Our good friend, Gloria K, helped us out with Chanukah this year. She gave a brief explanation of the origin of Chaukah, but assumed that we all knew the story. I thought that perhaps we don't all know the complete story so I decided to include a summary here.
It was 164 BCE. The Syrian or Seleucid Empire had defeated the Egyptian control of Judea. Antiochus III was King of this Empire and had a fair number of Hellenistic Jews in his empire, so he wished to appease the Jews and allowed the Jews to continue to practice their faith at home and in the Temple in Jerusalem. But when his son Antiochus IV came to power, it is historically thought that he was influenced by the Hellenistic Jews in Syria against the traditional priests and Jews in Jerusalem. He therefore removed Jewish worship from the temple, forbade circumcision, placed an idol of Zeus, the Greek God on the altar in the Temple and ordered the sacrifice of pigs on that altar. This was too much for the Jerusalem Jews. In 167 BCE a priest by the name of Matittyahu and his 5 sons led a rebellion against the Seleucids and won control of the Jerusalem Temple. By 166 the father had died, and the youngest son Judah HaMakabi (Judah the Hammer) led the Jews into the Temple and oversaw a clean up, the building of a new altar, and then called for the re dedication of this Holy Site.This re dedication called for the burning of olive oil in oil lamps all night but it appeared that there was only enough oil for one night if that. However, a miracle occurred and the oil burned for 8 nights which is coincidentally the amount of time needed to process some new olive oil. It was then decreed that this Festival of Lights, an 8 day and night celebration should be continued yearly at this time of year to commemorate this miracle and the restoration of freedom to worship that it marks. The Holiday of Chanukah was to be celebrated on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev. This makes Chanukah fall sometime from very late November to the end of December. This year it starts on December 29 and ends on Dec 28.
The Chanukah Menorah or Chanukiya is different from the Jewish Menorah that represents Judaism and Israel and that stands before the Knesset in Jerusalem. That Menorah has 6 lights and the Shamash or "boss" candle which is used to light the other candles. The Chanukiya has 8 lights, one for each night of Chanukah, and the Shamash which again is the candle used to light the others. Another candle is added each night of Chaukah. The candles are lit from the right to the left and allowed to burn completely down. This is usually done when it is just dark outside. Prayers are said and often specific Chanukah songs are sung. Other customs are to eat certain foods that are fried, again calling attention to the miracle of the olive oil. Potato latkes or pancakes are fried and often served with sour cream and applesauce. Also a deep fried filled donut type pastry, usually filled with sweet preserves, and rolled in sugar are served.
Originally money was gathered for the temple, and later donated to the teachers of Jewish youngsters. But gradually this money in the form of a few cons was given to the children of the family. Later still molded chocolate coins were covered with gold foil and given to the children of the household. In Israel the Chanukah holiday is a minor one. Children do not miss school and adults are not off work. But the Chanukah holiday has taken on much more meaning because it has to withstand the overwhelming influence of Christmas. Therefore here, some families give little gifts to the children each night of Chanukah.
A traditional game is played on Chanukah. The dreidl is a small 4 sided top. On the sides of the top are written 4 characters, one on each side. They are Nun,, Gimel, Hey Shin which stand for Nes Gadol, Haya Sham or A great Miracle Happened There. In Israel they sell dreidls with Nes Gadol Haya Po (Here) instead. The game is played in the following way. Each player starts with 10 - 15 coins, raisins, nuts, or candles or other markers. He then puts one into the "pot". Then the player spins the dreidl and the character that comes to the top determines what should occur. Nus - nisht -- nothing happens and the next player spins. Gimel - gants -- the player takes all of the pot. Hey - halb -- the player takes half of the pot. Shin - shel -teyn -- the player puts one more marker into the pot. Usually a time limit is set for the game.
The appearance of a Chanukah Menorah can look like almost anything. There are the usual traditional types of Chanukiya.
Then there are the modern looking ones.
Some are made to look like the Biblical looking buildings all in a row.
Here's is one that looks like a gecko -- What's that all about.
But my favorite one here is one made from dreidls. Here it is.
Gloria led us in some meditation that took advantage of some of the Holiday spirit. Chanukah is about freedom,as represented symbolically, but commemorating the freedom to worship as one pleases. It is also about a miracle that has to do with Light. And we all know that Light at this season has special meaning, the opposite of the dark of the Winter Solstice. People were to put their burning Chanukiyah near or in their front windows so that the lights would shine out and encompass all who saw them. I am told that this IS now common practice in Israel and it is quite wonderful to walk up and down the city streets in Israel and see everyone's Chanukiyah glowing forth.
