Chanukah Guide the Holiday of Chanukah Is Based on the Victory of the Maccabees Over the Syrian Greeks

Chanukah Guide The holiday of Chanukah is based on the victory of the Maccabees over the Syrian Greeks. The Dideven tsyou on w hknowich Chan thatukah is binas eancientd took place timesin the La nthered of Israe wasl, in th ea 1 6difference0s BCE. Antioch uofs, the Syrian king, tried to stop Jewish practices, and took over the Temple in Jerusalem. Mattityahu opinionand his five sasons , tolate r howknown toas t hcelebratee Maccabees, l edChanukah? a revolt against ATnhetioc hstudentsus and his a rmofy Rabbi(‘Maccab eShammaie’ is a name take nbelieved from the Heb rthatew wor dthe for ‘h amcelebrationmer,’ reflecting th eofir m iChanukahlitary strength). The revolt was successful, leading to the reclamation and purification of the Temple. shouldThe word ‘beginChanuk awithh’ is sh oeightrt for ‘C candles,hanukat Ha Btakingayit,’ the roneededi cawayation of teachhe Tem pnight.le. The TheMacc astudentsbees also es tofabli sanotherhed the Ha srabbi,monean Rabbidynasty, wHillelhich k einsistedpt Israel un uponder Jew istartingsh rule for almost two hundred years. withThe moneost fa mcandleous story oandf Cha nthenukah i nvaddingolves the moneiracle omoref the oi l.each It is sa idnight. that wh enT hethe SchoolMaccabee s cofam eRabbi to rededi caHillelte the T emprevailedple, there was obecause“holinessnly enough oil to light the Te mispl e some-menorah for one day. A miracle happened and the oil lasted for eight days. Interestingly, this story does not thingappear u nthattil cen tmusturies aft egrow,r the Ma cnotcabea ndiminish.” revolt took placAe, ndand ftheirst ap spiritpears in tofhe Tholinessalmud. shouldChanuk abeh is communicatedan eight-day festival, mandarked shared.by the ligh tTherefore,ing of the Cha nitu kisiah ao r mitzvahChanukah menorah. We eat foods like latkes and sufganiyot (jelly donuts) to celebrate the miracle of the tooil, placewe play dthereidl ,Chanukah and we tell the lightsstory of tathe Ma awindowccabees. Th efacing story of Cyourhanuk aneighbors.h has become an inspiration for a strong and enduring Jewish identity. prayers

LIGHTING THE CHANUKIAH The candles are placed in the Chanukiah from right to left. Light only the Shamash, take it in your hand and say:

Ba-ruch a-tah Adonai, Eloheinu meh-lech ha-olam, a-sher kid'shanu b'mitz-votav v'tzi-vanu l'had-lik ner shel Chanukah.

We praise you, Eternal God, Sovereign of the universe: You hallow us with Your Mitzvot, and command us to kindle the Chanukah lights.

Ba-ruch a-tah Adonai, Eloheinu meh-lech ha-olam, sheh-a-sa ni-sim la-a-vo-tei-nu ba-ya-mim ha-heim ba-z'man ha-zeh.

We praise you, Eternal God, Sovereign of the universe: Who worked miracles for our ancestors in days long ago, at this season.

On the first night Chanukah, a third blessing is also said:

Ba-ruch a-tah Adonai, Eloheinu meh-lech ha-olam, sheh–heh-cheh-ya-nu v'ki-y'ma-nu v'hi-gi-a-nu la-z'man ha-zeh.

We praise you, Eternal God, Sovereign of the universe: Who has kept us alive and strong and brought us to this season.

Light the candles. Beginning with the newest candle, proceed to light from left to right. Then say: We kindle these lights on account of the miracles, the rescuing deeds, the wars You carried out for our ancestors through the hands of Your holy priests and throughout all of these eight days of Chanukah. These lights are holy and we are not permitted to make use of them, only to look at them, in order to give praise to Your Name for Your miracles, for Your rescuing deeds, and for Your marvelous acts.

&songs

Sevivon Greenspan – Folk

S'vivon sov sov sov Chanukah hu chag tov (2x) S'vivon sov sov sov

Chag simcha hu la-am Nes gadol haya sham (2x) Chag simcha hu la-am.

Light One Candle CHORUS CHORUS Don't let the light go out What is the memory that's Peter Yarrow It's lasted for so many years valued so highly Don't let the light go out That we keep it alive in Light one candle for the Let it shine through our love that flame? Maccabee children and our tears. What's the commitment to Give thanks that their light did those who have died not die Light one candle for the When we cry out they've not Light one candle for the pain strength that we need died in vain? they endured To never become our own foe We have come this far always When their right to exist Light one candle for those who believing was denied are suffering the pain That justice would somehow Light one candle for the terrible We learned so long ago. prevail sacrifice Light one candle for all we This is the burden and this is Justice and freedom demand believe in the promise Light one candle for the Let anger not tear us apart And this is why we'll not fail. wisdom to know And light one candle to bind When the peace-makers time us together is at hand. With peace as the song in our heart.

Chanukah Oh Chanukah

Oh Chanukah Oh Chanukah, come light the menorah And while we are playing Let's have a party, we'll all dance the Horah The candles are burning low Gather round the table we'll give you a treat One for each night they shed a sweet light Dreidles to play with and latkes to eat To remind us of days long ago. songs

Who Can Retell Mi Yemaleil

Folk Mi Yemaleil g'vurot Yisrael O'tan mi yim-neh Who can retell Hen b'chol dor yakum ha-gibor the things that Go-el Ha-am befell us? Sh'ma! Who can Ba-ya-mim ha-hem ba-z'man ha-zeh count them? Ma-ka-bee mo-shee-a u-fo-deh In every age Uv'ya-mei-nu kol am Yisrael Yit-a-ched ya-kum v'yi-ga-el. a hero or sage came to our aid. Hark! In days of yore in Israel's ancient land Brave Maccabeus Rock of Ages led the faithful band Rock of ages let our song Praise Thy saving power But now all Israel Thou amidst the raging foes must as one arise Wast our sheltering tower Redeem itself Furious they assailed us through deed But Thine arm availed us &sacrifice And Thy word broke their sword When our own strength failed us. Who can retell...

Maoz Tsur

Ma-oz tsur y'shu-a-tee L'cha na-eh l'sha-bey-ach Tee-kon beyt t'fee-la-tee V'sham to-dah n'za-bey-ach L'yet ta-chin mat-bey-ach Mee-tzar ham'na-bey-ach (Az eg-mor b'shir mizmor Chanukat ha-miz-bey-ach.) (2x)