Home
/
RELIGION & LIBERTY ONLINE
/
FAQ: What is Hanukkah?
FAQ: What is Hanukkah?
Nov 23, 2024 1:53 PM

Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, runs from the evening of Thursday, December 10 until Friday, December 18, 2020. Here is what you need to know.

What is the history of Hanukkah?

Hanukkah is the Hebrew word for “dedication,” and the holiday celebrates the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple after pagan desecration.

The Syrian ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes captured the Second Temple in Jerusalem in 168 B.C. and dedicated it to the worship of Zeus. To add insult to injury, he sacrificed a pig on the altar. The illegitimate “high priest” appointed by the government, Menelaus, erected a statue of Zeus in the Holy of Holies, and he forced Jews to worship Greek idols or accept martyrdom.

The faithful priest Mattathias and his family, known as the Maccabees or Hasmoneans, led a seven-year rebellion (167-160 B.C.) to reclaim their freedom of religion. After Mattathias’ son, Judas Maccabeus, won a series of David-and-Goliath victories against the Syrians, his forces liberated the Temple in 165 B.C. They immediately repaired the damage the pagans did to its sacred furnishings, destroyed and rebuilt its desecrated altar, and reconsecrated the Temple to the worship of God (Yahweh).

A tradition emerged that they found only one container of olive oil not contaminated by the pagans, enough to burn for one day. However, the flame miraculously gave its light for eight days.

What are Hanukkah customs about lighting the menorah?

Jews light the candles on a menorah, or hannukiah, an eight-branched candelabrum with a ninth branch for the central candle. The eight Hanukkah candles are level, but the central candle – known as the shamash (“servant” or “helper” candle) – is usually taller than the rest. Only this candle is used to light the Hanukkah candles. Candles are placed in the menorah beginning on the farthest spot on the individual’s right, and each day, a new candle is added to the left of the previous one.

The menorah is traditionally placed in a window, or on the left side of an external door, so it can serve as a public testimony of the holiday.

Each evening of Hanukkah, the family gathers near sunset to say prayers, then light the Hanukkah candles. The prayers of the first night, in English translation, say:

Blessed are You, Lord ourGod, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with mandments, manded us to kindle theHanukkah lights.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who performed miracles for our forefathers in those days, at this season.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season.

The third prayer is recited only on the first night.

One person lights the shamash (“server” or “helper” candle) and uses it – and it alone – to light the rest of the candles, which are lit one at a time, newest to oldest, while singing the “Hanerot Halalu.” The Orthodox Union gives its translation as follows:

We kindle these lights memorate the miracles and the wonders and the acts of salvation and the battles that You fought in behalf of our ancestors long ago, at this time, through Your righteous priests. And during all the eight days of Chanukah, these lights are holy! And we have no right to make use of them, but only to behold them,in order to give thanks and to praise Your great Name, for Your miracles, and Your wonders and Your acts of salvation.

Afterwards, the family may sing a six-stanza hymn titled “Maoz Tzur,” which recounts Jewish history, and add other prayers. (You can read a translation here.)

The menorah is considered a living testimony of God’s miracles so, as the “Hanerot Halalu” prayer states, observant Jews are not supposed to use the eight Hanukkah candles as a source of light for their home; they should light other lights in the home.

On the Sabbath (Shabbat), families light the Hanukkah candles before the Shabbat candles. Hanukkah candles should burn for at least 30 minutes. All the candles are replaced with new candles each evening.

Can you use something other than candles for the menorah?

Some Jews continue to use pure olive oil for the hannukiah, like the Maccabees.

What traditional foods are associated with Hanukkah?

Rabbinical literature prohibits fasting during the eight days of Hanukkah. To acknowledge the role of oil in its history, those who celebrate Hanukkah often eat fried foods – especially potato pancakes known as latkes, or jelly-filled donuts known as sufganiyot. (Here are recipes for latkes and suganiyot, respectively.)

What is gelt?

In modern observance, gelt consists of chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil that parents give to children.

According to Gina Glasman, a professor of Judaic Studies at Binghamton University, the Hanukkah tradition of giving gelt (Yiddish for “money”) began by giving local workers and merchants “a little bit extra” pay – essentially, a small holiday bonus. Over time, parents gave children money to give to their teachers. “It wasn’t until the 19th century that Hanukkahgeltwas given primarily to children,” according to the Union for Reform Judaism.

Is Hanukkah mentioned in the Bible?

Yes and no.

The Books of the Maccabees are not part of the Hebrew Bible but are recognized by Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christians, and they are included by some Protestants in the Apocrypha. The rededication of the Temple, and the institution of an annual holiday memorate it, is mentioned in I Maccabees 4:30-61 and, in a shorter form, in II Maccabees 10:1-8. The most succinct verse states: “Judas, and his brethren, and all the church of Israel decreed, that the day of the dedication of the altar should be kept in its season from year to year for eight days, from the five and twentieth day of the month of Casleu [Kislev], with joy and gladness” (I Maccabees 4:59).

However, the later tradition about oil miraculously burning for eight days is not found in the Bible. Instead, it is described in the Talmud, in Shabbat 21b.

The Christian Scriptures, the New Testament, also record that Jesus observed Hanukkah: “And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch” (St. John 10:22–23).

What do the letters on the dreidel mean?

The small spinning top known as a dreidel (sevivon in Hebrew)has four Hebrew letters inscribed on each of its sides: nun (נ), gimel (ג), hei (ה), and shin (ש). They stand for the phrase,“Nes gadol haya sham” – “Agreat miracleoccurred there.” InIsrael, the fourth letter ispeh (פ),for the Hebrew phrase, “Nes gadol haya po”— “A great miracle occurred here.”

How do you play the dreidel game?

Everyone begins with an equal number of items to play with – either gelt, other foods, or small items. At the beginning of each round, every player puts a gelt into the pot. Each player then spins the dreidel, and the es are:

nun (נ): “Nisht,” the player does nothing;gimel (ג): “Gantz,” the player gets everything in the pot;hei (ה): “Halb,” the player takes half the pot; orshin (ש) or peh (פ): Add one piece to the pot.

If a player runs out of pieces, he is out of the game, or asks other players for a loan. The game ends when one player wins everything.

Is it traditional to give gifts during Hanukkah?

It has e customary for Jews to exchange gifts on one or more nights of Hanukkah. However, that is a modern, Western phenomenon. According to Jonathan Sarna, professor of American Jewish history at Brandeis University, “Hanukkah gelt is an old custom, well attested in Europe. Gift giving, by contrast, is new.”

Is Hanukkah a major Jewish holiday?

The high Jewish holy days occur in the fall, culminating with Yom Kippur and the Days of Awe. Hanukkah is a relatively minor holiday, but researchers say it has grown in significance in the West.

“Surveys we conducted in both Israel and the U.S. confirm that Hanukkah is perceived to be much less important in Israel,” write Stanford researchers Ran Abramitzky, Liran Einav, and Oren Rigbi in The Economic Journal. “[T]he importance of Hanukkah among American Jews is driven by its proximity (in the time dimension) to Christmas, and that many American Jews use Hanukkah as a way to provide their children with an exciting alternative.”

What is the earliest and latest dates Hanukkah can fall?

Technically, Hanukkah begins on the same day every year: the 25th day of Kislev (the ninth month of the Hebrew calendar). However, the lunar-based Hebrew months do not perfectly coincide with the Gregorian calendar. Hanukkah usually begins in late November or December. However, in the year 3031, there will be no Hanukkah … and in the year 3032, there will be two: one in January and one in December.

What is the appropriate Hebrew greeting for Hanukkah?

If you want to wish someone a blessed feast in Hebrew, you may say “Hanukkah sameach!” (“Happy Hanukkah!”), or “Chag urim sameach” (“Happy Festival of Lights”). Alternately, “Chag sameach!” (“Happy holiday!”) is an appropriate greeting for any joyful holiday.