It was 164 BCE. The Syrian or Seleucid Empire had defeated the Egyptian control of Judea. Antiochus III was King of this Empire and had a fair number of Hellenistic Jews in his empire, so he wished to appease the Jews and allowed the Jews to continue to practice their faith at home and in the Temple in Jerusalem. But when his son Antiochus IV came to power, it is historically thought that he was influenced by the Hellenistic Jews in Syria against the traditional priests and Jews in Jerusalem. He therefore removed Jewish worship from the temple, forbade circumcision, placed an idol of Zeus, the Greek God on the altar in the Temple and ordered the sacrifice of pigs on that altar. This was too much for the Jerusalem Jews. In 167 BCE a priest by the name of Matittyahu and his 5 sons led a rebellion against the Seleucids and won control of the Jerusalem Temple. By 166 the father had died, and the youngest son Judah HaMakabi (Judah the Hammer) led the Jews into the Temple and oversaw a clean up, the building of a new altar, and then called for the re dedication of this Holy Site.This re dedication called for the burning of olive oil in oil lamps all night but it appeared that there was only enough oil for one night if that. However, a miracle occurred and the oil burned for 8 nights which is coincidentally the amount of time needed to process some new olive oil. It was then decreed that this Festival of Lights, an 8 day and night celebration should be continued yearly at this time of year to commemorate this miracle and the restoration of freedom to worship that it marks. The Holiday of Chanukah was to be celebrated on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev. This makes Chanukah fall sometime from very late November to the end of December. This year it starts on December 29 and ends on Dec 28.
The Chanukah Menorah or Chanukiya is different from the Jewish Menorah that represents Judaism and Israel and that stands before the Knesset in Jerusalem. That Menorah has 6 lights and the Shamash or "boss" candle which is used to light the other candles. The Chanukiya has 8 lights, one for each night of Chanukah, and the Shamash which again is the candle used to light the others. Another candle is added each night of Chaukah. The candles are lit from the right to the left and allowed to burn completely down. This is usually done when it is just dark outside. Prayers are said and often specific Chanukah songs are sung. Other customs are to eat certain foods that are fried, again calling attention to the miracle of the olive oil. Potato latkes or pancakes are fried and often served with sour cream and applesauce. Also a deep fried filled donut type pastry, usually filled with sweet preserves, and rolled in sugar are served.
Originally money was gathered for the temple, and later donated to the teachers of Jewish youngsters. But gradually this money in the form of a few cons was given to the children of the family. Later still molded chocolate coins were covered with gold foil and given to the children of the household. In Israel the Chanukah holiday is a minor one. Children do not miss school and adults are not off work. But the Chanukah holiday has taken on much more meaning because it has to withstand the overwhelming influence of Christmas. Therefore here, some families give little gifts to the children each night of Chanukah.
A traditional game is played on Chanukah. The dreidl is a small 4 sided top. On the sides of the top are written 4 characters, one on each side. They are Nun,, Gimel, Hey Shin which stand for Nes Gadol, Haya Sham or A great Miracle Happened There. In Israel they sell dreidls with Nes Gadol Haya Po (Here) instead. The game is played in the following way. Each player starts with 10 - 15 coins, raisins, nuts, or candles or other markers. He then puts one into the "pot". Then the player spins the dreidl and the character that comes to the top determines what should occur. Nus - nisht -- nothing happens and the next player spins. Gimel - gants -- the player takes all of the pot. Hey - halb -- the player takes half of the pot. Shin - shel -teyn -- the player puts one more marker into the pot. Usually a time limit is set for the game.
The appearance of a Chanukah Menorah can look like almost anything. There are the usual traditional types of Chanukiya.
Then there are the modern looking ones.
Some are made to look like the Biblical looking buildings all in a row.
Here's is one that looks like a gecko -- What's that all about.
But my favorite one here is one made from dreidls. Here it is.
Gloria led us in some meditation that took advantage of some of the Holiday spirit. Chanukah is about freedom,as represented symbolically, but commemorating the freedom to worship as one pleases. It is also about a miracle that has to do with Light. And we all know that Light at this season has special meaning, the opposite of the dark of the Winter Solstice. People were to put their burning Chanukiyah near or in their front windows so that the lights would shine out and encompass all who saw them. I am told that this IS now common practice in Israel and it is quite wonderful to walk up and down the city streets in Israel and see everyone's Chanukiyah glowing forth.
No comments:
Post a Comment