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Hanukkah
The festival of lights, as it is often called, is a celebration of both Jewish spiritual values and the triumph of the Jews over the armies of Antiochus IV.
984 Questions
One way to eat latkes is with sour cream and applesauce .
Applesauce with butter and cinnamon. It's another way!
Apple butter!
What is a menorah and what role does it have in Hanukkah ceremonies?
The menorah is the standard term for the 9-branched candle holder used on Hanukkah. Others call it a Chanukiah or Hanukkiyyah. Each night of Hanukkah, candles are lit to commemorate the miracle of Hanukkah. On the first night, one candle is lit (plus the helper candle used to light the others), ending with 8 candles on the 8th night.
What is first night of chanukah 2010?
Hanukkah always starts on the Hebrew calendar date of 25 Kislev, and lasts for eight days. The Hebrew calendar does not line up with the western calendar because it has a completely different leap year system that can shift holidays each year by to 11-28 days.
Here are the coinciding secular dates for the upcoming years. The candle lightings begin on the evening BEFORE the first date:
2011: December 20-28
2012: December 8-16
2013: November 27-December 5
2014: December 16-24
2015: December 6-14
Hanukkah gifts can be anything.
Some families exchange presents, and some do not. Gift giving is most common among American and Canadian Jews, but it's a custom that only started a few decades ago due to influence from Christmas.
If gifts are exchanged, they are usually given each night during the 8 nights of the holiday. There is no rule about how many presents are given each night, but it is often 1 per night.
It is more traditional to give money or chocolate coins than gifts.
Does Germany celebrate Hanukkah any different than the US?
No, except that the German Jewish population is much smaller, so in Germany, it's a more private holiday.
What four points define Hanukkah?
- Hanukkah is a minor holiday that commemorates the victory of the Jews against the Syrian-Greeks in the Maccabean War of 165 BCE.
- The real miracle of Hanukkah is that the Jews were victorious, against all odds, they beat their enemy and were able to restore the Ancient Temple in Jerusalem, which had been desecrated by the Greeks. In a larger context, Hanukkah represents victory against religious persecution and assimilation.
- But a second miracle is more commonly known: A story in the Talmud (500 years later) tells of a legendary miracle. After the war, When the Jews returned to rededicate the Ancient Temple, they found that there was only enough oil to keep the eternal lamp burning for 1 day. It would take 8 days to make more of this special oil. So theי lit the lamp, and it miraculously burned for 8 days, giving them plenty of time to make more oil to keep the lamp burning.
- This second miracle is very popular with children. It is understood as a legend only, and appears to be the early Rabbis' attempt to add a spiritual level to the holiday.
The above answer is non-traditional. Our tradition is that the miracle of the oil did indeed occur and isn't just a legend. If it wasn't for the clear tradition of our Sages, Hanukkah would have been forgotten long ago. Moreover, on Hanukkah the chief celebration is not for the military victory; it's for the miracle of the oil (Talmud, Shabbat 21b). As an augmentation to the celebration of that miracle, we also thank God during Hanukkah for the Hasmoneans' miraculous military victories (during which they ousted the Seleucids and their lackeys, the Hellenizing Jews, making possible the rededication of the Temple).
The Seleucids (Syrian-Greeks) under Antiochus Epiphanes (2nd century BCE), at the instigation of the Hellenizers, had forbidden various Torah-practices in Judea, such as Sabbath-observance and circumcision, rededicated the Temple to a Greek idol, and pressed the Jews to offer up idolatrous sacrifices. Despite being heavily outnumbered, the Hasmoneans (a family of religious Jews) fought to retake the Holy Temple, which had been seized by the Seleucids, and to enable the people to once again observe the Torah. The Hasmoneans (also called Maccabees) were miraculously victorious. When they reached the Temple grounds, they immediately reconsecrated it to God. As part of this action, they relit the Menorah (Exodus ch.25), which was fueled with olive oil. However, it soon became apparent that there was only sufficient oil to keep the candelabra burning for one single day - and it would take eight days to make and bring some more.
Miraculously, the menorah stayed lit for eight days (Talmud, Shabbat 21b), allowing enough time for new oil to be prepared and brought.
The significance of the miracle is that it demonstrated that God's presence still dwelt in the Holy Temple. This is what Hanukkah represents: the closeness to God; and the avoidance of Hellenization (assimilation).
The Torah Sages instituted the festival of Hanukkah at that time (Talmud, Shabbat 21b), to publicize the miracle (Rashi commentary, ibid). This is why we light our Hanukkah-menorahs.
(The Hanukkah-menorah, or hanukkiyah, is a special form of the original seven-branched menorah. Our Hanukkah-menorahs have eight spaces for oil, or candles, to mark each of the eight days for which the oil lasted and a ninth to hold the shamash, a candle used to light the others.)
