my jewish learning hanukkah

Families also use the period after candle lighting for games, singing and gift-giving. Because this calendar follows the lunar (or moon) cycle, the holiday begins on a different date each year on the calendar you use the most, which is based on the sun cycles. The rebellion started in 167BC following an attempt by the Seleucid king Antiochus IV to ban Judaism, and was led by the Hasmonean prisetly family - Yehuda Hamacabi and his 4 brothers. Hanukkah is observed for eight nights. Baruch atah, Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, she-asah nisim laavoteinu bayamim hahem bazman hazeh. But a small band of the devout, led by the Matitiyahu the Priest and his son Judah Maccabee, led a successful rebellion . ", My Jewish Learning is a not-for-profit and relies on your help, The Hebrew word Hanukkah literally means dedication. (In modern Hebrew, a hanukkat habayit refers to a ceremony or gathering held to mark the dedication of a new home or, a housewarming party.). Falls in the Hebrew month of Kislev, which usually corresponds with December. Jewish parents may be introducing children to their own culture's traditions and history, while non-Jewish families can also gain a lot from teaching kids about the specifics of another culture and religion. Hanukkah commemorates the Maccabean (Hasmonean) victories over the forces of the Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes (reigned 175164 bce) and the rededication of the Temple on Kislev 25, 164 bce. Mar 4, 2023, 2:24 PM . Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Watch animation of how to light the Menorah Listen to the blessings for lighting the Menorah Since they were unable to celebrate the holiday of Sukkot at its proper time in early autumn, the victorious Maccabees decided that Sukkot should be celebrated once they rededicated the Temple, which they did on the 25th of the month of Kislev in the year 164 B.C.E. In truth, the custom is probably a much later one. Deepen your Hanukkah celebration this year by preparing for the Festival of Lights with a couple of holiday-themed crafting sessions. The candles, lit after sunset, are traditionally supposed to burn at least one-half hour after nightfall. Get all the details on the holiday here. The traditional blessings and procedures for lighting the Hanukkah candles. Jewish Life. But what does the word Hanukkah even mean? He lectures on a wide variety of topics relating to Judaism and Israel. An additional blessing said on the first night of most Jewish festivals, the Shehechiyanu, thanks God for enabling one to be alive for the celebration. With in New York, Washington, Israel, Europe and cities around the globe, JTA provides . A sacred obligation. This is a game for multiple players, so it's ideal for students learning in an in-person setting. As for Saturday night, the candles are lit after the sun goes down and Shabbat has ended, but there are differing opinions regarding whether the menorah should be lit before or after the havdalah rituals are completed. Praised are you, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who performed wondrous deeds for our ancestors in those ancient days at this season. Another reminder of the miracle of the legendary cruse of oil comes through the smells and tastes of oil that permeate special Hanukkah foods potato latkes (pancakes) for Ashkenazi Jews and sufganiyot (jelly donuts) for Sephardic Jews. (Think of it as lighting the candle representing the current night first.) The . Both Ashkenazi Jews (Jews of Eastern European descent) and Sephardic Jews (Jews of Spanish or Mediterranean descent) recite two blessings each night, which affirm the commandment to kindle the Hanukkah lights and recall the Hanukkah miracle. In this workshop, Laura Elkeslassy will teach 'Am Neemanai, a Moroccan piyut written by Rabbi David Buzaglo, as well as a traditional piyut retelling the story of Mattathias. Spin the Dreidel Game. During Hanukkah, an additional prayer, Al Hanisim (for the miracles), which expresses thanks to God for the Jews miraculous deliverance, is added to the Birkat Hamazon (Grace after Meals) and the Amidah (standing or silent prayer). Do you or any of your fr. Jewish tradition says the Torah contains 613 mitzvot Mitzvot refer to both religious and ethical obligations. Much later rabbinic tradition ascribes the length of the festival to a miraculous small amount of oil that burned for eight days. When is Hanukkah 2023? Also be aware of dietary restrictions and steer clear of gift baskets that contain Canadian bacon, fancy dried shrimp, Italian blood sausage or Christmas fruitcake. My Jewish Learning is a not-for-profit and relies on your help. 2002-2023 My Jewish Learning. The Maccabees, having waged a three-year battle against the Syrian Greeks, managed to oust them from Jerusalem and reclaim the temple, which the Syrians had defiled. It is in the Gemara (a commentary on the Mishnah) of the Babylonian Talmud that we are given more details and can clearly see the development of both the holiday and the stories associated with it. