The windows of the Holy Temple were wider on the outside than on the inside. Instead of letting in sunlight like other windows, they were supposed to let out the light of the menorah to illuminate the rest of the world.
Maimonides wrote that the menorah in the temple in Jerusalem was adorned with 22 chalices – and all were turned upside down! They symbolize the blessings that G‑d pours on the world.
The Maccabees retook Jerusalem with the help of Jehudit, who snuck into the enemy’s camp, served the leader salty cheese and strong wine, and cut off his head with her sword as he slept.
The disciples of the great sage Shammai lit eight candles on the first day of Hanukkah and then snuffed out one each day because there is less darkness each day. According to Kabbalah, we will all follow this custom in the era of Moshiach.
Did you know that the first eve of Hanukkah never falls on a Monday?
During the Iran hostage crisis in 1979, President Carter attended the first menorah lighting on the White House lawn. It was the first time he had left the White House in 100 days.
The menorah in the temple in Jerusalem had only seven arms. Each carried exactly the same amount of oil, but the lamp closest to the Holy of Holies burned twice as long as the rest.
An estimated 0.5 million latkes will be consumed at public menorah lighting this year.
The Jewish Festival of Lights falls in the dark season. This commemorates three important events in the history of the Jewish people that tell of self-assertion and the preservation of religion, namely the liberation from Hellenistic rule, the second consecration of the temple in Jerusalem – and a miracle of light that lasted eight days. In memory of this, special prayers are said in the synagogue in the morning. In the evenings, the families meet at home and always light a new candle on Hanukkah – until all eight candles are burning. In times of the pandemic, celebrations are less boisterous and quieter.
Hanukkah is a so-called semi-holiday – a day that does not go back to biblical commandments, but to historical events. That is why Jewish believers can only commemorate the rescue of Israel from Hellenistic foreign rule more than 2,000 years ago after the work has been done.
The Miracle of Light
The occupiers made life difficult for the Jews with constant new commands and laws. In the end, they also banned them from practicing religion. The Jews defend themselves against this. Led by Judas Maccabeus and his brothers, they defeated the Seleucids in the so-called Maccabee Rebellion in the 2nd century BC and also recaptured their temple in Jerusalem. When they wanted to take it back and purify it first, they found only a small residue of consecrated oil to light up. Miraculously, however, it burned not just for one but for eight days, as a Talmud legend tells. Just as long until new, kosher oil was produced. The dedication of the temple (Hanukkah habajit) was celebrated in 164 BC. According to the Jewish calendar on 25 Kislew.
Why is celebrated for eight days
To commemorate this miracle, a new candle is lit from the eight-armed Hanukkah candlestick in Jewish homes and synagogues each evening during the Festival of Lights. For this, the ninth candle is used, which is called “Shamash” (servant). The ritual of lighting also includes blessings and prayers: “Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who worked wonders on our fathers in those days at this time.” The candles are lit from right to left, the new one always first.
Jewish Festival of Lights Hanukkah is celebrated quietly again
The Jewish Festival of Lights begins on Sunday afternoon with the lighting of the first light on the Hanukkah candlestick. Because of the corona pandemic, Thuringia is again celebrating quietly.
Family party with spinning tops and latkes
According to tradition, from sunset to midnight, as long as the lights are on, people don’t work in the house, but sing and play. The Trendl or Dreidel game with a four-sided spinning top bearing four Hebrew characters is popular. They result in the saying: “A great miracle happened here.” In addition, the children are given presents every evening, and there are special dishes such as latkes, a type of potato pancake, and sufganiot, shortbread cookies baked in oil.
At the end of Hanukkah, all eight lights are lit. So that the believers remember the miracle of light and God’s presence, many Jews place their Hanukkiah on their window sills and doorways. In doing so, they testify to their faith, their trust in God and often also their pride in being Jews.
