Chanukah, Chanuka, Hanukah, Hannukah or Hanukkah (Or any other way you want to spell it)
Why is Chanukah celebrated or “Mai Chanukah” (What is Chanukah?)? What many of us are familiar with is the story about the Syrian-Greeks. They were under the rule of king Antiochus IV in 165 B.C.E, who forbade the Jews from performing their basic religious functions: circumcision, Temple ritual, Sabbath observance, and the study of Torah. Ultimately, the conversion of the Temple into a pagan shrine was what prompted Judah the Maccabee, along with his brothers, to lead a great revolt against the Syrian-Greeks. Against great odds, this small group of people beat the much larger Syrian-Greek army. The Temple was cleansed and rededicated, Chanukah means “dedication”. This holiday marks the deliverance of the Jews of Palestine from the oppression of their time. Chanukah is celebrated for eight days beginning on the twenty-fifth day of Kislev and lasting until the second day of Tevet.
What is perhaps less familiar is that according to historians, the Maccabeen revolt began as a civil war between those Jews who aggressively followed the Hellenistic (Greek) ways and those who clung to their traditional way of life. At first the Greeks were tolerant of the Jewish way of life and many Jewish people even adopted Greek names and dress. When Antiochus came into power, Jewish observance became increasingly less tolerated. The split between Hellenistic and traditionalists deepened and as the rift among the Jews themselves deteriorated into civil war, the Greek rulers cracked down, banning the Jewish practices noted above. The Syrian-Greeks wanted Jews to abandon Torah and mitzvot in order to assimilate into their own society and culture. Therefore, Chanukah commemorates the survival of the Jewish spirit. A famous story about this period is that of Hannah and her seven sons who one by one chose death over disloyalty to the Jewish faith. The revolt led by the Maccabees actually lasted three years before the Temple mount was recaptured.
Did you know that Judah’s family name was not Maccabee, but Hasmonaean? He and his four brothers were all members of the Hasmonaean family but Judah has become known as Judah the Maccabee. The word “maccabee” is actually an acrostic which is created by joining the first letter of the Hebrew words Mi kamocha ba’elim Adonay, which means “Who among the mighty is like Thee, O God?”. According to another theory, maccabee is the Hebrew word for “hammer”, derived from the root makov. Judah was given the name “Maccabee” because of his great strength.
There are a variety of reasons that Chanukah is observed for eight days. Some sources say that the task of rebuilding the Temple’s altar took eight days and, therefore, Chanukah is observed for eight days. Another, perhaps more familiar, interpretation is found in the Talmud: when the Syrian-Greeks destroyed the Temple, they desecrated all the jugs of oil that the High Priests had prepared for the lighting of the Temple menorah. After much searching, one small undefiled jug could be found. This jug contained enough oil to burn in the menorah for one day. The menorah was lit and a miracle happened; the flame continued to burn for eight days. Chanukah has since become known as the Festival of Lights.
Another explanation is that during the three years of fighting to recapture the Temple mount, the Jewish rebels had been unable to celebrate Sukkot. On the 25th day of Kislev, they celebrated an eight day festival of rededication, modeled perhaps on the eight day celebration of Sukkot (Did you know that the first and second temples were dedicated during the Sukkot holiday?).
Yet another interpretation regarding the wonder of Chanukah is that the miracle wasn’t only that the oil lasted for eight days, but that there was enough faith to light the menorah even though it shouldn’t have lasted very long.
How to Hold the Candle Lighting Ceremony The menorah (or Israeli name hanukkiyah) is lit as soon after dark as possible. On Friday night, the menorah is lit before the Shabbat candles and on Saturday night it is lit after Havdalah is completed. While holding the lighted Shamash, the following two blessings are said (or sung): Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech HaOlam, asher kidshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu lahadlik ner shel Chanukah. Praised are you, Lord our God, ruler of the universe who made us holy with commandments and bid us to kindle the Chanukah light.
Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech HaOlam, she’asah nissim laavoteinu bayamim hahem bazman hazeh. Praised are you, Lord our God, ruler of the universe, you have performed miracles for our ancestors, in those days, in this season.
On the first night only, the Sheheheyanu blessing is added. Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech HaOlam, sheheheyanu vekiyemanu, vehigi’anu, lazman hazeh. Praised are you, Lord our God, ruler of the universe who has given us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this moment.
The lights are kindled and it is preferable to place the menorah in a window so that the joy of the holiday be shared with passersby and they can see the lights. This is known in Hebrew as pirsum ha’nes (publicizing the miracle). The Chanukah lights are supposed to be dedicated only to pirsum ha’nes, and are not supposed to be used for reading, working or lighting other candles.
Why are the candles of the menorah lit from left to right? The candles are inserted from right to left (the direction in which we read Hebrew) with the newest addition being on the left, but they are kindled from left to right (with the candle for newest night kindled first). Equal importance is given to the right and left side of the menorah, which may be seen as God’s presence being everywhere.
Why is a ninth candle, called the Shamash, used to light the other candles in the menorah? The eight primary candles of the Chanukah menorah are exclusively used to celebrate the festival and may not be used for practical purposes. By having a ninth candle (Shamash means “servant”), one will not be tempted to use any of the eight primary candles for such purposes.