The eight-day rededication of the Temple is also mentioned in the book of Maccabees (I, 4:56-59; and II, 1:18); and Josephus mentions the eight-day festival in Antiquities ch.12.
The Al-Hanisim prayer which we recite during Hanukkah centers around the Hasmoneans' victory and rededication of the Temple, while the candle-lighting commemorates the miracle of the oil.
Though the military victory is prominently mentioned in the prayers, it wouldn't have been celebrated if not for the miracle of the oil, just as we have no special occasion to mark Abraham's victory (Genesis ch.14), or those of Moses (Numbers ch.21), Joshua, Deborah (Judges ch.4), Gideon (Judges ch.6-7), Jephthah (Judges ch.11), or King David. And though the Hasmonean battles continued for two decades after the retaking of the Temple, the Sages instituted Hanukkah immediately after the miracle of the oil.
It should also be noted that the main goal for which the Maccabees fought was not political independence. They fought to enable the people to observe the Torah's commandments; as we say in the Al Hanisim prayer: "the Greeks sought to cause us to forget Your Torah and leave Your statutes."
If you are talking about the actual Hebrew pronunciation, it's
[χanuˈka]
If you are talking about the North American English pronunciation, its most often pronounced:
["ha'nəkə]
Why it is Hanukkah so important for Jews today and how does it encourage faith?
Channukah is actually the least important of the Jewish holidays. It is actually a civic holiday as opposed to a holy day. Channukah celebrates how we won a military victory against those that attempted to force our assimilation to a pagan religion in addition to a miracle that occurred after the military victory.
Jews practice the beautification of the what during Hanukkah?
Jews practice the beautification of the menorah during Hanukkah.
What do the blessings at Hanukkah translate to?
The 3 Hanukkah blessings are for candle lighting:
When you light the candles you say:
"Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-he-nu Me-lech ha-olam a-sher ki-de-sha-nu be-mitz-vo-tav ve-tzi-va-nu le-had-lik ner Shel Cha-nu-kah." (Blessed are You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments, and commanded us to kindle the Chanukah light.)
You also recite:
"Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-he-nu Me-lech Ha-olam she-a-sa ni-sim la-avo-te-nu ba-ya-mim ha-hem bi-zman ha-zeh." (Blessed are You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the universe, who performed miracles for our forefathers in those days, at this time.)
And on the first night only, you recite the prayer for a special occasion:
"Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-he-nu Me-lech Ha-olam she-heche-ya-nu ve-ki-yi-ma-nu ve-higi-a-nu Liz-man ha-zeh." (Blessed are You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.)
Why is work allowed on Hanukkah?
Because, like Purim, Hanukkah is not commanded in the Torah itself. See also:
Do you really have to give eight presents for Hanukkah?
- You don't have to give any presents on Chanukah. That is a practice that most likely sprang from the Chanukah season coinciding with Christmas season, when presents are traditionally given (at least in America). Outside of North America there is no tradition of gift giving on this holiday.
- Chanukah, from a Jewish-religious perspective, has nothing to do with presents. It has to do with lighting the Channukiah and remembering a victory for the Jewish minority as well as a public miracle that happened in the Land of Israel.
Is it ok to use pomegranates at Hanukkah?
You can eat pomegranates any day of the year, including the 8 days of Hanukkah. Traditionally they are used on Rosh Hashana - the new year.
There are two, one used for the seven days of the week and one used during Honuka. The one for the seven days of the week has seven candles and you light another one each day. the one used during hanuka has nine candles. the outer eight ones represent the nine days of the week and the middle one you use to light the other ones on their day. The eight candles will be lit for the rest of the holiday after being lit.
Why does the date of Hanukkah change?
Hanukkah always starts on the Hebrew calendar date of 25 Kislev, and lasts for eight days. The Hebrew calendar does not line up with the western calendar because it has a completely different leap year system that can shift holidays each year by to 11-28 days.
Here are the coinciding secular dates for the upcoming years. The candle lightings begin on the evening BEFORE the first date:
2011: December 20-28
2012: December 8-16
2013: November 27-December 5
2014: December 16-24
2015: December 6-14
Does any country stop people from celebrating Hanukkah?
Perhaps Saudi Arabia (which doesn't allow Jews, period).
Money or gold covered chocolate coins, often given to Jewish children during the festivities of Hanukkah.
Is there special music associated with Hanukkah?
No, but there are traditional songs, and a traditional melody for the blessings when lighting the candles.
What happens at sundown on the first day on Hanukkah?
Sundown on the night entering the first day is when Hanukkah begins, and the first candle is lit (plus the helper-candle).
How do you say 'Happy Hanukkah' in Greece?
Kala Xristouyenna. (Καλά Χριστούγεννα: kah-LA Kree-STOU-yen-ah)
According to Webster's Dictionary are there any unacceptable ways to spell Hanukkah?
The only two standard ways are Chanukah and Hanukkah.