Hanukkah ceremony at the memorial in Leipzig
Like last year, the festival falls under the restrictions of the pandemic for the second time. Nevertheless, the 2020 festival in Leipzig was celebrated with a special ceremony. Saxony’s state rabbi Zsolt Balla inaugurated an eight-armed Hanukkah candlestick at the memorial site of the former Great Synagogue. Representatives of the Jewish community, the Leipzig city administration and residents were present to set a sign for peace and community with the symbolic joint act of lighting candles. The 3.50 meter high electric candle holder was made by the theater workshops of the Leipzig Opera and is to be set up at the memorial every year for Hanukkah.
During the eight days of Hanukkah, eight candles are lit from left to right after sunset—one candle on the first day, two candles on the second day, and so on—until all eight candles are lit on the eighth day. They are lit with an extra candle, called a servant, which stands in the middle.
What do you wish for on Hanukkah?
We wish each other “Hanukkah sameach” – a happy Hanukkah.
How many candles do you need for Hanukkah?
In memory of the oil miracle, the Hanukkah candlestick – it is called “Hanukkah” – still has eight arms today: On each Hanukkah evening, one more light is lit, always from right to left, so that on the last evening all eight candles are burning.
What is Hanukkah Explained for Children?
Hanukkah is a Jewish festival. It is also called Hanukkah or Festival of Lights. It is celebrated every year for eight days and nights, in November and December. The festival’s name comes from a Hebrew word for “to dedicate” or “to surrender.”
What do children get on Hanukkah?
Potato pancakes fried in oil and filled donuts for dessert are traditionally eaten. Hanukkah is especially great for children. You will receive a small present every evening. Often, instead of a gift, there is also a little money, part of which they should donate to a good cause.
What do you give for the Jewish New Year?
One encounters such rituals again and again in the Jewish religion. “There is even a mitzvah – a commandment to give. Once there is “Mischloach Manot” – there you should send edible things to friends, relatives, acquaintances. These should be foods that can be eaten immediately.
What is the Hanukkah money?
The chocolate money, now known worldwide, is still particularly popular in the USA as “Gelt”. The festival of Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in 165 BC. Each day another candle is lit from a menorah.
How long does the Hanukkah festival last?
Jews remember this miracle on Hanukkah. They light one candle of the candlestick on each day of the festival – until all eight lights are burning on the eighth evening.
Why does the Hanukkah candlestick have nine candles?
The candlestick, the so-called Hanukkiah, has eight or nine arms accordingly. The ninth holder is for the “servant” (in Hebrew: shamash): a candle used to light the other eight candles after the blessing (brachot). The date of the Jewish festival of lights depends on the moon.
What is the meaning of the Hanukkah candlestick?
At the end of Hanukkah, all eight lights are lit. So that the believers remember the miracle of light and God’s presence, many Jews place their Hanukkiah on their window sills and doorways.
What is forbidden on Hanukkah?
The Rabbis taught: On the 25th (of the month) Kislev (begin) the eight days of Hanukkah. Neither mourning nor fasting is allowed on them. When the Greeks invaded the temple, they contaminated all the oils that were in the temple.
Where is the Hanukkah lamp in the synagogue?
The Hanukkah chandelier in front of the Ohel Jacob Synagogue is considered one of the largest in the world.
When is the 25 Kislev?
Celebrated December through December 26, 2022. It always takes place on the 25th day of the Jewish month Kislev.
When do you light Hanukkah candles?
Traditionally, no work is allowed to be done after the Shabbat lights are lit, although they are lit a few minutes before Shabbat begins. Therefore, on Friday evening, the Hanukkah candles are lit before the Shabbat candles.
How many candles does the Jewish candlestick have?
Today the Hanukkah candlestick has exactly eight candlesticks, which are symbolic of those eight days that the light burned in the temple. Every Jewish family has such a candlestick, the candles of which may only be lit at Hanukkah.
Is Christmas a Jewish festival?
Modern Jewish families in particular adopted elements of Christmas customs into the Hanukkah festival. Hanukkah gifts or Hanukkah money have been common since the 19th century. Many families from the German-Jewish bourgeoisie celebrated Christmas directly as a purely secular winter festival.
What do you give to a Jewish wedding?
When one thinks of Israeli weddings, the chuppah canopy, crushed wine glasses and Hora dances spring to mind.
What is the highest Jewish festival?
