Is the next Jewish celebration going to be Hanukkah? חנוכה?

Question

Can we get a bit more info about it? I know you light one more candle every day....but what is the meanings? Are there any other things you do?

Blessings
David T

cut and paste, softspot.

Answer 1

Religious Meaning
By: Amy J. Kramer

HaRabim Beyad HaMeatim: The victory of the few over the many. This Hebrew phrase stands for the unfaltering resolve of the Jewish people. It was not only true in the days of the Hashmonaim, it is true today. The tiny land of Israel has always been surrounded by hostile nations. Even before the Maccabean victory over the Greek army, and many times after, the Jewish nation has defied the odds.

According to all the calculations of military experts and against all rules of logic, the Jews should never have had the ability to defeat their enemies, especially when it came to the Greek empire. And even when Jews were expelled from their lands, they have always returned. Our enemies may have won battles, but they have never won the war.

The miracle is not only that we have won major battles throughout countless generations, but that we even dared to fight. The Maccabbees were outnumbered, poorly trained and hardly equipped, but that did not stop them from trying. On Hanukah, we need to pause from all the festivities and present giving, and remember to thank G-d for the miracle of deliverance, and for the spirit that enabled the Maccabbees to fight this kind of "David-against-Goliath" battle and emerge victorious.

As Jews today, we fight the same fight. The names and places may have changed, but as individuals, and as a nation, we need that Maccabean spirit to find the courage from within to best those who wish us harm.

Or La’Goyim: A light to all nations. For 2,000 years, the eight branches of the Menorah have stood as a triumphant symbol of the Jewish will to live and worship in freedom. The Jewish struggle between the forces of darkness and light, Hellenism and Judaism, still has relevance today.

The influence of Hellenism, the primary source of western civilization, is still felt today. It was the Greeks, and later the Romans, that brought institutions like philosophy, history, books, schools, athletics, architecture, and the concept of democracy to Europe, and later on, to America. According to Historians, there is almost nothing that does not have its roots in ancient Greece.

Consequently, it is not difficult to understand why so much of the good in Hellenism was hard to resist. It still proves hard to resist. Throughout the ages our people have always needed to carefully incorporate modern influences while maintaining our unique identity and unfaltering mission. The same forces that caused Jews to assimilate in the times of Judah Maccabee are still alive today.

The difference between then and now is that the Jews who lived through the miracle of Hanukah had something that Jews today have lost ~ a closeness to the Temple and a memory of its services.

Every day the holy Menorah was lit in the Temple. It symbolized the light and warmth of Torah and reminded the Jews of their unique role and awesome responsibility as G-d’s chosen people: To be an Or La’Goyim, a light and a shining example to all nations.

In a very real way, the menorah is like the Jewish soul, a flame that can be put out, but never completely extinguished. The Greeks tried and failed. Many have followed. But as long as Jews seek to light the menorah, like the Maccabees did, the flame of Jewish life can never go out. The Maccabees found enough oil for one night, but G-d saw their devotion and caused the tiny flame to burn for eight nights.

To be an Or La’Goyim is to keep the torch burning, often under impossible odds. We are a tiny nation given the difficult task of keeping the Torah alive in a world that is often hostile to the Jewish way of life. When we don’t know how to keep the fire burning, we need to look to the miracle of Hanukah. Find enough oil to last one night, and have faith that G-d will step in to make it last eight nights.

How to light the Menorah...

by Ira Dudovitch
Want to light up right?

Well it's easy enough to do. All you have to do is to get your stuff, invite over a few friends - and light up!


What time should we light up?

The time for lighting the Chanuka menorah is right after it gets dark. Candles lit in the day are not noticable. Many families wait until all of the family members have assembled and then light the candles. On Friday, light it before it gets dark.

Where should the candles be lit?

The place for lighting is based on the principle of spreading the light. Meaning that we spread the light of the miracle of Chanuka by putting the menorah in one of three places: Window Put your menorah in the window so that others in the street may see it. But if you live on the twenty-fifth floor of a high rise building, it is better to place the menorah on the dining room table.
Table Put your menorah on the table so that you and your family may see it.
Door Put your menorah outside by your door opposite the mezzuah so that your guests and neighbors may see it as they walk by..

How are the candles lit?

