The Story of Hanukah
by Chaya Eden
Hanukah is an annual eight-day festival starting on the 25th of
the Hebrew month Kislev. This year it will be on December 13.
Tradition says that Yehudah HaMaccabee and his followers
instituted Hanukah. Legends and traditions are woven together.
The book I Maccabees (4:36--59) states that Yehudah HaMaccabee
entered Jerusalem after defeating the Greek/Syrian general
Lysias. The Greeks had been waging a cultural war against the
Jewish people and religion, forbidding Jewish religious practice
and introducing Pagan rites and customs. Yehudah purified the
Holy Temple: the defiled altar was demolished and a new one
built. Yehudah made new holy vessels (among them a menorah,
incense altar, table and curtains) and set the 25th of Kislev
for the rededication of the Temple. The word Hanukah means
"dedication."
The altar was reconsecrated with the renewal of the daily
sacrificial service, the playing of musical instruments and the
chanting of the psalms of Hallel. The celebration lasted for
eight days and Yehudah decreed it a holiday for future
generations.
The first mention of people kindling lights in their homes is in
a Baraita (tradition). The school of Hillel held that one starts
with one light and adds lights progressively each day of
Hanukah. Another Baraita states that the Maccabees found that
the Greeks had defiled all the oil except for one cruse, enough
for one day. Miraculously the oil was enough for eight days of
lighting the menorah.
The Hanukah menorah should be lit at sunset (or after) and
placed outside at the entrance to the house or in a window in
order to "advertise" the miracle of Hanukah. Two blessings are
recited after each lighting: "Blessed are You, Eternal, our God
who has sanctified us by Your commandments and commanded us to
light the Hanukah lights," and Blessed are You, Eternal, our God
who has made miracles for our ancestors in those days at this
season." On the first night of Hanukah there is a special
blessing ". . . who has kept us alive, sustained us and brought us to
this season."
Oily foods like potato pancakes and jelly donuts are customary
to eat on Hanukah. Women don't work while the lights are lit and
in some communities don't work all of Hanukah. Children receive
presents and play with a dreidel (spinning top). There is a
general atmosphere of gaiety and fun and many people enjoy
giving and going to parties.
Return to the E-zine Home Page
Visit our Chanukiah Webpage
to see an overview of the great buys we have for Chanukah.
Beged Ivri -- the
source of the Restored Holy Half-Shekel, the
Biblical wedding ceremony and clothing for the third Temple in Jerusalem.
The first winner of this month's Holy Half-Shekel drawing
is Linda Carver Clark from North Carolina. All subscribers will again be in
the draw next month for a Holy Half-Shekel, courtesy of
Beged Ivri.
