Happy Hanukkah or Chanukkah!

Hanukkah or Chanukkah is also called the Festival of Lights or the Festival of Rededication and is one of the more famous Jewish holidays. The date changes from year to year due to it being celebrated on the 25th day of Kislev on the Jewish calendar. The Jewish calendar day commences at sunset like the Islamic and Baha’i calendars, but they are listed on the Gregorian Calendar on the day after the holiday. In short, Hanukkah started December 15 at sunset but would appear on December 16th.

History of Hanukkah
*About 382 BC, Alexander the Great conquered the Syrian empire and allowed them to practice their own religions, etc.

*About 200 BC the Jewish people lived in what was called Judea or Israel, which was under the rule of king Seleucide of Syria. The people of Judea dutify paid their taxes.

*About 175 BC Antiochus IV Epiphanies ascended Seleucide’s throne. Little changed at first but gradually, things started to change. The Jews started being forced to break or violate their percepts (613 Commandments). Then rebelled and their temple in Jerusalem was looted, Jews were massacred and Judaism was outlawed.

*167 BC, King Antiochus ordered that and altar to Zeus be erected in the Temple. Mattathias (a Jewish Priest) and his five sons led a rebellion, one of his sons became known as Judah Maccabee (Judah the Hammer)

*166 BC, Judah took his fathers place as leader after his fathers death.

*165 BC, The revolt against the Seleucide monarchy was successful, the Temple was liberated and rededicated. A new alter had to be built to replace the Zeus alter, since it wasn’t sacred anymore. Tradition and the Talmud required that the menorah (candelabrum) in the Temple burn through-out the night, every night. There was only enough oil for the first night and it was a miracle that the menorah burned for eight days, giving them enough time to prepare a fresh supply of oil.

The holiday commemorates the miracle of the oil, not the military victory, Jews like Baha’is do not glorify war.

Hanukkah isn’t a very religious holiday, compared to holidays with a more significance like: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkoth, Passover and Shavu’ot.

Lighting of the Menorah
The Chanukkah candles are shorter than the one shammus (servant) candle. The first night the shammus candle is placed in the center and one regular candle (placed in the far right position). The shammus candle is lit and three blessings (berakhot) are recited over the candles. The first is a general prayer, the second thanking God for performing miracles, and lastly the thanking God for allowing them to reach this time of year again. The first candle is lit with the shammus candles and it is replaced in its holder. The candles are allowed to burn out on their own after a minumum of 30 minutes. Each night another candle is added, starting in the right position first. The first two prayers are recited (the third is only done on the first night) and the candles are lit from left to right honoring the newest first.

Traditions:
Fried foods, such as latkes (fried potato pancakes).
Gift exchange is not a tradition.Usually only children receive gifts to compensate for Christmas.
Dreidel game playing.