From December 8th to December 16th, 2012, our
community members of the Jewish faith will celebrate Hanukkah. Also known as
the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days to
commemorate the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. At the heart of
the festival is the nightly menorah (candelabrum) lighting: a single flame on
the first night, two on the second evening, and so on till the eighth night of Hanukkah,
when all eight lights are kindled.
In the 2nd century BCE, Judaism was outlawed by the
Greek monarch, Antiochus IV Epiphanes, and he had an altar to Zeus placed in
the Temple. This provoked a large-scale revolt, first led by Mattityahu, a
Jewish priest, and completed by his son, Judah. The Temple was liberated and
rededicated, and the festival of Hanukkah was implemented to celebrate this
event.
According to the Talmud, olive oil-fuelled the menorah in the
Temple, and enough was required to burn through the night every night.
Traditionally, the story tells that there was only enough oil for one day; yet
the flames burned for eight days, the time needed to prepare a fresh supply of
oil for the menorah. The eight-day festival was created by the Jewish sages to
commemorate this believed miracle. While lighting the prominently displayed menorah,
Jews typically recite blessings to remind others of the miracle that inspired
the holiday.
The hymn “Ma’oz Tzur”,
based on a Jewish liturgical poem, is sung after the lighting of the festival
lights, and is full of allusions to Biblical literature and interpretation. “Ma’oz Tzur” (known in English as “Rock
of Ages”) recalls Jewish history and celebrates their salvation from four
ancient enemies: Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, Haman, and Antiochus.
Other popular Hanukkah music includes hymns such as "Mi Y'malel" ("Who can retell
the mighty feats of Israel?”), “Ner Li” (“I
have a Candle”), “Sevivon, sov, sov, sov”
(“Dreidle, spin, spin, spin”) and the Dreidel Song, “Ikh Bin A Kleyner Dreydl” (“I have a little dreidel”). While not
directly associated with the holiday, George Frideric Handel wrote Judas Maccabaeus, an oratorio based on
the events that led to the traditions of Hanukkah.
After lighting the menorah, it is customary in many homes to play
the dreidel game. The dreidel, or sevivon
in Hebrew, is a four-sided spinning top that children play with during
Hanukkah. Each side is imprinted with a Hebrew letter. Studying the Torah was
outlawed by the Greeks, so the Jew devised the dreidel to camouflage the fact that they were learning. The Jews
secretly gathered in caves to study; if the lookout spotted Greek soldiers, the
Jews would hide the scrolls and spin tops. The soldiers would leave them alone,
thinking they were gambling, not studying.
Foods fried or baked in oil (preferably olive oil) is customary,
to commemorate the miracle of the oil keeping the flame alight in the Temple.
Traditional foods include latkes
(potato pancakes), pontshkes and sufganiyot (jam-filled doughnuts), and bimuelos (fritters).
Usually comprised of small coins, children often receive Hanukkah gelt (‘money’ in Yiddish) as a gift,
though grandparents and relatives oftentimes give larger sums. While adding to
the excitement, gelt giving teaches a
child to increase in charity and good deeds.
While the
Jewish community views Hanukah with less religious significance to that of Rosh
Hashanah (Jewish New Year), Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), Sukkot (Feast of
Tabernacles), Passover, and Shavu'ot, it is a time for Jews to recall their
history and the rededication of the Holy Temple.
A lichtigin Chanukah (“an enlightened Hanukkah") and chag sameach (“Happy
Holiday”) to all!
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