Yom Kippur is the highest and holiest holiday in the Jewish calendar. Ten days after Rosh Hashanah, it is the day of reconciliation between God and man.
What is celebrated on Rosh Hashanah?
According to the Talmud, Rosh Hashanah is the beginning and consequently the anniversary of the creation of the world, but it also stands for the anniversary of the creation of Adam. It is the day of the call to take stock of the moral and religious behavior of the past year and to approach God with prayers for a good future.
What does the candle mean in Judaism?
Es gibt im Judentum den Brauch (Minhag) am Jahrestag des Todes eines geliebten Menschen eine Jahrzeit-Kerze zu entzünden. Diese Kerze soll 24 Stunden lang brennen, deshalb gibt es Kerzenhalter spezieller Größe, um eine Kerze mit langer Brenndauer aufzunehmen.
Why does the Jewish candlestick have 7 arms?
It includes the numbers four (four evangelists and four winds) and three. In the Revelation of John, Christ appears with seven golden candlesticks (Rev 1:12) symbolizing the seven churches (Rev 1:20) to which John is writing. Christ carries the keys of death and hell in the vision.
In which religion is Hanukkah celebrated?
Warm candlelight, the smell of baking, delicious sweets and lots of gifts – that’s typical for Christmas. But not just for Christmas! In the Jewish religion, there is also a festival around this time of year that children particularly look forward to: the Jewish Festival of Lights, called Hanukkah.
How is Hanukkah celebrated today?
Hanukkah is also called the Festival of Lights because the traditional eight-flame candlestick, Hanukkah, is lit every day throughout the festival. Attention: Not all candles are lit at the same time. According to custom, one candle is lit each day after sunset during the weekdays.
Where is the Jewish festival of Hanukkah premiered?
A premiere for the Jewish community on the site of the Old Synagogue: after more than 80 years, a light was lit again on a Hanukkah candlestick at the historic site. People of the Jewish faith celebrate the Festival of Lights on these days.
When is the month of Kislev?
Kislev. Meanings: according to the Jewish calendar, the third month in the civil calendar year or ninth month in the religious festival year (according to the Gregorian calendar: November/December).
The word Hanukkah comes from the Hebrew and means “to devote oneself”. It marks the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem when the Maccabees rebelled against the Seleucid Empire. In the Jewish faith, Hanukkah is celebrated by reciting the Hallel prayer daily and lighting the Menorah candles to commemorate the miracle of the oil, which was supposed to give light in the temple for just one day but lasted eight days.
Although they are native to different regions (“Ashkenazi” is derived from the Hebrew word for Germany, while “Sephardic” is derived from the Hebrew word for Spain), holiday food plays a central role for both Jewish faith groups. An important part of the celebrations are traditional, often oil-based dishes such as latkes, which are also intended to commemorate the miracle of oil.
To celebrate the start of Hanukkah, we’ve put together 4 signature recipes that are sure to get everyone in the holiday spirit.
Braised brisket
One of the cheapest cuts of beef, but certainly one of the tastiest using our slow-cooking method. Our variant is braised for over 3 hours, making the brisket even tastier and more tender than the most expensive piece of steak. A traditional Jewish dish that has become a popular dish around the world as a result of the emigration of Ashkenazi Jews to the United States.
Coconut macaroons
Traditionally prepared by Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jews, macaroons in many different forms have long had their place in Jewish food culture. Originally made from pistachios, almonds and cashews by Sephardic Jews in Egypt, the coconut macaroons are better known and more common, especially in Europe and the USA.
Orange Almond Cake
This cake is a very popular Middle Eastern Jewish recipe that couldn’t be simpler. With just a few ingredients and in a few steps, one of the most delicious cake variations is conjured up on the table, but you should bring some time for the preparation.
Potato Pancakes with Applesauce
When we talk about oily foods, we cannot ignore potato pancakes. Often referred to as “latkes,” the rich fritters are a popular dish during the Hanukkah festival. Whether enjoyed with sour cream and chives or with applesauce – latkes are probably one of the best feel-good dishes and, as a traditional Ashkenazi recipe, can also often be found in Central and Eastern Europe.
