The eight-day Jewish celebration known as Hanukkah or Chanukah commemorates the rededication during the second century B.C. of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, where according to legend Jews had risen up against their Greek-Syrian oppressors in the Maccabean Revolt.
What do the 8 days of Hanukkah stand for?
What Do The 8 Days Of Hanukkah Stand For? A Hebrew word for dedication, Hanukkah is usually known as the festival of lights. In addition to celebrating the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem, the eight-day holiday commemorates the re-installation of the Temple by a group of Jewish warriors from the Greeks in BCE according to Tablet magazine.
Why does Hanukkah last for 8 days?
chanukah Chanukah lasts 8 days to remind us that G-dliness transcends worldly philosophy. Moses saw a bush that burned but wasn't consumed, and Israel saw a lamp that burned, but the oil wasn't consumed. Isaiah 43:2 says, "When you walk through the fire, you won't be burned."
Why is the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah 8 days long?
Why Is Hanukkah 8 Nights Long? “Miracle” Despite the fact that there was only enough olive oil to keep the menorah’s candles burning for one day, the flames continued flickering for eight nights, allowing them time to find a new supply of oil. The Jewish sages were inspired by this wonderful event to proclaim an eight-day festival every year.
What do the 8 nights of Hanukkah mean?
When Jews light the eight candles of the menorah on the eight nights of Hanukkah, they recite a prayer extolling God who "performed miracles for our ancestors in days of old." Hanukkah means it's time for the menorah, dreidels, and gelt. Light the Menorah. Sing Songs. Yummy Fried Treats. Spinning Tops. Gold Coins.
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What does each day mean in Hanukkah?
Hanukkah is an eight-day celebration, and each day commemorates each day that the oil lasted. On each day, a branch of the nine-branch Hanukkah menorah is lit with the shamash ("helper" candle), which sits on the middle branch.
Why are candles lit for 8 nights of Hanukkah?
The candles we light on Hanukkah symbolize the miraculous oil that was found in the Temple. Because it burned for eight nights—giving the Maccabees time to find more and properly rededicate the temple—we light candles for eight consecutive nights, with the amount of light increasing each night.
What happens on each night of Hanukkah?
On the first night, one candle (plus a “helper” candle called the shammash) is lit. On the second night, two candles plus the shammash are lit. That continues until nine candles are blazing on the final night. This is why Hanukkah is often called the Festival of Lights.
What are 3 traditions of Hanukkah?
Hanukkah is celebrated in several ways. In addition to lighting each day one candle on the menorah, religious rituals can include daily reading of Scripture, recitation of some of the Psalms, almsgiving, and singing of a special hymn.
Why did the menorah burn for 8 days?
In order to rededicate the temple, the Maccabees had to light a menorah that would burn within the temple at all times. However, they only had enough pure olive oil to last for one day. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days, leaving time to find a fresh supply of oil.
What are 4 special Hanukkah traditions?
Celebrate the festival of lights and stick to Hanukkah traditions to show your appreciation for the holiday. Take part in Chanukah traditions such as lighting the menorah, playing the dreidel game, eating gelt, cooking and baking delicious food, and enjoying the fun of Hanukkah gifts.
What is the most important part of Hanukkah?
The most important of all Hanukkah traditions is the lighting of the menorah each evening.
What does the second night of Hanukkah represent?
The second, "Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, she-asah nisim la'avoteinu bayamim hahem bazman hazeh," translates to "Praised are you, our God, ruler of the universe, who performed wondrous deeds for our ancestors in those ancient days at this season."
How many total candles are lit during the 8 days of Hanukkah?
On each night of the holiday, one additional candle (starting from the right side) is lit from the center "Shamash" candle, according to Chabad. In total, 44 candles are lit throughout Hanukkah, but most candle packages for your menorah will come with eight. Hanukkah can align with other holidays.
Is Hanukkah 8 days or 8 nights?
Jewish people still celebrate this miracle every year during Hanukkah, which starts Thursday night. The holiday, also known as the festival of lights, lasts for eight nights.
How many candles do you light for Hanukkah?
eight candlesStep 5: Light Right to Left, but Left to Right There are eight candles to light. On the first night of Hanukkah, place a candle in the holder on the far right, and light it with the shamash. Then put the shamash back in its spot (leaving it lit).
How many candles are lit each night of Hanukkah?
eight candlesThe eight candles representing each night of the holiday are in a straight line of the same height, with the shammash or helper candle raised above or separate from the rest. The flames are lit from left to right, with the newest candle lit first.
When is Hanukkah 2020?
Hanukkah, the “Festival of Lights,” will be celebrated from December 11 through December 18, 2020. Although not mentioned in the Hebrew scriptures, it has long been one of the most popular Jewish religious observances. What is Hanukkah and what does it commemorate? What is the significance of the eight-day period of the festival?
How many candles are lit on Hanukkah?
