or hostess through your attire 5. Have fun by adding something new to your wardrobe: a new holiday color, a new scarf, sweater or necktie to add to your existing wardrobe, or by wearing the latest trend: fun socks. "You feel a little more …

• Photos (10)

Where To Buy A Christmas Tree in Town

Looking to get a Christmas tree locally? Here are some options in town that support community organizations.

Do you need a tree to fill your home with the Christmas spirit this season but don’t want to travel far?  Check out these options in town: Do you plan to buy your Christmas tree locally?

• Photos (1)

Franchot To Visit Glyndon on Thursday

Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot will visit small businesses in Glyndon on Thursday to encourage Marylanders to shop locally for the holidays.

Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot will do a tour of small business in Glyndon this Thursday in an effort to encourage Marylanders to shop locally this holiday season. “Shopping locally puts citizens’ hard earned money back into their communities and also support local businesses and the more than 500,000 hard-working Maryland retail employees,” according to a press release. Franchot will be joined by local elected officials, Patrick Donoho, president of the Maryland Retailers Association, and Brian Ditto, executive director of the Reisterstown-Owings Mills-Glyndon Chamber of Commerce. Franchot’s visit starts at noon at Santoni’s, and he will make his way to The Boxwood Collection, The Wine Post and several other shops.

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Enter Patch's “Deck the House” Contest For a Chance to Win $100,000

Did you decorate your house for the holidays this year? Enter our "Deck the House" contest and you could win $100,000 for your local school district and $500 to pay your electric bills!

We’re launching our annual Deck the House Contest to find the most over-the-top holiday decorations in America—the best “decked” house in the country—the one home so spectacularly decorated that everyone in town jokes your holiday decorations could rival Rockefeller Center’s. If this sounds like your house, upload a photo or video of your home to our contest page from Nov. 26 to Dec. 16 to deckthehouse.patch.com/contest/owingsmills Only residents of Patch towns are eligible to enter. We’ll select 24 regional finalists, and from them, pick one grand prize winner. Patch will pay up to $500 of the utility bill for each finalist, while our national winner will have $100,000 donated to his or her local school district. So, what are you waiting …

• Videos (1)

Fire Department brings Cheer, Santa, to Local Neighborhoods

Each year the Owings Mills Fire Department brings holiday cheer to the surrounding neighborhoods, acting as the sleigh for Jolly Old Saint Nicholas.

•  1 Comment
• Photos (14)

Tech Savvy

What Moms Really Want for Christmas

There are plenty of gadgets on the market mom could use.

It's Christmas time, and for most of us, it can be a challenge to find that special gift for mom. Aside from the usual household items and beauty products, there are some really good options that mom should be more than pleased with this Christmas. We usually don't associate gadgets with moms, but there are plenty of tech items that moms would gladly add to their arsenal. For big spenders that really want to impress mom this year, the Flip Ultra HD video camera is a perfect solution. This sleek, compact device has only one button. It records when pressed the first time, and stops when hit a second. It comes with an HDMI cable so mom can plug the camera directly into her flat-screen television and watch the video she recorded. The Flip …

Tech Savvy

What Dads Really Want for Christmas

A variety of options are available for the tech-savvy Dad this holiday season.

As they unwrap socks, sweaters and tools this holiday season, dads may be hoping to find some other gadgets among the presents. There are plenty of choices this holiday season for those looking to splurge and for those buying gifts on a budget. Dad might be buzzing be about 3-D TV. These come in two models, TVs that require the use of 3-D glasses and those that don't. The sets that don't require 3-D glasses tend to be small and expensive and, therefore, not really worth their cost. The TVs that require glasses, which can be larger, tend to cost about $1,600 and up. Glasses are usually sold separately and run about $100 and up. Samsung currently offers a 50-inch, 1080-pixel, plasma 3-D TV for $1,600. The set offers a very slim design, …