Chanukah

Chanukah (also spelled Hanukkah) is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire. It is also known as the Festival of Lights and is observed by lighting the menorah, a nine-branched candelabrum.

History

Chanukah celebrates the victory of the Maccabees, a group of Jewish rebel warriors, over the Seleucid Empire. The holiday marks the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and the miracle of the oil. According to the Talmud, a small quantity of oil, enough for one day, miraculously lasted for eight days, which was the time needed to prepare a fresh supply of kosher oil for the menorah.

Observance

The primary ritual of Chanukah is the lighting of the menorah. Each night, one additional candle is lit by the shamash, the "helper" candle, until all eight candles are lit on the final night. The menorah is placed in a prominent location, often in a window, to publicize the miracle. Other customs include:

• Reciting special prayers, such as the Hallel and the Al HaNissim.
• Singing traditional songs like "Maoz Tzur."
• Playing the game of dreidel, a four-sided spinning top.
• Eating foods fried in oil, such as latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly-filled doughnuts).

Significance

Chanukah is a time for family gatherings, gift-giving, and reflection on themes of freedom and miracles. It is a minor holiday in the Jewish religious calendar but has gained significant cultural importance, especially in the Jewish diaspora.

Related Pages

• Judaism
• Jewish holidays
• Second Temple
• Maccabees
• Talmud
• Menorah (Hanukkah)
• Dreidel
• Latke
• Sufganiyah