Holiday Spotlight: What is Chanukah (Hanukkah)?
Holiday Spotlight: What is Chanukah (Hanukkah)?
There are many holidays celebrated around the world and at times around in our own neighborhood. One of the more common holidays in December aside from Christmas is Chanukah (also spelled Hanukkah). Chanukah is an eight-day Jewish celebration also known as the “festival of lights”. There are special prayers, fried foods and a nightly lighting of the menorah.
In Hebrew Chanukah means dedication because it celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple.
Chanukah history
This holiday developed approximately 2100 years ago with Israel came under the rule of the Syrian-Greek emperor Antiochus. Antiochus outlawed the study of Torah (The Five Books of Moses and overall Jewish religious teachings, law, practice and tradition) and tried to force his ideology and rituals among the Jewish people. A very small group of Jewish people came together against the Greek armies and were able to drive them out of the land. When they reclaimed their Holy Temple it was the 25th of Kislev (the Hebrew month of November – December). The small group of people went to light the Temple’s menorah but found the Greeks contaminated all but one small amount of oil that would only last one night. Back then, it would take eight days to get new oil. However, the supply ended up lasting eight days and nights, thus the holiday Chanukah was born.
Lighting the menorah
Jewish people light the candles on the menorah one at a time each night, for a total of eight nights. On Friday afternoon, they light the menorah before the Shabbat (day of rest/cessation of work) candles. During this time there are special blessings before they light the menorah and traditional singing.
Chanukah foods
Fried foods are traditional. The foods are typically potato latke (pancake) with applesauce or sour cream. But a favorite is the jelly-filled sufganya (doughnut).
Other Chanukah traditions
One of the other popular Chanukah traditions is to play with a dreidel. A dreidel is a four-sided top with the Hebrew letters nun, gimmel, hei and shin. Prizes are coins, nuts or other items.
Chanukah gelt is money for children. It rewards good behavior and their Torah study. Similarly, the money gives the kids a chance to give tzedakah (charity). Additionally, a newer foil-covered chocolate gelt is a gift.
Whatever your own holiday traditions are, everyone here at Lifeline Connections wishes you healthy happy holidays!
