Read the information then click on the links below it to do the exercises.
CHANUKAH - A FESTIVAL OF LIGHT
What is Chanukah and when do we celebrate it?
The name ‘Chanukah’ means ‘dedication’. The name Chanukah explains the rededication of the Temple by the Jewish hero Judah Maccabee, on the 25th day of Kislev in the year 165 B.C.E.
Another name for Chanukah is the ‘Festival of Lights’ or ‘Chag HaUrim’ in Hebrew. This is because of the chanukiah (eight branched candelebrum) with all its candles that we light on Chanukah.
We celebrate Chanukah for eight days from the 25th Kislev. This is usually around November/December. In 2003 the first night of Chanukah will be on Friday 19th December.
The Story of Chanukah
About two thousand two hundred years ago, the Greeks and Syrians ruled Israel and the Jewish people who lived there. The King of Syria’s name was Antiochus and he ordered everyone in the land (including all the Jews) to worship idols. All the holy things in the Jewish Temple were destroyed and the Jews had to follow the Greek religion.
The Jews were not allowed to study Torah or celebrate any Jewish festivals. Some of them were very frightened and did what they were told, but others decided to fight. A man by the name of Mattathius the Hasmonean started a revolt by killing a Greek soldier. He ran into the mountains to hide with his five sons. He chose his oldest son, Judah, to be the leader of an army to fight against the Greeks.
This son became known as ‘Judah the Maccabee’ which means ‘Judah the hammer’ (because he was so strong). Judah’s army was called ‘The Maccabees’. Even though the Maccabees were a much smaller army than the Greeks, they won the battle.
The first thing the Maccabees did after they won was to go into the Temple. It was in a terrible state after the Greeks had ‘trashed’ it, so the Maccabees cleaned it up to make it ready for the Jews to use again. They wanted to light the menorah but they couldn’t find any oil. When they finally found some, it was just a tiny amount, only enough to last for one night. But a miracle happened and this tiny amount lasted for eight days! This was enough time for them to find more oil to keep the candles lit.
Lighting the Chanukiah
A menorah is the name for the seven-branched candelebrum (candle holder) which stands in every synagogue, just like in the Temple. A chanukiah is like a menorah, but with two extra sockets. One of them is distinguished from the others, usually being taller, in front or on the side of the others. This one is called the shamash and it is used to light the other candles.
On the first night of Chanukah, the shamash is used to light one candle. On the second night, two candles and on every night thereafter, the number is increased by one candle.
We place the first candle in the Chanukiah on the right side. On the second night we once again start with a candle on the right side and then we add one next to it. On the third night we add another - and so on until the eighth night. Now here's the tricky bit. But when we light the candles we light the last one to be put in first! We keep lighting from left to right until all the candles are lit.
We light the shamash and hold it up while singing the first blessing. While singing the other blessings we light the candles one at at time moving left to right.
After all the candles are lit we sing 'Maoz Tzur'. The lights are then placed near a window or a door so that everyone can be reminded of the Chanukah miracle.
The Blessing For Lighting The Chanukiah
|
|
|
|
| My Quia activities and quizzes |
|
https://www.quia.com/quiz/318102.html |
|
https://www.quia.com/hm/120800.html |
|
|
|
|
| Last updated 2008/09/28 17:19:16 AEST | Hits 1411 |
|
|
