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What Chanukahcommemorates
In the second century BCE, the Holy Land was ruled by theSeleucids (Syrian-Greeks), who tried to force the people of Israel to acceptGreek culture...
Dreidel: The Chanukahgame
On Chanukah, it is customary to play with a “dreidel” (afour-sided spinning top bearing the Hebrew letters, nun, gimmel, hei and shin, an acronym f...
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Chanukah stories to tug at your heartstringsChanukah videos and songsChanukah Q&AChanukah essays and more
What is Hanukkah?
Hanukkah is a Jewish festival that reaffirms the ideals of Judaism and commemorates in particular the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusale...
Where is Hanukkah celebrated?
Hanukkah is celebrated around the world, wherever there are Jewish people. In Israel Hanukkah is a national holiday, and students present plays, si...
Why does Hanukkah last for eight days?
According to the Talmud, when Judas Maccabeus entered the Second Temple of Jerusalem, he found only a small jar of oil that had not been defiled by...
How is Hanukkah celebrated?
Hanukkah is celebrated in several ways. In addition to lighting each day one candle on the menorah, religious rituals can include daily reading of...
What is the significance of Chanukah?
What Chanukah Commemorates. Artist Dominic Alves captured this image of a snowy Chanukah in Brighton, UK. In the second century BCE, the Holy Land was ruled by the Seleucids (Syrian-Greeks), who tried to force the people of Israel to accept Greek culture and beliefs instead of mitzvah observance and belief in G‑d.
Why is Chanukah called Chanukah?
The Hebrew word Chanukah means “dedication,” and is thus named because it celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple (as you’ll read below). Also spelled Hanukkah (or variations of that spelling), the Hebrew word is actually pronounced with a guttural, “kh” sound, kha-nu-kah, not tcha-new-kah. Video Player is loading.
When Is Chanukah?
On the civil calendar, it generally coincides with the month of December. Chanukah 2021 runs from Nov. 28-Dec. 6
How long did the menorah last?
Miraculously, they lit the menorah and the one-day supply of oil lasted for eight days, until new oil could be prepared under conditions of ritual purity. To commemorate and publicize these miracles, the sages instituted the festival of Chanukah. Read the full story of Chanukah.
What is the name of the game on Chanukah?
Dreidel: the Chanukah Game. On Chanukah, it is customary to play with a “dreidel” (a four-sided spinning top bearing the Hebrew letters, nun, gimmel, hei and shin, an acronym for nes gadol hayah sham, “a great miracle happened there”).
Why did the Sages institute the festival of Chanukah?
To commemorate and publicize these miracles, the sages instituted the festival of Chanukah.
When are Chanukah candles lit?
c. A little light goes a long way. The Chanukah candles are lit when dusk is falling. Perched in the doorway, they serve as a beacon for the darkening streets. No matter how dark it is outside, a candle of G‑dly goodness can transform the darkness itself into light.
What is the significance of Hanukkah?
Hanukkah is a Jewish festival that reaffirms the ideals of Judaism and commemorates in particular the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem by the lighting of candles on each day of the festival. Although not mentioned in the Hebrew Scriptures, Hanukkah came to be widely celebrated and remains one of the most popular Jewish religious ...
Where is Hanukkah celebrated?
Hanukkah is celebrated around the world, wherever there are Jewish people. In Israel Hanukkah is a national holiday, and students present plays, sing holiday songs, and have parties. Schools are closed, and menorahs are displayed atop such prominent buildings as Israel’s parliament, the Knesset.
What did Judas do after he won the Temple?
Following his victory in a three-year struggle against Antiochus, Judas ordered the cleansing and restoration of the Temple. After it was purified, a new altar was installed and dedicated on Kislev 25.
What is the Jewish festival of lights called?
Uncover the history of Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights. Learn about the history of Hanukkah. Hanukkah, (Hebrew: “Dedication”) also spelled Ḥanukka, Chanukah, or Chanukkah, also called Feast of Dedication, Festival of Lights, or Feast of the Maccabees, Jewish festival that begins on Kislev 25 (in December, ...
What is the most important thing to do on Hanukkah?
The most important of all is the lighting of the menorah, a candelabra with eight branches plus a holder for the shammash (“servant”) candle that is used to light the other eight candles.
