About Chanukah or Hannukah

Since we live in a multifaceted world, so colorful and diverse, it's always nice and interesting to know and learn other (ethnic) traditions, other than our own. If and when we're open/exposed to ideas and other knowledge, we grow, and ultimately mature, and become responsible citizens of the world. By learning/knowing other cultures, customs and traditions, we become more aware of each others' (human) life/experience and, hence, try to work together to tackle with, or find solutions to our common problems, issues and concerns in order to live harmoniously, together, to make our life bearable and enjoyable, worth-living, that is. In doing so, we become (more) accepting and tolerant and understanding of others. After all, we're all brothers and sisters on Earth---all nomads, vagabonds, wa/onderers, but dreamers, explorers, risk-takers, losers-winners, sinners-saints, etc.

Hanukkah

For Jewish community, Chanukah or Hanukkah (HAH-nu-kah) is the Feast or Festival of Lights. It is one of the most celebrated Jewish holidays. It's a time for family and friends, lighting the "Menorah," games of Dreidel, songs with children and sizzling potato "latkes." The holiday celebrates the events which took place over 2,300 years ago in the land of Judea, which is now Israel. Chanukah is a celebration of the victory of the Maccabees and the re-dedication of the Jerusalem Temple. It also commemorates the "miracle" of the oil that burned for eight (8) days. Hence, Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days. It begins on the eve of the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev, which falls in November or December.

In the land of Judea, Judas or Judah Maccabee and his brothers fought against the Syrian king Antiochus. The king had ordered the Jewish people to reject their God, their religion, their customs and their beliefs and to worship the Greek gods. As members of the Hasmonean family of Jewish leaders and rulers comprising the sons of Mattathias and their descendants, the Maccabees were finally successful in driving the Syrians out of Israel and reclaimed the Temple in Jerusalem. The Maccabees cleaned the building and removed the hated Greek symbols and statues, and they wanted to light the eternal light, known as the N'er Tamid. The eternal light is present in every Jewish house of worship. Once lit, the oil lamp should never be extinguished; however, only a tiny jug of oil was found with only enough oil for a single day. They filled and lit the oil lamp, and a "miracle" occurred as the tiny amount of oil kept the eternal light lit not for one day, but for eight  days! The word "Chanukah" or "Hanukkah", means "dedication or "re-dedication."

Menorah

Today marks the beginning of the eight-day Jewish festival of Hanukkah. It celebrates the re-dedication of the Jerusalem Temple in 164 B.C., after it had been desecrated by the pagan king of Syria.

A nine-branched candle holders or candelabrum called a "menorah" (from the Hebrew word for "lamp") is used during this feast. The Chanukah Menorah is called a HANUKIYAH. There are eight candles, four on each side, and are lit successively on each of the eight days of Chanukah. The ninth candle, the main candle which is at the center of the candelabrum, is called SHAMASH. It is lit first and then is used to light the other candles. The candles are placed in the Menorah from left to right.

The nine-branched menorah is patterned after the seven-branched golden candelabrum used in the Temple. The latter symbolized, among other things, the seven days of creation.

After the temple was destroyed in 70 A.D., it became a tradition not to duplicate outside the Temple anything that had been part of its rituals. That is why today, the menorah used in synagogues and in homes has nine, not seven, candles.

The Prayer for Chanukah Candle-Lighting

Every night during Chanukah, the candles are lit and the vening prayers are recited. Each night of Chanukah, another candle of the Menorah is lighted until all eight lamps shine on the eighth night.

Chanukah Customs: Dreidel

One of the best known symbols of Chanukah is the Dreidel (DRAY-duhl). The Dreidel is a four-sided spinning top. On each side is a Hebrew letter: "Shin," "Hay," "Gimel," and "Nun."

Dreidel is a popular game during Chanukah. Its origin dates back to Syrian rule. Children used to study the Torah in secret. The TORAH is the entire body of Jewish religious literature, law, and teaching as contained chiefly in the Old Testament and the Talmud (the collection of Jewish law and tradition consisting of the Mishnah and the Gemara and being either the edition produced in Palestine A.D. c400 or the larger more important one produced in Babylonia A.D. c500).

Chanukah Gelt

On Chanukah, it's traditional to give all children Chanukah Gelt (money). Of course, this beautiful custom adds to the children's happiness and festive spirit. Today, some Hanukkah Gelt comes in the form of chocolate.

(References: Holiday Guide, CHILDCRAFT's Holidays and Birthdays; Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, and The Little Blue Book (Advent and Christmas Seasons 2011-2012)
-chris a. quilpa
21 Dec 2011