much darkness! much

Just a little bit of light can dispel dispel can light of bit little a Just

Tishrei 25–Tevet 3 25–Tevet Tishrei

December 12–December 20 12–December December

DAY OF DAY OF NIGHT

The festival of lights! of festival The

Chanukah

All about All

Fun Facts

Chanukah gifts are not an original feature of the When the Jews traveled, following the Exodus from holiday. Like these gifts, the outsized stature that Egypt to the land of Israel, the twenty-fifth place Chanukah (a relatively minor holiday with no work they encamped was called Chashmonah. This can restrictions) enjoys today is likely due to the non- be seen as an allusion to the priestly family of which share proximity on the julian Chashmonaim (Hasmoneans), who led the Maccabee calendar and dominate our broader American armies in the battle against the Greeks, and who milieu. rested on the twenty-fifth day of Kislev.

In the original Hebrew, the 25th word in the Torah is According to Israel 21c, ‘Israelis will devour some Ohr (light). We begin lighting the Chanukah lights on 24 million Sufganiyot during the eight-day holiday, the 25th day of the month of Kislev. addition up to 10.8 billion calories!

“Therefore, the pure righteous do not complain of the dark, but increase the light; they do not complain of evil, but increase justice; they do not complain of heresy, but increase faith; they do not complain of ignorance, but increase “wisdom. – Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook - from “Arpilei Tohar”, p. 27–28 Copyright 2016 MJCC “ The Backstory

Chanukah is a Rabbinic holiday which celebrates miraculous (Judah the hammer) led a rebellion against the mighty and events taking place well after the five books of Moses larger Greek army. Eventually, their revolt was successful, were recorded. Nevertheless, the message of faith is clear. recapturing Jerusalem and the Temple, and rededicating When the world seems darkest, it is then we must remind it with light on the 25th of Kislev – the date Antiochus had ourselves we are not alone, and together with God we can issued his decrees of darkness and the date of the 2nd and will increase the light. Temple’s original dedicated.

This idea lays the foundation for Chanukah’s dual The Talmud (T.B. 21b) focuses on the metaphor of commemoration, the celebration of a miraculous military light amidst the darkness much more clearly. It tells the victory by the over Antiochus’s Syrian (Seleucid) story of how all the ritual oil had been defiled by the Greeks Greek army in the 2nd century BCE, and the miracle of the except for one cruse of pure oil which the Maccabees found oil which took place upon the restoration and rededication and used to light the golden Menorah (the Temple’s 7 armed (Chanukah literally means ‘dedication’) of the 2nd Temple in candelabra) despite the fact that the oil could only last one Jerusalem. day. God responds to their hope with a miracle, ensuring The reign of Antiochus was a dark one. The practice that single cruse of pure oil of Judaism was outlawed, he banned Brit Milah (ritual lasted 8 full days, sufficient circumcision), outlawed the observance of Shabbat and the to extend the light of their Festivals, and declared all must convert to worshiping the actions until additional pure Greek gods, or choose death. The 2nd Temple was looted and oil could be produced. desecrated, idols erected within its holy confines, and pigs In response to this miracle, sacrificed on the alter. the Rabbis declared, the 25th of Kislev each year The Talmud (T.B.Many Shabbat saintly 21b) focuses Jewish on thewomen metaphor willingly of light amidst risked the darkness their much lives more clearly, telling the storyto ofcircumcise how the oil had their been defiled sons by (See the Greeks, the yetbook the M ofaccabees Maccabees). finding only one cruse would be celebrated with the of pure oil litMattityahu the golden Menorah, a Kohein (the Temple’s (Jewish 7 armed priest), candelabra) and despite his the five fact that sons the oil could recitation of (praise) only last one day. God responds to their hope with a miracle, ensuring that that single cruse of pure oil lasted 8The full Talmud days,Yochanan sufficient (T.B. Shabbat ,to Shimon extend 21b) focuses the, lightEl’azar on ofthe their metaphor, Yonatan actions of until light, additamidstandional theYehuda puredarkness oil could HaMaccabimuch bemore clearl y, and thanksgiving. produced.telling the story of how the oil had been defiled by the Greeks, yet the Maccabees finding only one cruse Theof Talmud pure oil (T.B. lit the Shabbat golden 21b) Menorah focuses (the on Temple’s the metaphor 7 armed of candelabra) light amidst despite the darkness the fact much that themore oil clearl couldy, th As such,tellingonly the the last Rabbis story one day.declared,of how God the responds the oil 25 had toofbeen theirKislev defiled hope each withby year the a miracle, (winterGreeks, ensuringsolsticeyet the Mtime) thataccabees that would single finding be crusecelebrated only of onepure crusewith oil the recitationof purlastede oil 8 of litfull Hallel the days, golden (praise) sufficient Menorah and to thanksgiving.extend (the Temple’s the light of7 armedtheir actions candelabra) until addit despiteional the pure fact oil that could the be oil could onlyproduced. lastHow one day. God responds We to their Celebrate hope with a miracle, ensuring that that single cruse of pure oil

