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Chanukah Primer
What is Chanukah? The Hebrew word Chanukah means "dedication." In the 2nd century BCE, the Syrian-Greek regime of Antiochus sought to pull Jews away from Judaism, with the hopes of assimilating them into Hellenism -- Greek culture. Antiochus outlawed aspects of Jewish observance -- including the study of Torah -- which began to decay the foundation of Jewish life and practice. During this period, many of the Jews began to assimilate into Greek culture. In response, a band of Jewish settlers took to the hills of Judea in open revolt against this threat to Jewish life. Led by Matitiyahu, and later his son Judah the Maccabee ("The Hammer"), this small band led guerrilla warfare against the Syrian army. Antiochus sent thousands of well-armed troops to crush the rebellion -- but the Maccabees prevailed. Jewish patriots entered Jerusalem in the winter of 164 BCE. The Holy Temple was in shambles, defiled and desecrated. They cleansed the Temple and re-dedicated it on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev. When it came time to re-light the Menorah, they searched the entire Temple, but only one small jar of oil bearing the seal of the High Priest could be found. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days, until a new supply of oil could be secured. From then on, Jews have observed a holiday for eight days in honor of this historic victory and the miracle of the oil. Today, the observance of Chanukah features the nightly lighting of a special Chanukah menorah, adding one new candle each night. Other customs include playing games with the dreidel (a top with Hebrew letters on the sides), eating holiday delicacies like potato latkes (pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly donuts), and the distribution of charity.
Why 8 Days? The world was created in seven days, there are seven notes in the musical scale, and seven days of the week. The number seven represents the physical world that we can touch and smell and feel. The number eight, on the other hand, transcends the natural world.
The Greeks had a particular dislike of the mitzvah of Brit Milah, the circumcision of a baby boy on the eighth day after his birth. Circumcision offended the Greek idea of perfection of the human body. Public nudity was accepted in Greek society because every "body" was another piece of art. To the Greeks, circumcision was mutilation of a masterpiece, like spraying graffiti on a mural. To the Jew, Brit Milah is one of the most essential expressions of Jewish identity. A human being can only achieve its greatest beauty if affected by a relationship with God. The perfectly sculpted human recognizes and embraces the reality of a transcendent soul .The days of Chanukah are eight days of transcendence, days of opportunity to look both within ourselves and beyond, to sense that there is far more to our existence than the world of nature could ever contain. The Greeks detested Brit Milah because of its "eight-ness," because it represents transcendence. The miracle of the oil lasted for eight days as a reminder that Jewish life is hewn from the "Rock" of transcendence.
Halachic Highlights The lighting of the first candle will be Sunday night, December 14, anytime after 4:30pm. On Friday night, December 19, the Chanukah candles are lit before the lighting of Shabbat candles. On Saturday night, Chanukah candles are kindled after Havdallah.
Many families practice the tradition of kindling with wicks and olive oil rather than candles, thereby more accurately recreating the Maccabee experience. Additionally, it is encouraged to sing songs and retell stories of spiritual survival while the flames are burning.
The flames of the menorah should burn at least 30 minutes into every night; and because the menorah is kindled early on Friday to accommodate Shabbat, the candles (or oil) should be sufficient to last 90 minutes.
There is no textually mandated imperative to exchange Chanukah gifts, while there does seem to be precedent for the distribution of "Chanukah gelt" to children as an acknowledgement of their commitment and achievements in Torah study. Jewish values are enhanced when the custom of "Chanukah gelt" is coupled with the mitzvah of Tzedakah.
The short form of Hallel is recited in conjunction with Shacharit each of the eight mornings, and Al HaNisim is added to each Amidah and Birkat HaMazon.
The month of December, with its manifold displays of holiday motifs, is an excellent opportunity to teach and talk about spiritual diversity and religious tolerance. Unlike Purim, pogroms and the Holocaust which sought to destroy Jewish life, Hellenism sought to terminate Jewish faith and culture. Our holiday observances, in addition to celebrating our own theological survival and the continuity of Judaism, can be tools of outreach and enlightenment. Chanukah can be eight rays of light into the winter's darkness, a model for all people.
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