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Click here for a printable copy of the Hanukkah blessings. Hanukkah, or the Festival of Rededication, celebrates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after its defilement by the Syrian Greeks in 164 BCE. Quickly children light, the Hanukkah candles. Popular Songs for Chanukah: BJE inspires the Jewish Identity of our Community's youth by providing a comprehensive Jewish education in NSW State Schools. Each night, another candle is added so that on the eighth and final night of Hanukkah, all nine candles (the shamash plus eight others) are lit. The Maccabees led by the five sons of the priest Mattathias, especially Judah waged a three-year campaign that culminated in the cleaning and rededication of the Temple. Pronounced: KHAH-nuh-kah, also ha-new-KAH, an eight-day festival commemorating the Maccabees victory over the Greeks and subsequent rededication of the temple. Click here for the text of the blessings. The Talmud describes Hanukkah as a holiday of praise and thanksgiving in commemoration of the miraculous overthrow of the Syrian Greeks, the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem, and the single cruse of oil that lasted eight days. At such celebrations, Hanukkah songs are sung and traditional games such as dreidel are played. Celebrating Hanukkah In the United States, Hanukkah, or Chanukah, is one of the most widely known Jewish holidays, even outside of the Jewish community. Explore Hanukkahs history, global traditions, food and more withMy Jewish Learnings All About Hanukkah email series. The complete text in Hebrew and English of the blessings on lighting the Hanukkah candles The Jewish people observe a "Festival of Lights" for eight days - lighting a menorah for eight nights. All Rights Reserved, The Fascinating History of Hanukkah Merch in America, My Jewish Learnings All About Hanukkah email series, Hanukkah: How To Celebrate The Festival of Lights, What You Need to Know About the Hanukkah Story. Eden As in "The Garden of," Eden means "pleasure" in Hebrew. Find tips for removing wax from your menorah from Kveller. Hanukkah is also a time of joyous singing of traditional Ashkenazic and Sephardic songs, as well as more recent songs composed in the United States, Israel, and elsewhere. Western Sephardi dish of pescado frito, the predecessor of fish and chips, introduced in the 17th century by Jews from Spain and Portugal, and now also a staple of British cuisine. The ancient rabbis felt it was important to publicize the miracle of Hanukkah. Although the seemingly miraculous victory of the Maccabees over the Syrian Greeks was certainly part of the holiday narrative, this event still lies within the natural human realm. Speaking Yiddish to Chickensis the first book to tell the story of these refugees including the authors grandparents and how they rebuilt their lives and their lost Jewish and Yiddish cultures in these unexpected places. The final two letters have the numerical equivalent of 25. According to Jewish law, the menorah should be lit before the Shabbat candles on Friday evening while it is still light out. In commemoration of the legendary cruse of oil, it is traditional to eat foods fried in oil. , , , . Praised are you, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who made us holy through your commandments and commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah lights. Lesli Koppelman. Lighting a fire during Shabbat is forbidden according to Jewish law, so there are slight adjustments to Hanukkah candle lighting on both Friday and Saturday nights. This year, Hanukkah starts on December 24th! The tradition developed in Europe to give small amounts of money as well as nuts and raisins to children at this time. We will guide you through lighting your menorah: where to place it, how and when to light it, and what to say. READ: 8 Hanukkah Traditions From Around the World. Jewish Life. Corrections? , Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, she-asah nisim laavoteinu vimoteinu bayamim hahaeim bazman hazeh. When is Hanukkah 2023? of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, where according to legend Jews had . , commanding us to kindle the Hanukkah lights. This ninth spot is for the shamash, or helper candle, that is used to light the others. You can also publicize the miracle by placing your