Chanukah

Chanukah is an eight day holiday that begins on the 25^th day of Kislev. Chanukah is celebrated in memory of the victory of the Jewish rebellion against the Greek suppression of Judaism.

Brief Historical Overview

In the second century BCE, during the time of the Second Temple, the Syrian-Greek empire, under the emperor Antiochus, began a systematic suppression of the Jewish religion. Numerous decrees were made forbidding, on pain of torture and death, important practices of Judaism, such as circumcision, and compelling the Jews to worship the Greek idols. In addition, the Greek forces massacred and enslaved thousands of Jews and plundered and defiled the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

The Jewish rebellion against this oppression began as a small revolt led by the Chashmonai (Hasmonean) family, the kohein (priest) Mattisyahu and his five sons. When Mattisyahu died he was succeeded by his son, Yehudah HaMakabee (the Maccabee).

Yehuda led the Jews to victory, driving the Greeks out of Jerusalem. The Jews were then able to clean the Temple and to resume the Temple service. This took place on the 25^th of Kislev.

At this point the famous "miracle of the lights" took place. Part of the Temple service is the lighting of the menorah. This requires ritually pure olive oil. Due to the Greek desecration of the Temple no such oil could be found except for one small container which contained enough oil to last for one day. Since it would take eight days to get the required new oil this was a serious problem. The Jews used this oil for the first day and it miraculously lasted for the full eight days till new oil was available.

The Jewish victory celebrated on Chanukah was primarily a religious victory, it ended the suppression of Judaism but the Jewish state continued to be under Greek political control to a large degree. (Ultimately, the Chashmonaim (Hasmoneans) did succeed in attaining political independence for the Jewish nation, but this was a long process and was not completed until some time after the death of Yehuda HaMakabee.) The holiday of Chanukah is named after the rededication of the Holy Temple, Chanukah means 'dedication ceremony' or 'inauguration'.

The Laws of Chanukah

It is prohibited to fast or to eulogize the dead on Chanukah. Some say that it is a mitzvah to have to have somewhat more festive meals on Chanukah.

There is no prohibition against work on Chanukah. However, some have a custom for women to refrain from work for the first half-hour after the menorah is lit. The reason for this custom is that there was a evil decree against Jewish women that every bride had to submit herself to the "use" of the governor before she could live with her husband. Yehudis, the daughter of Yochanan Kohein Gadol (the High Priest), was a very beautiful woman and the royal representative wanted her. When she was brought to the governor she fed him cheeses which made him thirsty so that he drank lots of wine and fell asleep. She then cut off his head and managed to bring it back to Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) where they displayed it to the enemies. When the enemies saw the head of their leader they became frightened and ran away. (This story apparently happened some time before the actual events which we celebrate on Chanukah. There is some question as to the actual details and time when it occurred.) There is also a custom to eat dairy foods on Chanukah because of this story.

Lighting the Menorah

The most well known law of Chanukah is the requirement to light the menorah. This requirement is binding on all Jews, men and women. The reason women are required to keep this mitzvah is because of the story of Yehudis mentioned above.

The Chanukah menorah is a kind of candelabra with eight lamps in a perfectly straight line, plus a ninth lamp which is separated from the others. The eight lamps should not be in a curve or zigzag, and should all be equal in height. Each lamp should be separated from the others with sufficient space that the flames do not touch. With wax candles care should be taken that they are separated enough that they do not melt each other. A menorah can be made from any material, but metal is best and silver is ideal.

All oils and candles are acceptable for the Chanukah menorah. Nevertheless, olive oil is the best oil for lighting, followed by any clean and smooth burning oil or candle. Electric lights are not acceptable. The candles should not be woven or twisted together (in the manner of a havdalah candle). The ideal wick is cotton, but any material which will function properly is acceptable.

Each night of Chanukah we are required to light at least one candle. The standard custom is to light one candle on the first night, two the second night, three the third night, etc. till the eighth night when eight candles are lit. The standard custom is for every member of the household to light their own menorah. Care should betaken not to crowd the menorahs together so that each menorah can be seen separately.

The mitzvah of menorah is to place it in the doorway facing the public domain. Today, since we live amongst non-Jews, the menorah should be placed in a window facing the public street. If this is not possible then the menorah should be placed by the door, within about 3.5 inches of the left doorpost (opposite the mezuzah). In all cases, the menorah should be at least a foot off the ground and less than 35 inches above the ground. (If it is over 35 inches above the ground one still fulfills the mitzvah, if however, it is over about 31 feet then one may not be fulfilling his obligation at all. If this is a problem then a rabbi should be consulted.)

The time for lighting the menorah is at nightfall, called tzeis hakochavim - when the stars come out. This is approximately an hour after sunset. (There are a variety of opinions on the exact time of nightfall in Jewish law. In addition, some authorities say the proper time for lighting the menorah is at sunset. One should consult a rabbi about the time he should use.) Sufficient oil must be provided to burn for a half-hour after nightfall. The candles cannot be lit before one and a quarter proportional hours before nightfall (called plag hamincha). (Proportional hours are obtained by dividing the amount of time from the beginning of the day till nightfall into twelve equal periods. During the winter these periods can be significantly less than an ordinary hour.) If one was unable to light at the proper time, he can still light as long as the people in the house are awake. If they have already gone to sleep he must light without reciting the blessings.

