European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 30, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Concentration Camps could t Dous hanukkah s flame by Randy Pruitt staff writer considering hanukkah is a minor jewish Holiday jews in nazi concentration Camps went to great lengths to celebrate it said chaplain maj Kalman Dubov the senior jewish chaplain for american military personnel in England Quot they would find moldy or rotting potatoes and carrots Cut them in half and gouge a Hole in the Middle Quot said Dubov who is stationed at Raf Mildenhall. Quot by All kinds of Means they got a bit of fat filled the Hole and lit  the jews were symbolically lighting the menorah or candelabrum keeping alive a tradition that began in 165 . Hanukkah an eight Day Celebration that begins at Sundown sunday commemorates the jewish recapture of the Temple in Jerusalem from the syrian greeks who had defiled it with Pagan worship. Today that Quot festival of lights Quot custom continues. Dubov said non jews often mistake hanukkah also readers action line Ruhberg theater going All Volunteer it i recently discovered that a decision was made to close the Ruhberg theater. The theater is the Only place available for creative expression Why is it that whenever cutbacks Are needed it is the arts that suffer first7 our Community deserves to have a place to go where we can enjoy live Quality entertainment the one employee that the army has to pay is Tim Stotler he does choreography set design directing casting and anything else that needs to be done he does the work for at least five people and he Only gets paid one salary. In the summer of 1991, he did a workshop with the Young children that helped them learn How to speak in Public and express themselves How can the army justify eliminating this theater in an age where our children worship rambo terminator and Freddy Kruger it is necessary if not imperative that we maintain an Arena where we can experience an Art form that dates Back centuries we All know there must be sacrifices but not this one it is too great a privilege to give up it is not As if the theater is losing Money. They Are Ope mtg in the Blacks amps Lynda Davidson maj. Israel Yarchun of Ramsten a Germany la joined by Hla wife Lola and children from left Rebecca 7, Daniel 18 months and Deborah 5, As he lights the hanukkah candles. Known As the feast of the dedication As the jewish equivalent of Christmas. Quot in a always fighting Christmas Quot said Dubov who is chaplain for about 350 american jews stationed in England. Chaplain capt Ben Romer 26th area support group administrative chaplain in Heidelberg agrees. Quot because of the 20th Century pressures of Christmas mostly in the u.s., the Holiday has no doubt taken on greater meaning Quot he said. There Are about 500 jewish service members in the army in Europe. A it is one of the few holidays where a particular biblical or sacred Book is not read Quot Dubov said. Quot the focus is to move away from a sense of individual Warrior capability and rely upon the word of god and his spiritual  a Small band of jews led by Judas Maccabae us rebelled when the Greco syrian kingdom attempted to impose its culture on the jews and desecrated the holy Temple with statues of greek gods. Using classic guerrilla warfare techniques the jews would strike then disappear before the Superior army could mass against them. Quot basically it was a Battle for religious spiritualism Quot Romer said. The conquering jews cleansed the Temple but when they started to rekindle the eternal flame they discovered Only enough Oil for one Day. Miraculously though the Oil lasted eight Days. Jews today Light candles placed in an eight branched candelabrum called a menorah. The lights Are supposed to be lit outdoors or if in windows be visible from the outside. Quot people have always gone to great lengths to Light the menorah Quot Dubov said. Quot it evokes a sense of the Light that is present in the jewish Community. It is figuratively speaking passed on from father to  he said it is unfortunate that through Christian influence the Holiday has evolved into a ritual of gift giving. Romer said most jews celebrate the Holiday privately in their Homes. Quot its a very Low key affair Quot he said and the latest performance of the sound of music was sold out for All three nights. They had to add More shows to accommodate the demand. It is obvious that we want our theater and that we will support it. There Are about 40 volunteers who give up their precious time and Energy to support the Ruhberg theater. Maybe the people in charge should listen to what the Community wants theater must be preserved. Brenda Nickerson bad Kreuz Nach Germany Ecol. D. Rand Wells jr., commander bad Kreuz Nach military Community replies we at the bad Kreuz Nach base support battalion agree with your Reader that cultural activities like the Ruhberg theater program Are a needed and wanted part of our Community s Quality of life we fully intend to continue the program your Reader is Correct in saying that we have been Able to operate in the Black Quot with our theater program but not when we consider the added Cost of the theater director s salary in order to continue providing Quality live theater in bad Kreuz Nach. We will have to rely on an All Volunteer theater staff in the future or Stotler has done a satisfactory Job As our theater program director As the great Success of the sound of music show Sand if there were any Way that we could manage financially we would certainly continue the program with a paid director. The Community has had two individuals step Forward and offer their services on a Volunteer basis to act As directors. This will ensure the continued future of the Ruhberg theater. In acknowledging the groundswell of patrons willing to give of their time and Energy to keep the theater going your Reader shows the kind of positive support which will be required in Many of our other family support activities. With that kind of help we re looking Forward to what the Ruhberg theater brings us next year. A a to write us a readers action line is the readers a court of last  striving to answer some of the questions about life overseas in a military environment or questions about policies and guidelines when other avenues for answers Are not readily available. If you have a question and Don t know where to turn for the answer write to readers action line co the stars and stripes. Apo a 09211. All letters must be signed and preference will be Given to those seeking information of general interest to our readers. Page 16 a the stars and stripes saturday november 30, 1991