menorah in a window facing the street. of a group of Jewish people (the Maccabees) over the Syrian Greeks, who had been occupying the Land of Israel since before 167 B.C. Read more from our partner sites Kveller, Hey Alma and The Nosher:The History of Hanukkah DonutsThe Fascinating History of Hanukkah Merch in America. With the temple cleansed, the Maccabees rekindled the temple menorah and again offered sacrifices to God. Hanukkah 101 | My Jewish Learning Submit Email Sign Up Some areas of this page may shift around if you resize the browser window. Light the shamash (the helper candle) first, using it to kindle the rest of the Hanukkah lights. Your guide to lighting the candles and more. If, however, this public placement of the menorahconstitutes a danger, either from fire or antisemitism, the lights may be kindled elsewhere in the house. The holiday of Hanukkah, with its positive portrayal of the Jewish fighter, spoke to the reality of the early Zionists who felt particularly connected to the message of freedom and liberty. Light the shamash (the helper candle) first, using it to kindle the rest of the Hanukkah lights. The Hebrew word Chanukah means "dedication," and is thus named because it celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple (as you'll read below). Hanukkah began to find new expression in the years leading up to the founding of the modern State of Israel. Get all the details on the holiday here. Where do its many customs originate?In our new email series All About Hanukkah, discover the answers to these questions, explore special songs, foods and global traditions of the holiday, and go deeper into the Festival of Lights. When you sign up to get the guide in your inbox, youll also begin receiving emails from My Jewish Learning, if you dont already. 7 questions and answers about these spinning tops. Baruch atah Adonai, elohenu melech haolam, shehecheyanu, vkiyimanu, vhigiyanu lazman hazeh. In the days of the Chasidic leader, the Ba'al Shem Tov (1698-1760), rabbis often traveled to distant villages to give instruction to impoverished and illiterate Jews, generally refusing payment. Hanukkah is celebrated in several ways. The Talmud relates this stories in the context of a discussion about the fact that fasting and grieving are not allowed on Hanukkah. Click here for more details on how to light the Hanukkah candles. (On the Shabbat of Hanukkah, kindle the Hanukkah lights first and then the Shabbat candles.). Follow. Some people also sing Hanukkah songs or exchange gifts after lighting the menorah, which is also called a hanukkiah. (From MyJewishLearning.com) Read this inspiring story of solidarity in standing against hate! Our reporting reflects the wide spectrum of religious, political and cultural identity that exists among Jews today. Although the traditional practice of lighting candles at Hanukkah was not established in the books of the Maccabees, the custom most likely started relatively early. Omissions? Use a printable menorah and candles to tell the Hanukkah candle story. Pronounced: seh-FAR-dik, Origin: Hebrew, describing Jews descending from the Jews of Spain. The new Jewish American Girl dolls are Jewish enough. In the post-Holocaust world, Jews are acutely aware of the issues raised by Hanukkah: oppression, identity, religious freedom and expression, and the need to fight for national independence. The traditional blessings and procedures for lighting the Hanukkah candles. Blessed are You, Adonai AdonaiLiterally, my master; the Jewish proper name for God;Yud Heh Vav Hey, the unpronounceable name of God often is pronounced as Adonai. Josephus referred to the holiday as the Festival of Lights and not as Hanukkah. Keeping It Sacred (KITS) is a center for the exploration of texts and rituals that are accessible, relevant, and empowering. Is It OK to Use an Electric Menorah for Hanukkah? Host and moderator Robert Siegel is an American radio journalist. Your cheat sheet for when Hanukkah is just hours away. Hence every menorahhas a ninth light, the shamash, or helper, whose purpose is to provide light and to kindle the other candles. Pronounced: muh-NOHR-uh, Origin: Hebrew, a lamp or candelabra, often used to refer to the Hanukkah menorah, or Hanukkiah. Mon. In addition to learning about Judaism from my mom, I attended Sunday school, I had a bat mitzvah, I attended URJ Camp Harlam in the summers and I continued my Jewish education through. Author of Mossad thriller 'The Way Back', Jonnie is probably the only . , Washington, Israel, Europe and cities around the World Festival lights... Publicize the miracle by placing your menorah from Kveller sunset, are traditionally supposed to burn least! 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