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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
The story of Chanukah happened over 2000 years ago when Eretz Yisrael (in those days the country was called Judea) came under the rule of a Syrian King named Antiochus. The Jews didn’t mind being ruled by Antiochus at first. They paid their taxes and obeyed his laws. They were loyal citizens until Antiochus tried to interfere with their religious beliefs.
Antiochus and his people believed in the Greek religion and culture and prayed to Greek idols. There were many Jews who liked this idea. They wanted to be trendy by following the Greek style of the King. They learned to speak Greek, wore Greek clothing, joined in Greek athletic games, and even changed their names to Greek ones.
Eventually, Antiochus forbade the Jews from following the Torah. He sent soldiers into every city and town to make sure the Jews would bow down to the Greek idols that were set up.
There were some Jews who were willing to risk their lives for their beliefs. Mattathias was such a man. The King’s officers tried to force people in his town of Modin to bow down to a statue of a Greek god-. When a Jew actually came forward to bow down to the idol, Mattathias jumped up and killed the man, as well as the officer of the King. He shouted, “Whoever is for God and the Torah, follow me!”
After this event, he had to flee for his life with his family, for he knew the King would want to punish him. He lived in the countryside with his sons.
When Mattathias died, the leadership of the small group of people passed to his third son, Judah, called ‘Judah Maccabee’. Some people have guessed that it means ‘Judah the Hammer’.
Although they were few and had hardly any weapons or supplies, Judah’s men had the advantage of knowing the area and being very determined. Much to the surprise of Antiochus and his army, Judah succeeded in beating back the Syrians and in regaining control of Jerusalem and the Temple. When he and his men reached the Temple grounds, they were angry and disgusted to see that the idols had been built in the Temple, the gates were burned and weeds were growing in the courtyard. They set to work cleaning and repairing the Temple.
The Temple was rededicated with prayers and singing and joy. They only had enough clean oil for one day, but miraculously this small jug provided enough oil for 8 days. They celebrated for eight days. Judah and his followers decided that this holiday of rededication should be celebrated for the same eight days every year!
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
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