The Hillel school holds that one candle should be lit the first night and one more for each of the additional eight nights. The Shammai school, on the other hand, contends that the greatest miracle was the first night, so all eight candles should be lit that night, with the number reduced by one for each subsequent night.
Who was the ruler of Judea?
According to ancient sources, the land of Judea (also known as the land of Israel), came under the rule of Antiochus III around 200 B.C. The Seleucid king of Syria, Antiochus III permitted Jewish citizens to continue practicing their religion. When Antiochus III died, though, his son, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, changed all that, prohibiting the practice of the Jewish faith and ordering all citizens to worship the Greek gods. In 168 B.C., he sent soldiers into Jerusalem, where they slaughtered thousands of Jewish citizens, erected an altar to Zeus in the holy Second Temple of the Jews, and initiated a practice of sacrificing pigs at that altar.
How many nights does Hanukkah last?from heinzhistorycenter.org
The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, meaning dedication, takes place over eight nights.
What are the foods that are fried on Hanukkah?from ehow.com
Because oil is so significant to the history of Hanukkah, traditional Hanukkah foods are fried in oil. During the eight days of Hanukkah, Jews make latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiot (doughnuts).
What do the letters on a dreidel mean?from ehow.com
Similar to tops, dreidels have four sides, each marked with a letter. These letters stand for the Yiddish words meaning "nothing," "all," "half" and "put." When a player spins the dreidel, it lands with one of these letters facing up. These letters indicate how much money players must put in the pot and who gets to keep the money. The letters on the dreidel also correspond to the Hebrew words meaning "a great miracle happened there ," a reference to the miracle of lights at the Second Temple.
Is Hanukkah a Jewish holiday?from heinzhistorycenter.org
The relatively minor Jewish holiday of Hanukkah shares little with Christmas other than the time of year. However, the cultural power of Christmas poses a challenge to American Jews. Is the holiday season a time to blend in or to celebrate distinctiveness? As this “amended” holiday card demonstrates, sometimes the answer is “both.”
What is the significance of the number 8 on Hanukkah?
Into these, they carved grooves, filled the grooves with oil, and then kindled wicks in the oil. According to this tradition, the eight days of Hanukkah honor that specific moment when the Hasmoneans officially took control of the Temple.
Why is Hanukkah celebrated every year?
This version explains that Hanukkah was a belated celebration of the fall festival of Sukkot, because the Jews had not been able to celebrate that holiday during wartime. In the next verse of the same chapter, the text says that the celebration should be repeated every year to commemorate what happened in the Hasmonean era. Having eight days of Hannukah is as a parallel to the eight days of Sukkot (including Shemini Atzeret). This connection may also inform two related matters.
How long did it take for the Hasmoneans to purify?
One Rabbinic tradition says that the Hasmoneans (Maccabees) may have needed eight days to become purified, after being in contact with the dead on the battlefield. Purification consisted of being sprinkled with clean water that had been mixed with the ashes of an unblemished, sacrificial red heifer.
What is the meaning of Hanukkah?
Pronounced: KHAH-nuh-kah, also ha-new-KAH, an eight-day festival commemorating the Maccabees’ victory over the Greeks and subsequent rededication of the temple. Falls in the Hebrew month of Kislev, which usually corresponds with December.
What month is Sukkot?
Sukkot. Play. Pronounced: sue-KOTE, or SOOH-kuss (oo as in book), Origin: Hebrew, a harvest festival in which Jews eat inside temporary huts, falls in the Jewish month of Tishrei, which usually coincides with September or October.
What does "shuh bah" mean?
Pronounced: shuh-BAHT or shah-BAHT, Origin: Hebrew, the Sabbath, from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday.
How many iron rods did the Hasmoneans find?
It says that when the Hasmoneans entered the Temple, they discovered eight iron rods. Into these, they carved grooves, filled the grooves with oil, and then kindled wicks in the oil. According to this tradition, the eight days of Hanukkah honor that specific moment when the Hasmoneans officially took control of the Temple.
What is the significance of Hanukkah?
Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem during the second century B.C., following the triumph of a small group of Jewish rebels , known as the Maccabees, against their oppressors the Greek-Syrians , who had defiled the temple by erecting an altar to Zeus and sacrificing pigs within its sacred walls.
When is Hanukkah celebrated in Hebrew?
The first day of Hanukkah can come as early as November or as late as the end of December, which means occasionally Hanukkah overlaps with Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Why are menorahs lit?
Menorahs were lit daily using olive oil of the purest quality. A hanukkiyah is a Hanukkah menorah used specifically to light the candles (often used today instead of oil) on Hanukkah. With nine branches, it is lit each night to celebrate the miracle of oil lasting eight days.
Why are dreidels resurrected?
Since then, dreidel has been resurrected as a fun game played during Hanukkah for chocolate coins called gelt, to commemorate this time.
How long does the oil last on Hanukkah?
