Hannukah

THE HISTORY OF HANUKKAH

In the year 336 B.C.E., Alexander the Great, king of Macedonia, assembled a huge army and crossed from his native Greece into Asia. He defeated the army of Darius, king of Persian empire, which included Syria, Palestine and Egypt.

The Jewish People fared well under Alexander, as they had under the Persians, and were allowed to live according to their ancient laws. Unfortunately, his reign lasted only a decade.

After Alexander's death, his empire was divided. Palestine, located as a bridge between Africa and Asia, was caught between the Ptolemies, the rulers of Egypt, to the south, and the Seleucids, the rulers of Syria to the north. There was war between Syria and Egypt for almost one hundred years and the area was torn by invading armies.

Finally the war ended, leaving Syria in possession of Palestine. Once more, a fragile peace came to the little Jewish state. But it was a peace that depended upon the whims of Syrian kings. It was the whim of one such king, Antiochus, that destroyed the peace one and for all and led to the wonderful festival of Hanukkah.

Antiochus Epiphanes ("the glorious") became king of Syria in 175 B.C.E. and the Jewish People became his subjects. Externally he waged war against Egypt, while internally he tried to mold the different peoples of his kingdom into a monolithic empire.

From the beginning of his reign, Antiochus hated the Jewish People because they remained faithful to their own God and religion and refused to accept the idol worship of Hellenism.

After Antiochus was defeated by Rome and deprived of Egypt, his armies plundered the Temple in Jerusalem and tried to forcibly Hellenize Judea. He issued a decree that all people were to serve pagan gods and forbade study of the Torah, observance of the Sabbath and dietary laws, circumcision and all other precepts of Judaism. Anyone caught observing any Jewish practice was sentenced to death. Thousands of Jews died (becoming history's first religious martyrs) defying Antiochus' orders.

In 167 B.C.E., a statue of Zeus was erected in the Temple in Jerusalem, which was defiled and turned into a Grecian shrine. A pig was offered on the altar of the Temple and its blood was sprinkled in the Holy of Holies. Its meat was cooked and the broth poured on the Torah scrolls.

Many acts of heroism took place during this time. Hannah, a woman with seven sons, was ordered to bow to the image of Zeus. She refused to do so. One by one her sons were taken from her to be executed. All refused to bow to Zeus and all were killed. When Hannah saw the last of her sons led away, her heart could no longer bear the grief and she expired there in the hall of the king. It was said later by the great rabbis of Israel that her soul flew instantly to Heaven, where she shared everlasting happiness with her beloved children.

The first of light in the terrible period shone in the village of Modi'in where Mattathias and his five sons lived. They ere named Judah Maccabee, Jonathan, Joanon, Eleazar and Simon.

When Mattathias killed an officer of Antiochus for sacrificing a pig on the altar of the Temple, he and his sons, along with a hardy band of patriots, fled to the hills. Mattathias and his men became guerilla fighters and, one after another, laid low the armies of Antiochus. Even against Syrian soldiers mounted on elephants, the Maccabees (as they had come to be called) prevailed.

The final test came at the town of Emmaus, which stood on the road to Jerusalem. The town quartered the Syrian army, which effectively blocked access to Jerusalem. Judah Maccabee marshaled his forces and attacked at dawn, taking the Syrians by surprise and defeating them.

In 165 B.C.E., the Jews returned to Jerusalem where they were met by a scene of filth and desolation. The Torah Scrolls had been torn and scattered about, statues of Greek idols abounded and swine had been sacrificed on the altar of the Temple. The people worked unceasingly, until the Temple was ready to be rededicated. On the twenty-fifth day of the month of Kislev, with a little flask of oil — "miraculously" lasted for eight days. Since that time, we have celebrated Hanukkah, which means "dedication," for eight days each year to commemorate the Festival of Lights and the Triumph of Freedom.

THE HANUKKIAH, OR HANUKKAH MENORAH

Lighting the menorah is the most important part of the Hanukkah celebration (even though some say it's the latkes). The light of the menorah reminds Jewish people of the faith and courage of the Maccabees during dark and dismal times.

This special menorah is a candelabrum with eight (8), not the usual seven (7), branches and an added branch for the shamash, the ninth candle. Shamash means servant. The shamash is lit with a match and is used to light all the other candles on the menorah. After the shamash lights the other candles, it is placed in the ninth candle holder of the menorah which is usually on a different (higher) level from that of the other branches.