lasted 8 full days, sufficient to extend theth light of their actions until additional pure oil could be produced.As such,Lighting the Rabbis the declared, Chanukiah: the 25 of JustKislev aseach the year world (winter solsticegets dark, time) would we addbe celebrated light in with Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has granted Ritual Guidethe recitation – of Hallel (praise) and thanksgiving. commemoration of theth miraculous eight-day lighting of the seven us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion. As such, the Rabbis declared, the 25 of Kislev each year (winter solstice time) would be celebrated with How We Celebrate the recitationbranched of Hallel Menorah (praise) and. thanksgiving.In a place where Pirsumei Nisa – publicizing LightingRitual the ofChanukiah Guide the – miracle : Just as the- will world take gets place, dark, we we add light light in a commemoration special eight of branched the miraculous Reciting Hallel and Al HaNissim: Within the daily morning prayer, eight-day lighting of the seven branched Menorah. In a place where Pirsumei Nisa – publicizing of the Hallel – the special words of praise at God’s miracles – is recited. How Wecandelabra Celebrate (nine if you count the Shamash - helper candle), miracleRitual - will Guide take – place, we light a special eight branched candelabra (nine if you count the Shamash - Additionally, the Al HaNissim (‘upon the miracles’) prayer which increasing the number of candles from one on the first night, two helper candle),Lighting theincreasing Chanukiah the: numberJust as the of worldcandles gets from dark, one we onadd the light first in commemorationnight, two on the of second, the miraculous etc, recalls the miracle God performed in “delivering the strong into the How Weon Celebrate the second, etc,th until we reach eight candles on the 8th and until weeight reach-day eight lighting candles of the on seven the 8 branched and final Menorah night of. In Chanukah. a place where When Pirsumei lighting Nisa these – publicizing candles, ofthe the hands of the weak, the many into the hands of the few…” during the followingmiracle blessingsfinal - will aretakenight recited: place, of w eChanukah. light a special eightWhen branched lighting candelabra these (nine candles, if you count the the following Shamash - Lighting the Chanukiah: Just as the world gets dark, we add light in commemoration of the miraculous revolt is inserted into the Shmonah Esrei (the petitionary prayer at eighthelper-day candle),lighting ofincreasing the seven the branched number ofMenorah candles. fromIn a place one on where the first Pirsumei night, Nisatwo on– publicizing the second, of etc, the First blessing:blessings are recited: th miracleuntil we- will reach take eight place, candles we light on athe special 8 and eight final branched night of Chanukah.candelabra When (nine lightingif you count these the candles, Shamash the - the heart of each of the day’s prayer services), and into our Birkat following blessings are recited: .HaMazon – the grace after meals בָּרוּ� ַא,etcתָּ ה ה' אֱ ,second� ֵק theינוּ מֶ on לֶ� two הָעוֹלָם ,night אֲשֶׁ ר first ִ ק דְּ שָׁ the נ וּ onבְּ ִמ ְצ וֹ oneתָ י ו וְ ִצfrom וָּנוּ לְ ַה דְ ִלcandles יקof נֵר חֲ נ ֻכָּ הhelper candle), increasing the number First blessing: th untilFirst we blessing: reach eight candles on the 8 and final night of Chanukah. When lighting these candles, the Ba-ruchfollowing A-tahBa-ruch blessingsAdo-nai EareA-tah-lo -recited:he-nu Ado-nai Me -lech ha E-lo-he-nu-olam a-sher kiMe-lech-de-sha-nu ha-olam be-mitz-vo -a-shertav ve-tzi ki-de-sha--va-nu le- Songs and Games: While there are many great Chanukah songs בָּרוּ� ַא תָּ ה ה' אֱ � ֵק ינוּ מֶ לֶ� הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁ ר ִק דְּ שָׁ נ וּ בְּ ִמ ְצ וֹ תָ י ו וְ ִצוָּנוּ לְ ַה דְ ִליק נֵר חֲ נ ֻכָּ ה .had-lik ner Cha-nu-kah (just ask Adam Sandler), two are perhaps most traditional. They are BlessedFirst are blessing: You,nu be-mitz-vo-tavLord our G-d, King of ve-tzi-va-nu the universe, who le-had-lik has sanctified ner us Cha-nu-kah. with His commandments, and Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-he-nu Me-lech ha-olam a-sher ki-de-sha-nu be-mitz-vo-tav ve-tzi-va-nu le- HaNeirot Halalu (‘We kindle these lights’) and Ma’oz Tzur (‘Rock of בָּרוּ� ַא תָּ ה ה' אֱ � ֵק ינוּ מֶ לֶ� הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁ ר ִק דְּ שָׁ נ וּ בְּ ִמ ְצ וֹ תָ י ו וְ ִצוָּנוּ לְ ַה דְ ִליק נֵר חֲ נ .light ֻכָּ ה commandedhad-lik us ner to Cha kindle-nu- kah.the Chanukah BlessedBlessed are You, Lordare our You, G-d, Lord King of our the universe,God, King who hasof sanctifiedthe universe, us with His who commandments, has and Ages’) recited immediately following the lighting of the Chanukah SecondBa- ruchblessing: A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-he-nu Me-lech ha-olam a-sher ki-de-sha-nu be-mitz-vo-tav ve-tzi-va-nu le- commandedsanctified us to kindle us thewith Chanukah His commandments, light. and commanded us to kindle candles each night. The most famous song might be “I have a little had-lik ner Cha-nu-kah. Dreidle” which refers to a classic Chanukah game played with a 4 בָּרוּ� ַא תָּ ה ה' אֱ � ֵק ינוּ מֶ לֶ� הָעוֹלָם שֶׁ עָשָׂ ה נִ ִסּים ַלאֲ ֵבוֹתינוּ ַבּ ִיָּמ י ם הָ ֵהם בְּ ַזְּמן ַהזֶּה BlessedSecond theare blessing: You, Chanukah Lord our G -d,light. King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and Ba-ruchcommanded A-tah Ado us-nai to kindleE-lo-he the-nu Chanukah Me-lech Halight.-olam she-a-sa ni-sim la-avo-te-nu ba-ya-mim ha-hem bi- sided spinning top called a Dreidle. Each side of the Dreidle contains בָּרוּ� ַא תָּ ה ה' אֱ � ֵק ינוּ מֶ לֶ� הָעוֹלָם שֶׁ עָשָׂ ה נִ ִסּים ַלאֲ ֵבוֹתינוּ ַבּ ִיָּמ י ם הָ ֵהם בְּ ַזְּמן ַהזֶּה Shin) standing for) ש Hey), and) ה ,(Gimel) ג ,(Nun) נ - zman ha-zeh.Second blessing: a Hebrew letter Second blessing: BlessedBa are-ruch You, A -Lordtah Ado our-nai G- d,E- loKing-he -ofnu the Me -universe,lech Ha-olam who she performed-a-sa ni-sim miracles la-avo-te for-nu our ba -forefathersya-mim ha-hem in those bi- Neis Gadol Haya Sham – a great miracle happened there. In Israel, Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-he-nu Me-lech Ha-olam she-a-sa ni-sim (Pei) פ where the miracle took place, the last letter trades out for a בָּרוּ� ַא תָּ ה ה' אֱ � ֵק ינוּ מֶ לֶ� הָעוֹלָם שֶׁ עָשָׂ ה נִ ִסּים ַלאֲ ֵבוֹתינוּ ַבּ ִיָּמ י ם הָ ֵהם בְּ ַזְּמן ַהזֶּה .days, atzman this time.ha-zeh Blessedla-avo-te-nu are You, Lord our ba-ya-mim G-d, King of the ha-hem universe, who bi-zman performed ha-zeh. miracles for our forefathers in those ThirdBa blessing,-days,ruch Aat- tahrecitedthis Ado time. -onlynai E on-lo -thehe- nufirst Me night-lech (orHa -theolam first she time-a-sa lighting ni-sim la this-avo Chanukah):-te-nu ba-ya -mim ha-hem bi- for the word Po – here. zman ha-zeh. Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who performed Foods: Fried foods commemorate the miracle of the oil on בָּרוּ� those ַא תָּ in ה ה' אֱ � ֵק ינוּforefathers מֶ our לֶ� Chanukah): for הָעוֹלָם miracles thisשֶׁהֶחֱ יָנוּ lighting ִ וְק יְּ מָ נ וּ time ו performed ְִה ִגּwho first יעָנוּ orַ the)לְזְּמ ן ַה,night universeזֶּה BlessedThird areblessing, You, Lordrecited our only G-d, on King the of first the miracles for our forefathers in those days, at this time. Chanukah, with favorites including (potato pancakes) and בָּרוּ� ַאmanתָּ -ה liz ה'nu-אֱ a�-ֵק ינוּ higiמֶ -veלֶ� nu-הָעוֹלָםyi- ma-שֶׁהֶחֱ ki-יָנוּ ve ִוְק יְּ מָ nuנ -וּ ו ya ִ-ְה ִגּיעָנוּ e-hecheַלְזְּמן sh ַהזֶּה Ba-ruchdays, A -attah this Ado time.-nai E-lo-he-nu Me-lech Ha-olam ha-zeh.Third Ba -blessing,ruch A-tah recited Ado-nai only E- loon-he the-nu first Me -nightlech Ha (or-olam the first she -timeheche lighting-ya-nu vethis-ki Chanukah):-yi-ma-nu ve -higi-a-nu liz-man Sufganiot (doughnuts). Additionally, many have the custom to eat Blessed are You,Third Lord blessing, our G-d, King recited of the universe, only on who the has first granted night us life, (or sustained the first us, and time enabled dairy in memory of the courageous Jewish woman named Yehudit בָּרוּ� ַא תָּ ה ה' אֱ � ֵק ינוּ מֶ לֶ� הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהֶחֱ יָנוּ ִוְק יְּ מָ נ וּ ו ְִה ִגּיעָנוּ ַלְזְּמן ַהזֶּה .ha-zeh us to reach thislighting occasion. this Chanukah): Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled who seduced, fed and killed the Greek army. Chanukah Gelt, gold Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-he-nu Me-lech Ha-olam she-heche-ya-nu ve-ki-yi-ma-nu ve-higi-a-nu liz-man Recitingus Hallel to reach and this Al occasion.HaNissim : Within the daily morning prayer, Hallel – the special words of praise at ha-zeh. Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-he-nu Me-lech Ha-olam she-heche-ya-nu coins made of chocolate to go with the Dreidle game are also God’s miracles – is recited. Additionally, the Al HaNissim (‘upon the miracles’) prayer which recalls the BlessedReciting ve-ki-yi-ma-nuare Hallel You, Lord and Alour HaNissim G-d, ve-higi-a-nu King: Withinof the universe,the daily liz-man morning who has ha-zeh. prayer, granted H allelus life, – the sustained special wordsus, and of enabled praise at popular treats given to children. Al HaNissim us toGod’s reach miracles this occasion. – is recited. Additionally, the (‘upon the miracles’) prayer which recalls the

Reciting Hallel and Al HaNissim: Within the daily morning prayer, Hallel – the special words of praise at God’s miracles – is recited. Additionally, the Al HaNissim (‘upon the miracles’) prayer which recalls the