Do you know what the letters on the Draydel stand for? Draydels (Yiddish for “to turn”) are four sided tops with a different Hebrew letter on each side. The letters are: nun, gimmel, hay, and shin. These are the first letters in the words of the sentence “Nes gadol haya sham.” or “ A great miracle happened there”. Interesting to note, draydels in Israel have the first letters of the words nes, gadol, haya, and poh on them for “A great miracle happened here”. To play the game: decide on an amount of pennies, nuts, raisins or other items to put in the “pot”. Take turns spinning the draydel. If it lands on nun, you do nothing (in Yiddish: Nisht). If it lands on gimmel, you get everything (in Yiddish Gantz) in the pot and everyone needs to put another piece in. If it lands on hey, you get half (in Yiddish Halb)and shin means that you put (in Yiddish Shetel) one item back in. The game continues until one person takes all or until everyone has had enough.
Gifts Giving gifts is not historically a Chanukah tradition. Sharing small tokens with family and neighbors is more properly associated with the “michloach manot” of Purim. However, as with many customs in all cultures, ethnic groups tend to borrow from their surrounding neighbors. As we ponder what Easter bunnies or Christmas trees have to do with the teachings of Jesus, we come to understand these outside influences. In Eastern Europe, where many of our grandparents grew up, there was a Chanukah tradition of giving Chanukah money (gelt in Yiddish). This represents the minting of coins, symbolic of the national sovereignty of the Hasmoneans that is central to the Chanukah story. Most often we see this tradition now in the sharing and eating of chocolate gelt, wrapped in the familiar gold foil, with Maccabee heroes embossed on it. In America, where Christmas looms so large at the same time of year as Chanukah, the associated gift giving developed. Many American Jews practice sharing either small token gifts on each of the 8 nights of the holiday or something more substantive during the season. By contrast, in Israel, where there is less exposure to the Christian holiday, gift giving never took root as it has in America. We all mold our experiences based on family and cultural traditions.
Why are latkes and donuts traditionally eaten on Chanukah? Because both of these foods are fried in oil, it reminds us of the miracle of the cruise of oil which lasted for eight days instead of one.
Recipe for Potato Latkes
8 medium potatoes 1 small onion 1and1/2 teaspoon salt 2 eggs (beaten) ¼ teaspoon each of baking powder and pepper 2 Tablespoon butter
Grate together the potatoes and onion. Mix all the other ingredients into the grated mixture. Allow the mixture to set a few minutes. Drop by spoonful into hot oil and fry until brown. Serve with applesauce and sour cream.
Easy applesauce
Quarter and pare as many apples as you have people. Simmer until soft with a little water or apple juice. Stir occasionally and add liquid if needed. Carefully add brown sugar or honey to taste while hot and simmer a little more until blended. Season with cinnamon as desired plus a squirt of lemon juice.
The fact that different Jewish communities have found various meanings in Chanukah drives home the truth about all religious rituals: They thrive only when they mean something to people, when they externalize deeply felt concerns. Often, when we are attached to a ritual, we will infuse it with special meaning. Whatever your traditions are regarding Chanukah, keep performing them, your family will thank you.
Title Author
Bibliography The Jewish Holidays Michael Strassfeld Seasons Of Our Joy Arthur Waskow Jewish Family and Life Yosef I. Abramowitz and Rabbi Susan Silverman The Jewish Book of Why Afred J. Kolatch The Jewish Catalog Richard Siegel, Michael Strassfeld, Sharon Strassfeld The Jewish Parents’ Almanac Julie Hilton Danan
Books your children may enjoy Chanukah in Chelm David Adler and Kevin O’Malley Davey’s Hanukah Golem David Gantz Judah Who Always Said No Harriet Feder Asher and the Capmakers Eric Kimmel The Odd Potato Eileen Sherman and Katherine Kahn I Love Hanukah Marilyn Hirsh A Great Miracle Happened There Karla Kuskin Latkes and Applesauce Fran Manushkin The Miracle of Potato Latkes Malka Penn In The Month of Kislev Nina Jaffe The Chanukkah Guest Eric Kimmel A Turn for Noah Susan Remick Topek Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins Eric Kimmel Hanukkah Lights Hanukkah Nights Leslie Kimmelman My Lucky Dreidel Cherie Karo Schwartz The Chanukah Tree Eric Kimmel Sammy Spider’s First Chanukah Sylvia Rouss My First Chanukah Tomie dePaola The Story of Hanukkah Amy Ehrlich All About Chanukah Judith Groner and Madeline Wilker The Magic Dreidels Eric Kimmel All the Lights in the Night Arthur Levine ZigaZak Eric Kimmel
The Flying Latke Arthur Yorinks Toby Belfer Never Had a Christmas Tree Gloria Teles Pushker
Books for Young Adults Chanukah; Eight Nights of Light, Eight Gifts for the Soul Shimon Aposdorf Light Another Candle Miriam Chaikin The Dreidle Champ Smadar Shir Sidi Eight Lights William F. and Robert J. Rosenblum Menorahs, Mezuzas and other Jewish Symbols Miriam Chaikin Chanukah, Eight Nights of Light, Eight Gifts for the Soul Shimon Apisdorf The Power of Light; Eight Stories for Hanukkah Isaac Bashevis Singer Eight Tales for Eight Nights Penninah Schram and Steven Rosman The Christmas Menorahs Janice Cohn There Is No Such Thing as a Chanukah Bush Susan Sussman
Books for Adults Hannukah Anthology Philip Goodman Hanukkah Emily Solis-Cohen The Apocrapha The Antiquities Josephus Hanukkah, The Family Guide to Spiritual Celebration Ron Wolfson A Different Light; The Hanukkah Book of Celebration Noam Zion and Barbara Spectre, Eds.