What are some nonreligious traditions?
Some nonreligious customs of celebration are eating treats fried in oil (which recalls the miracle of the oil), giving children gifts of money (Hanukkah gelt), and playing a game with a four-sided top called a dreidel.
Where is the Hanukkah lamp?
Hanukkah lamp from Brody, Galicia (now in Ukraine), 1787; in the Jewish Museum, New York City. There are also a number of nonreligious customs associated with Hanukkah. Potato pancakes (latkes), doughnuts ( sufganiyot ), and other treats fried in oil, which recall the miracle of the oil, are popular.
What is the significance of Hanukkah?
Hanukkah Decorations and Traditions. Photo Galleries. 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 ...
When is Hanukkah celebrated?
Hanukkah, which means “dedication” in Hebrew, begins on the 25th of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar and usually falls in November or December. Often called the Festival of Lights, the holiday is celebrated with the lighting of the menorah, traditional foods, games and gifts.
What is the name of the nine branched menorah?
The Hanukkah celebration revolves around the kindling of a nine-branched menorah, known in Hebrew as the hanukiah. On each of the holiday’s eight nights, another candle is added to the menorah after sundown; the ninth candle, called the shamash (“helper”), is used to light the others.
What was the miracle of Hanukkah?
The Hanukkah “Miracle”. According to the Talmud, one of Judaism’s most central texts, Juda h Maccabee and the other Jews who took part in the rededication of the Second Temple witnessed what they believed to be a miracle.
Why is Hanukkah not mentioned in the Torah?
Did you know? The story of Hanukkah does not appear in the Torah because the events that inspired the holiday occurred after it was written. It is, however, mentioned in the New Testament, in which Jesus attends a "Feast of Dedication."
What are the traditional foods of Hanukkah?
In another allusion to the Hanukkah miracle, traditional Hanukkah foods are fried in oil. Potato pancakes (known as latkes) and jam-filled donuts (sufganiyot) are particularly popular in many Jewish households. Other Hanukkah customs include playing with four-sided spinning tops called dreidels and exchanging gifts. In recent decades, particularly in North America, Hanukkah has exploded into a major commercial phenomenon, largely because it falls near or overlaps with Christmas. From a religious perspective, however, it remains a relatively minor holiday that places no restrictions on working, attending school or other activities.
How long did the menorah candles last?
Even though there was only enough untainted olive oil to keep the menorah’s candles burning for a single day, the flames continued flickering for eight nights, leaving them time to find a fresh supply. This wondrous event inspired the Jewish sages to proclaim a yearly eight-day festival.
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 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 are the foods that are fried on Hanukkah?
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).
How many days did Jews light menorahs?
Jews light menorahs during the eight days of Hanukkah.
What is the Hanukkah lamp called?
Hanukkah’s sole mandatory religious observance is lighting the Hanukkah menorah or lamp, also called the Hanukkiah.
How many days does Hanukkah last?
Hanukkah, unlike more major Jewish holidays, does not require any days off from work, any major preparation or any long worship services. It is an eight-day holiday that consists mainly of lighting candles, singing songs, eating traditional foods and playing a traditional game.
What is the protocol for lighting candles on Hanukkah?
Each night of Hanukkah, there is a protocol for lighting the candles. On the first night, the person lighting recites three blessings: a blessing on the miracles that God did for our ancestors, one on the commandment to light the Hanukkah candles and the blessing on reaching a happy occasion, called Shehecheyanu.
Why do people place menorahs in windows?
It’s also a custom to place the menorah in a window in order to publicize the miracle to passersby.
How many candles are lit in the second shamash?
On the second night, there are two candles in addition to the shamash: one on the farthest right position, and one more to the left of that. Each night the people lighting add another candle to the left, lighting the candle in the new position first and then the candles that represent the previous nights.
Do Jews burn candles?
Once they have lit the candles some observant Jews don’t do any work, observing a miniature Shabbat for the length of time it takes for the candles to burn. Some families have the custom of singing Hanukkah songs after the candles are lit. It’s nice to sit and contemplate the candles in silence, too. The traditional custom is not to make use of the candles for anything work-related, just to look at them. It’s also a custom to place the menorah in a window in order to publicize the miracle to passersby.
