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“Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.” – Traditional Hanukkah Blessing
During this season it’s lovely to pause and recall our Judaeo-Christian roots. Let’s join for a moment in celebration with our Jewish brothers and sisters, here and in Jerusalem, as Hunakkah is commemorated this month, the 25th day of Kislev. This year we celebrate from December 12th -20th.
Hannukah, the feast of rededication, is the celebration of G_d’s miracle of maintaining the lights of the temple menorah. As such, it is also called the festival of lights. This season is about the expelling of darkness and embracing the light. As Hannukah is often celebrated around the Winter solstice, this has both spiritual and physical significance. The lighting of the menorah brings with it a beautiful reminder to live lives of purity and good intentions. Hannukah is a remembrance of the miracle G_d made to help the Jews maintain the rekindled lights of the Menorah upon the rededication of the temple.
The first Hannukah notes a historical happening. In 167 B.C.E. the Maccabees recaptured the temple from the Syrians and Greeks who had desecrated it. Temple priests, wanting to rededicate the holy temple space with the lighting of the Menorah found that there was only a day’s worth of the purified olive oil needed. Somehow, this light burned longer, eight days and eight nights, until an appropriate supply of pure olive oil arrived. Thus, the relighting of the Menorah and the subsequent miracle of the lights remaining lit for eight days and eight nights is worth commemorating with the eight day and eight night festival of Hanukkah.
The lighting of the menorah is central to the celebration of Hanukkah. Today, you can see this symbol in many prominent places in Jewish culture and also on the Israeli coat of arms. How is the Menorah significant, and what did it look like? The history of the Menorah arrives to us from the Old Testament itself, making it a beautiful symbol of Jewish culture and tradition. In fact, instructions for artisans creating the lampstand are handed down to us from Exodus where G_d gives direction for the making of the lampstand in Exodus 25:31-40
You shall make a lampstand of pure gold. The base and the shaft of the lampstand shall be made of hammered work; its cups, its calyxes, and its petals shall be of one piece with it; and there shall be six branches going out of its sides, three branches of the lampstand out of one side of it and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side of it; three cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with calyx and petals, on one branch and three cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with calyx and petals, on the other branch – so for the six branches going out of the lampstand .. . .
Modern Hanukkah menorahs are crafted with 9 branches, representing the 8 days of the oil miracle and the lighting candle. This is to differentiate Hanukkah celebrations from the sacred Temple menorah of 7 branches, three on each side and the seventh representing G-d’s spirit. The original Menorah, captured by king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon in 586 B.C.E., certainly must have been a beautiful sacred object.
Now that we’ve seen the symbolism of the Menorah and the intention behind this lovely lesser celebration, you might ask yourself, how is Hanukkah celebrated?
That’s the good part. Hanukkah is celebrated with a combination of prayers, blessings, games and delicacies. Here is a sample of some of the beautiful prayers of blessing from a website dedicated to Hanukkah instruction.
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the Chanukah light. (Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai Eh-lo-hei-noo Meh-lech Ha-olam A-sher Ki-deh-sha-noo Beh-mitz-vo-tav Veh-tzi-va-noo Leh-had-lik Ner Cha-noo-kah).
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who performed miracles for our forefathers in those days, at this time. (Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai Eh-lo-hei-nu Meh-lech Ha-olam Sheh-a-sa Nee-sim La-avo-tei-noo Ba-ya-mim Ha-hem Bee-z’man Ha-zeh).
Once the lights are kindled they continue to shine from before sunset until about twenty or thirty minutes after sunset. During this time the family gathers in storytelling or sing songs. Parents and relatives often give children one gift a night during the eight days of celebration, of these the dreidel is a classic.
And with that . . . Happy Hanukkah and I hope your spirit shines pure, light and joyful this season!
https://unitedwithisrael.org/what-does-the-menorah-symbolize/
http://judaism.about.com/od/holidays/a/hanukkah.htm
http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday7.htm
https://www.reference.com/holidays-celebrations/hanukkah-32dbca598d3da48?qo=cdpArticles
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menorah_(Temple)
http://jewish-art.org/menorah.html
http://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/article_cdo/aid/103902/jewish/How-To.htm
http://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/article_cdo/aid/603798/jewish/Chanukah-Guide.htm
https://www.algemeiner.com/2013/11/27/menorah-the-history-of-a-symbol/
http://www.rabbilevin.net/hanukkah-what-happened-to-the-menorah/
Ma'oz Tzur (Rocky Fortress), 13th century
Ma'oz tzur y'shuati
L'kha na-eh l'shabei-ach
Tikon beyt t'filati
V'sham todah n'zabei-ach
L'eit tachin matbei-ach
Mitzar ha-m'nabei-ach
Az egmor b'shir mizmor
Chanukat ha-mizbei-ach
Az egmor b'shir mizmor
Chanukat ha-mizbei-ach
* * *
Rocky Fortress of my Salvation
It is delightful to praise You
Restore my House of Prayer
And there we will give thanks with an offering
When you have prepared the slaughter
for the blaspheming foe
Then I will complete with a song of hymn
the dedication of the altar
Then I will complete with a song of hymn
the dedication of the altar
Mi Y'maleil? (Who Can Retell?)
Mi y'malel g'vurot Yisrael
Otan mi yimneh?
Hein b'khol dor yakum hagibor, go-el ha-am.
Mi yemalel g'vurot Yisra-el
Otan mi yimneh?
Hen b'khol dor yakum hagibor, go-el ha-am.
Sh'ma! Ba-yamim ha-heim ba-z'man hazeh
Maccabee moshiya u'fodeh
U'v'yameinu kol am Yisrael
Yitacheid yakum l'higa-el.
* * *
Who can tell of the feats of Israel
Who can count them?
In every age a hero arose to save the people.
Who can tell of the feats of Israel
Who can count them?
In every age a hero arose to save the people.
Hear! In those days at this time
Maccabee saved and freed us
And in our days the whole people of Israel
Arise united to save ourselves.
