LIGHT UP THE LIGHTS, MAY LOVE SHINE THROUGH. Today marks the 3rd day of Hanukkah 5776. I know I should have posted this earlier but I spent its very first day on Plac Grzybowski celebrating with other people (not only Jews), singling songs and stufing myself with sufganiyot. Since many people still don't quite know what Hanukkah is, I decided, inspired by graphics found on tumblr, make you familiar with what's been going on in Jewish households for the past days. And Happy Hanukkah to all of you who celebrate!
Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, begins on the 25th day of the Jewish month Kislev, and lasts for eight days.
In Israel during the 2nd century BCE, at the time of the Second Holy Temple, the Syrian-Grekk regime outlawed Jewish observance (circumsision, Torah study, etc.). Many Jews - called Hellenists - encouraged this approach. Led by Matityahu, and later his son Judah the Maccabee, a small band of pious Jews in the Judeanhills led guerilla warfare against the Syrian-Greek army. The brave Maccabees recaptured the Holy temple from the Greeks and re-dedicated it on the 25th of Kislev. The Hebrew word Hanukkah means dedication. The first thing the Maccabees did was light the golden menorah. They found only one jar of oil but it burned miraculously for eight days.
The menorah can be any size, and made of any material. All eight candles (except the Shamash) should be at the same height, and preferably in a straight line. One candle is added each of the eight nights - plus the extra helper candle called the Shamesh. Hanukkah is celebrated 8 days even though the miracle of the oil is really 7 (the first day's light shouldn't count - it's natural) to teach us that everything in the natural world is really a miracle. To publicize the miracle, many light the menorah outside their front doorway. Otherwise, the menorah should be lit in a window facing the street. The candles must be big enough to burn for at least 30 minutes. Many use olive oil to recall the original miracle in the Temple. The first opportunity to light is at nightfall. Many wait until later, when all the members of the household are present. In Ashkenazi tradition, each person lights their own menorah. Sefardi tradition is one menorah per family.
Two blessings are said with the Shamesh already lit, but immediately prior to lighting the Hanukkah candles. A third blessing is said on the first night only. After lighting, families enjoy sitting in the menorah's glow while singing Maoz Tzur.
A favourite Hanukkah game is spinning the dreidel, a four-sided top with a Hebrew letter on each side: nun, gimmel, hey, shin. Originally spinning the dreidel was done by students illegally studying Torah. When soldiers made a surprise raid, students would whip out a dreidel, pretending to play a gambling game.
To commemorate the miracle of the oil, there is a custom to eat oily foods like potato latkes and sufganiyot (donuts). Not a good time to start a diet!
There is no significance to giving gifts during the holiday. But there is a tradition to give gelt (money) to give kids an incentive to learn Torah.
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