We are prohibited from using the Chanukah lights for any use. We cannot use them to read by or to light another fire. It is for this reason that it is customary to light an additional candle, called a shamash, so that if we use the light in the area of the menorah we will be using it's light and not the light of the Chanukah candles. The shamash should be placed somewhat higher than the rest of the menorah to distinguish it from the other candles.

The procedure for lighting

On each night of Chanukah one should gather the family together before lighting the menorah. On the first night one lights the lamp to his right, each night we add an additional lamp to the left of the previous lamps. Before lighting we recite two blessings:

Blessed are You, HaShem, King of the world, Who made us holy with His commandments, and commanded us to light the candle of Chanukah.

Blessed are You, HaShem, King of the world, Who did miracles for our fathers in those days, at this time.

The first time we light we add:

Blessed are You, HaShem, King of the world, Who has kept us alive, and has sustained us, and brought us to this time.

The candles are lit left to right, starting with the candle that was added this night. After the first candle is lit we recite HaNeiros Halalu (some authorities say not to recite HaNeiros Halalu until you have lit all the candles):

These candles we light because of the miracles, the wonders, the salvations, and the wars which You performed for our fathers in those days, at this time, through Your holy kohanim. For all eight days of Chanukah these candles are holy and we do not have permission to use them, but only to look at them, in order to give thanks and praise to Your great Name for Your miracles, Your wonders, and Your salvations.

After the candles have all been lit and HaNeiros Halalu has been recited many people have the custom to sing the song Ma'oz Tzur.

Lighting in the synagogue

The menorah is also lit in the synagogue with the blessings. The menorah should be placed on the southern wall and is lit between the mincha and maariv prayers. One does not fulfill his personal obligation with the synagogue's menorah.

Shabbos

On Friday afternoon, one lights the menorah before the lighting of the Shabbos candles. Both must be lit before sundown. Care must be taken to provide enough oil in the menorah (or large enough candles) that it will burn for a half-hour after nightfall.

After Shabbos, there are different customs whether to light the menorah before or after havdalah. One should consult a rabbi if he is uncertain what his custom is.

Travelers

If someone is not going to be home at the time when he is supposed to light he should consult a rabbi as to what he should do. This is a somewhat complicated issue.

Prayer

Hallel

We recite Hallel on every day of Chanukah.

Al HaNissim

The prayer Al HaNissim is inserted into Shemoneh Esrei (the Amidah) and into Birchas HaMazon - Grace after Meals for the entire eight days of Chanukah. In the Al HaNissim prayer for Chanukah we say:

[We thank You, HaShem,] for the miracles, the redemptions, the mighty deeds, the salvations, the wondrous deeds, the consolations, and the wars which You performed for our fathers in those days, at this time.

In the days of Mattisyahu, son of Yochanan Kohein Gadol, the Chashmonai, and his sons, when the evil Greek kingdom rose against Your nation Israel to make them forget Your Torah and to remove them from the laws of Your will. And You, in Your abundant mercy, stood for them in their time of oppression, You fought their fight, You judged their case, and You avenged their revenge. You delivered the strong into the hands of the weak, the numerous into the hands of the few, the impure into the hands of the pure, the evil into the hands of the righteous, and the wicked into the hands of the students of Your Torah. You made a great and holy name for Yourself in Your world, and You did a great salvation and redemption for Your nation, Israel, as [clear as] this very day. After this Your children came to the Holy of Holies of Your House, and they cleaned Your Temple, purified Your Holy Place, and lit candles in the courtyards of Your holiness. And they established these eight days to give thanks and praise to Your great Name.

Torah Reading

The Torah is read on every day of Chanukah. The sections read are from BaMidbar (Numbers) 7:22 - 8:4. In these sections the Torah speaks about the blessing of the Kohanim (Priests), the inauguration and dedication of the Mishkan (Sanctuary used in the desert) and the offerings of the tribal leaders in honor of the inauguration, and the lighting of the Menorah. This section has special significance on Chanukah because the construction of the Mishkan was completed on the 25^th of Kislev. The blessing of Kohanim is also significant since the miracle of Chanukah took place through the actions of the Kohanim.

Customs

One should speak about the miracles of Chanukah with his family.

Tzedaka - Charity

It is customary to increase the amount of charity one gives on Chanukah, particularly to poor Torah scholars.

Dreidel

There is a tradition to play with a dreidel on Chanukah. A dreidel is a four-sided top with the Hebrew letters distributed one to each side. Traditionally, these letters stand for the sentence:

These letters have further significance. In the Torah portion, VaYigash, which is generally read on the Shabbos of Chanukah, we find written, - "And he sent Yehuda before him... to Goshen" (B'reishis (Genesis) 46:28). The word "" - "to Goshen" is made up of the same letters which we write on a dreidel. The numerical value of these letters is 358. This is the same numerical value as the word - Moshiach (Messiah), referring to Moshiach who will be a descendant of Yehuda.

Latkes

It is a widely accepted custom to eat foods fried in oil on Chanukah. One of the most common such foods eaten on Chanukah is the potato latke (pancake). Donuts are another form of popular Chanukah food. While this custom is not mentioned in any traditional sources, the most common explanation given is that this is done in memory of the miracle of the lights which involved olive oil. Of course, the fact that these foods taste good has certainly helped this custom gain popularity.

More About Chanukah

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Related Books Available from Barnes & Noble:

Chanukah - A complete overview of the laws and significance of Chanukah.

Chanukah - 8 Nights of Light, 8 Gifts for the Soul.

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