On the first night (the eve) of Hanukkah, only one candle is lit. This candle is placed in the holder on the far right as you face the menorah. On the second night, a second candle is lit by the shamash as well. It is placed to the left of the first candle. The second candle is lit first, then the first candle is lit. This continues for six more nights, as each new candle is added to the menorah. The candles are put in from right to left, but lit from left to right (confusing, huh!). In this way, each candle position has a turn to hold the candle that is first lit.

AN OUTLINE FOR FAMILY PARTICIPATION

Kindle the Lights

Basic to the celebration of this happy festival is the kindling of the Hanukkah Lights, preceded by the Hanukkah Blessings and followed by the singing of "Rock of Ages."

Each day the children take turns reciting the blessings (parents, if children can't read). This is followed by the reading of the daily paragraph for the Servant Light, Shamash, and the special prayer of the day.

The Blessings (Each Day)

Bo-ruch Ata a-do-nai, e-lohe-nu, me-lech ha-o-lam, a-sher kid-d'sha-nu b'mits-vo-tov v'tsi-va-nu l'had-lik ner schel Cha-nu-ka.

Praised are you, O Lord our God, King of the World who, has sanctified us by Your commandments and commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah lights.

The Servant Light or Shamash (Each Day)

As one candle may kindle others and yet lose none of its own light, so Judaism has kindled the light of truth for many religions in many lands and still shines brightly through the ages.

First Day: The first light tells of Him whose first command was "Let there be light." The darkness of idol-worship which scattered when Israel brought the radiant knowledge of One God. "I am the first and I am the last" saith the Lord.
Second Day: The second is the light of the Torah. Israel's book of law has brought learning and truth to all the western world. "The commandment is a lamp and the law is a light."
Third Day: The third is the light of Justice. No nation can endure which is unjust to the weak. "Justice, always Justice shall you pursue," was the grandest command of Moses, our teacher.
Fourth Day: The fourth is the light of Mercy. Cruelty hardens the heart and destroys friendship. "Do justice and love mercy," was the teaching of Micah, the prophet.
Fifth Day: The fifth is the light of Holiness. Purity of thought and nobility of action make all of life sacred. From the prophet Isaiah these words have been taken into Israel's prayer book—"Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Hosts."
Sixth Day: The sixth is the light of Love. When the love which our parents give us makes all our life beautiful, we learn to understand the Biblical words, "Thou shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and might."
Seventh Day: The seventh is the calm light of Patience. Nothing can be achieved in haste. The spreading tree and the soul of man grow slowly to perfection. Thus sang Kind David, "Trust in the Lord, wait patiently for Him."
Eighth Day: The eighth is the light of Courage. Let truth and justice be your armor and fear not. Judas Maccabeaus, the hero of Hanukkah, lived by the words which Moses spoke to Joshua, "Be strong and of good courage."

DID YOU KNOW...?

The name of this holiday can be spelled Hanukkah, Chanukkah, Hanukah, Chanukah, Hanuka or Chanuka.
The traditional holiday "top" can be spelled dreidel or draydel.
Hanukkah gelt is given to recall that when the Maccabees returned to Jerusalem, they re-lit the Menorah and struck coins to commemorate their freedom.
The dreidel saved many lives. According to legend, the top was invented during the time of the Maccabees. Since Antiochus forbad the study of Torah, people gathered in small groups and studied secretly and by memory. When the "lookout" saw soldiers approaching, the scholars played the innocent appearing dreidel game to escape detection of their true purpose.
Latkes were originally made from cheese, not potatoes. The custom of eating pancakes (latkes) is connected to the story of Judith and is linked to the story of Hanukkah. Legend has it that Judith fed cheese to a leader of the enemies of the Jews. The cheese made him thirsty and be began to drink wine. When he grew quite drunk, Judith beheaded him. For this reason, cheese delicacies are eaten on Hanukkah.

BOOKS FOR CHILDREN

Moishe's Miracle: A Hanukkah Story by Laura Krauss Melmed
The Jar of Fools: Eight Hanukkah Stories from Chelm by Eric A. Kimmel
Our Eight Nights of Hanukkah

by Michael J. Rosen
The Runaway Latkes by Leslie Kimmelman
Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric A. Kimmel
The Magic Dreidels: A Hanukkah Story by Eric A. Kimmel
Arielle and the Hanukkah Surprise by Shirley Newberger