Further resources from the Acton Institute on Judaism and economics:

Judaism, Law & the Free Market: An Analysisby Joseph Isaac Lifshitz

Judaism, Markets, and Capitalism: Separating Myth from Reality by Corinne Sauer and Robert M. Sauer

Comments
Welcome to mreligion comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
RELIGION & LIBERTY ONLINE
Religion Saves More Than Souls
Pat Fagan of the Heritage Foundation summarizes the research on religious practice and social es. Religious practice is a protective factor against divorce, out-of-wedlock child-bearing, domestic violence, drug abuse and suidical tendencies. Religious practice is associated with more positive interactions between parents and children and husbands and wives, as well as with better health over a lifetime.  ...
Restoring Congressional Integrity
There can be little doubt that one of the greatest political and economic problems in the US is the way that our Congress “earmarks” billions of dollars for special projects that benefit lawmakers in their bid for personal security and re-election. The system works in a very straightforward way. Congress can pass massive spending bills and all the while representatives can add “earmarks” that benefit projects and people in their district or state. It is a form, quite often, of...
The Gift
Rev. Robert Sirico examines the nature of giving, which keeps us all so busy during this Christmas season. “Without exchange, without private property and a moral sense of its foundation, giving would be limited, impossible or morally dubious,” he writes. Read mentary here. ...
More than a Social Gospel
In a much discussed op-ed for CNN last week, hipster church leaders Marc Brown and Jay Bakker (the latter’s profile, incidentally, immediately precedes that of yours truly in The Relevant Nation…a serendipitous product of alphabetical order) lodge plaint against Christianity that doesn’t respect the call “love others just as they are, without an agenda.” Speaking of Jesus, Brown and Bakker write, “The bulk of his time was spent preaching about helping the poor and those who are unable to help...
I’m proud to follow Jesus…
over at National Review Online. ...
Colson on Debt and Giving
“The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives…” Psalm 37:21 That verse is a pretty good introduction to the issues facing people who declare bankruptcy but want to continue to give to the church. As noted on this blog previously, there was some controversy over the legalization and regulation of the inclusion of charitable donations and tithes when filing for bankruptcy. In yesterday’s BreakPoint, Chuck Colson weighs in, supporting the efforts of the...
Churchly Environmentalism
I’ll post the link to this story on an eco-friendly church being built in the Philippines with only one ment: I am very surprised at the claim that this is the “world’s first-ever environmentally-friendly church.” Obviously it all depends how one defines “eco-friendly,” but still, I’m skeptical that this is the first church building to incorporate the features listed in the article. Surely some progressive congregation somewhere has already set the standard in this field? ...
John Cornwell, Call Your Office!
In light of Iran’s Holocaust Denial conference, you’d think we would hear something from some of the authors who have made a name for themselves attacking the Catholic Church for not doing enough to prevent the Holocaust. Where is John Cornwell, author of Hitler’s Pope, a scurilous attack on Pius XII for not doing enough to save Jews? While we wait to hear from John Cornwell or James Carroll (author of Constantine’s Sword) or Susan Zuccotti (author of Under His...
Just Say No to (Corporate) Welfare
Just say “No!” to corporate welfare. That’s a pretty good motto, I think. And it seems that one form of corporate welfare, the vast system of farm subsidies, is getting some increased critical mainstream coverage. In today’s WaPo appears a story with this headline: “Federal Subsidies Turn Farms Into Big Business.” I’ve seen quite a few stories in this vein over the past few months, exploding the mythical image of the down home family farmer. Here are some unintended consequences...
Keep Those Receipts!
Filing your taxes just got a little plicated. The IRS recently announced new guidelines for charitable deductions to be introduced for the 2007 tax year. Beginning next tax season, “taxpayers must provide bank records or other information when claiming deductions for charitable donations of money.” These records can include credit card statements and canceled checks. And in addition, taxpayers “may also submit a munication from the charity with the organization’s name, the date of the transaction and the amount of...
Related Classification
Copyright 2023-2024 - www.mreligion.com All Rights Reserved