The miracle of the oil lasting eight days is not only celebrated through the lighting of the menorah, but also in the traditional foods that are eaten. Two of the most popular dishes, latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly donuts), are both deep-fried in oil. While the tastiness of these foods are reason enough to eat them, it’s the oil used to cook them that make them a staple for most Hanukkah celebrations.
What does a child light with oil for Hanukkah?
A child lights a menorah with oil for Hanukkah.
How many candles do you need for a menorah?
How many candles will you need? 44. Each night a new candle is added to the menorah, plus a shamash, and burned all the way through. But don’t worry, there is no need to count; if you buy a box it will come with 44.
What is the holiday of Hanukkah?
Hanukkah is a winter holiday that celebrates the victory of the Maccabees over the Syrian Greeks and the rededication of the Temple, as well as the miracle that a little cruse of oil , designed to burn for only one day, kept the Temple menorah alight for eight whole days until more sanctified oil could be produced. The holiday is celebrated with feasting, special Hanukkah songs and lighting the Hanukkah menorah (called a hanukkiah ). These are the primary symbols of the holiday:
What do Jews eat on Hanukkah?
Because of the miracle of the oil, it is traditional for Jews to eat fried foods on Hanukkah. The two most popular in the Ashkenazi community are latkes — a fried potato pancake — and jelly donuts (in Hebrew: sufganiyot ). Sephardic Jews enjoy a plethora of other fried treats like bimuelos and sfenj .
What are the letters on the Dreidel?
The letters on the dreidel are also symbolic. Around the world, most dreidels have the following four letters: nun, gimmel, hey, shin. This stands for the Hebrew phrase nes gadol haya sham, which means “a great miracle happened there” — alluding, of course, to the miracle of Hanukkah. In Israel, where the Hanukkah miracle took place (check out this map of the Hanukkah battles) the final letter on the dreidel is pey instead of shin for nes gadol haya po (“a great miracle happened here.”)
What is the traditional way to light a menorah?
A Hanukkah menorah is typically lit with candles these days, though the more traditional way to light it is with oil — especially olive oil.
Is the Jewish star a symbol of Hanukkah?
This is not really a Hanukkah symbol but a Jewish symbol that gets a lot of play during the Hanukkah season, perhaps to differentiate Hanukkah from Christmas in countries where that holiday is widely celebrated. It turns out, the Jewish star is actually a newer Jewish symbol than you might think. A more ancient Jewish symbol? The menorah.
What is the 7th night of Chanukah?
The seventh night is dedicated to the window to the world. This is where the strength and purpose that I have nurtured within are celebrated in the sight of others. This is the show of lights that sparkles forth from self. It is the commandment of Chanukah to do pirsum hanes —“to advertise the miracle,” the miracle that was wrought in history, that is wrought within me.
What is the symbol of Chanukah?
Shemen, the anointing oil of kings, the markings of Messiah, the essential symbol of Chanukah, is the dripping robe of Redemption itself. It is the nourishment for the candle, that upon which the holy flame feeds. It is the utmost of sublime, but it is also the basest of the mundane.
How many lights are there in the Menorah?
The menorah stands luminous before us. Ignited in its entirety. Complete. These eight lights are the grand finale of the entire Chanukah journey. And finales, with all their pageantry, always signal that we have reached an end. Just as the rooftop is the upper limit of the house, this is the limit of our Chanukah lights. And yet, just as standing upon the roof allows us to grasp a sense of the skies’ limitlessness, looking upon the 8 lights we are reminded of G‑d ’s light, the or haganuz that has no end.
Why is Chanukah a mitzvah?
While the mitzvah of Chanukah is to publicize the miracle of the menorah, there is also something vital to us having a personal connection with each mitzvah that we do. The following meditations are based on my personal experiences and connections to each night of Chanukah and the unique lessons and ideas that exist in each night. I have found that through focusing in this way, each night comes alive and becomes a part of me as I grow with the increasing lights.
What is the meaning of Shemen in Chanukah?
At the center of the table is a fine serving bowl of shemen, olive oil, for shemen is the sign of the paradox of the sensual, where the sublime and the material meet and dine together, either in harmony or in utter disarray. Shemen, the anointing oil of kings, the markings of Messiah, the essential symbol of Chanukah, is the dripping robe of Redemption itself . It is the nourishment for the candle, that upon which the holy flame feeds. It is the utmost of sublime, but it is also the basest of the mundane. Meaning also “fat” ( shuman ), it signifies all that is thick and physical, the ultimate image of the material world, the mass where spirit resides.
What does the House of Hillel tell us about holiness?
The treasures of the house of Hillel tell of holiness that it should only increase, ever rise. Thus it was decreed that we light an additional candle to mark each night. For holiness, like light and all luminescent goodness, should always advance, like an ascending staircase, ever more inclined, increased, enhanced.
What is the night of persistence?
This is a night dedicated to persistence, a night not afraid to sacrifice. It is a night of knowing one’s identity, of being grounded in an inner courtyard of calm and courage, regardless of the chaos of the world outside.