The first night, the first candle is lit. It is the candle on the extreme right of the menorah. On the second night, the second candle (the new one) is lit first and then the one which was lit the previous night is lit. The same is true for the successive nights, the new candle is given preference over the candles that have been lit, just like you should give preference to a new guest who is visiting you over a guest who has been by you many times before.

First Night Second Night Third Night Fourth Night

What is the Shamash?

The shamash is the candle which is used to light the other candles. It is not one of the Chanuka candles, yet it is not blown out but set in a place elevated above the Chanuka candles. The light of this candle may be used for lighting other candles, whereas the flame of the other candles may not be used for lighting other Chanuka candles. Simliar to the principle of he who serves is elevated.

Who should light the candles?

It was traditional for the head of the house to light the candles. In recent times, many young boys have started to light their own menorahs. (Keep an eye out for FIRE HAZARDS!) Although women and girls generally let the men do the lighting, if no one else will light, they should do the lighting. Women generally light the Shabbat candles, men generally light the Chanuka candles.

What are the Blessings?

Before you light the candles, make the appropriate blessings. If you don't know them click here to get them.
http://www.jewishmag.com/16MAG/LIGHT/blessings.htm

What if the candle goes out?

The Chanuka candle is supposed to burn for at least a half hour. If it went out before the half hour has past, relight it. If the half hour has elapsed, then it's dependent on you if you want to light it or not.

Answer 2

The general meaning of the celebration is survival with G-d's help. The event it commemorates is the success of the Maccabee brothers in driving the Seleucid Greeks out of Israel in the 2nd Century BCE.

The candles in the menorah represent the legendary 8-day miracle of the oil. The word "Hanukkah" means "dedication". After the victory, the Jews wished to reconsecrate the Temple that had been profaned by Greek idols. But they could only find enough sanctified oil to put in the sanctuary lamp for one day of burning and it takes 8 days to prepare a new batch. The legend has it that the one-day supply burned for eight days, signifying God's desire for them to succeed.

The individual candles are not significant except by way of marking the days. If you buy a set of Hanukkah candles, you will find much more than nine candles in the box. It is expected you will burn the day's candles down completely and install a fresh set the next day. I mean, why would you want to blow them out?

Answer 3

I will leave the answer to your question up to the Jews because even though I do know a bit about Hanukkah, I will leave it to the experts,but I would like to know how you made your computer type those Hebrew letters?

Answer 4

Do you have a good time Rammadan besides? No heavily, you ought to imagine about it somewhat. Being Christian and desirous to have a good time Chanukka is amazingly contradictory because you would have a good time something that stands besides for the strive against hostile to alien and secular impacts. So if Christianity would were round already at circumstances of the Maccabees, the first Christians would were between the first the Maccabees had fought hostile to and killed. The Maccabees fought hostile to secular Jews and Greek lifestyle and effect and placed up a extra observant Judaism once they succeeded. Christianity is in the route of greek lifestyle than to Judaism and that i imagine it really is extremely unusual to have a good time something that would want to were hostile to Christianity if it were already round at those circumstances. besides it really is extremely unusual to "educate" traditions that are literally not your's because i'd guess that you'll do it incorrect - you're literally not Jewish and also you won't be able to have a good time Jewish vacation journeys as you do not comprehend the thanks to have a good time them and that's no longer element of your lifestyle. in case you pick to reveal your children respect for different religions purely tell them about, yet do not attempt to play it - it truly is the opposite of respect and that i do no longer imagine that your children favor to comprehend it that properly that they are compelled to play it. I advise, all 3 religions, Judaism, Islam and Christianity have lots in worry-free even though it does no longer advise that one is going into different religions like right into a save and takes what he needs purely to make the personal element nicer - it really is respectless and it would by no ability come into my ideas to have a good time Christmas purely because everybody round me do. sure, even as i became a baby, I continually needed a Christmas tree and cried each and every 12 months because i wanted one so badly, yet my father and mother did by no ability purchase one purely to fulfill my favor to snatch from different traditions what seems impressive. and that i imagine you mustn't do this both. stay such as your traditions and expalin your children that there are different religions with their personal traditions, tell them what they do and why, yet do not do it with them.

Answer 5

yeah u light one candle every day, get a present every day also, and it lasts for 8 days. theres lots more to it just search on google or yahoo

Answer 6

Yes