The Story of Chanukah
Under this relatively benevolent rule, many Jews assimilated much of Hellenistic culture, adopting the language, the customs and the dress of the Greeks.
More than a century later, a successor of Alexander, Antiochus IV was in control of the region. He began to oppress the Jews severely, placing a Hellenistic priest in the Temple, massacring Jews, prohibiting the practice of the Jewish religion, and desecrating the Temple by requiring the sacrifice of pigs (a non-kosher animal) on the altar.
The Rebellion Against Antiochus and the Miracle
Oil was needed for the menorah
According to tradition as recorded in The Talmud, at the time of the rededication, there was very little oil left that had not been defiled by the Greeks. Oil was needed for the menorah (candelabrum) in the Temple, which was supposed to burn throughout the night every night.
There was only enough oil to burn for one day, yet miraculously, it burned for eight days, the time needed to prepare a fresh supply of oil for the menorah. An eight day festival was declared to commemorate this miracle.
Chanukah Gelt
An Excellent Introduction to Chanukah
with Theodore Bikel
A Taste of Chanukah
Amazon Price: $13.49 (as of 01/01/2010)
List Price: $14.99
A Taste of Chanukah is a joyous celebration of Chanukah that the whole family can enjoy. Hosted by Theodore Bikel and led by Artistic Director Hankus Netsky, the program serves up a festive hour-long concert. The program features over 150 musicians from the different ensembles recorded live at the New England Conservatory's Jordan Hall in Boston. Listeners will delight in humorist Chasia Segal, who demonstrates how to cook perfect potato latkes.
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Not in Scripture
Chanukah is not an important religious holiday
Chanukah Candles
Lighting Chanukah Candles
How to light Chanukah candles
On the first night, one candle is placed at the far right. The shammus candle is lit and three berakhot (blessings) are recited: l'hadlik neir (a general prayer over candles), she-asah nisim (a prayer thanking God for performing miracles for our ancestors at this time), and she-hekhianu (a general prayer thanking God for allowing us to reach this time of year). The first candle is then lit using the shammus candle, and the shammus candle is placed in its holder. The candles are allowed to burn out on their own after a minimum of 1/2 hour.
Chanukah Crafts
Jewish Chanukah Scratch Art Kit - Set of 4
Amazon Price: (as of 01/01/2010)
Great holiday activity for the kids: Lot contains 4 scratch art kits, with one or more Jewish images plus scratching tools. For children ages 6/+, not to be used by children under age 3. Each image is 4 x 6".
The Shammus
The worker candle
Why the shammus candle? The Chanukah candles are for pleasure only; we are not allowed to use them for any productive purpose. We keep an extra one around (the shammus), so that if we need to do something useful with a candle, we don't accidentally use the Chanukah candles. The shammus candle is at a different height so that it is easily identified as the shammus.
Alexander the Great
Allowed religious freedom
T.E.S. ARTSHOP - Jewish Holidays - Over 1000 Jewish Holiday Clipart Images
Amazon Price: (as of 01/01/2010)
About -T.E.S. Artshop is a complete clipart collection for the Jewish Holidays. It covers all the events of a full Calendar year.Priced right and designed for easy access. T.E.S. Artshop is perfect for the professional designer as well as the teacher, activities director, educator, creative parent, as well as for children who love to create and color. Features - T.E.S. ARTSHOP - Jewish HolidaysOver 1,000 Professionally Drawn Images. Windows viewer included. Thumbnail and actual size views. Easy Copy, Save, Print any picture. Divided into 15 categories in separate folders makes finding the pictures you want simple. Handy ready print format. Vector-based WMF format with complete editing capabilities. 1 CD-ROM easy to access Picture Categories:Chanukah Lag BaOmer Passover Purim Rosh HaShanna Shavuous Simchas Torah Succos Tu BShevat Yom Haatzmaut Yom HaShoah Yom HaZikaron Yom Yerushalyaim Yom Kippur.
Jewish Holidays
Amazon Price: $18.68 (as of 01/01/2010)
List Price: $25.99
"This is a delightful, interesting, evocative, uesful, and occasionally outragous book that fills a real need." -- Rabbi Richard J. Israel
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They needed oil for the lamp in the holy Temple
Help Others Less Fortunate
The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation seeks to prevent pediatric HIV infection and to eradicate pediatric AIDS through research, advocacy, and prevention and treatment programs.
Chanukah Traditions
Fried foods are traditional for Chanukah
Gift-giving is not a traditional part of the holiday. The only traditional gift of the holiday is "gelt," small amounts of money.
Another tradition of the holiday is playing dreidel, a gambling game played with a square top. Most people play for matchsticks, pennies, M&Ms or chocolate coins. The traditional explanation of this game is that during the time of Antiochus' oppression, those who wanted to study Torah (an illegal activity) would conceal their activity by playing gambling games with a top (a common and legal activity) whenever an official or inspector was within sight.
Who Can Retell?
Who can retell the things that befell us, who can count them?
In every age a hero or sage came to our aid
Who can retell the things that befell us, who can count them?
In every age a hero or sage came to our aid
Hear! In days of yore in Israel's ancient land
Maccabeus led the faithful band
Now all Israel must as one arise
Redeem itself through deed and sacrifice
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How to Bless the Chanukah Candles
Candles should be added to the menorah from right to left. The shammus candle is lit first. While holding the shammus candle, recite the following blessings. They are usually sung.
Blessing over Candles
Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam
Blessed are you, Lord, our God, sovereign of the universe
asher kidishanu b'mitz'votav v'tzivanu
Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us
l'had'lik neir shel Chanukah. (Amen)
to light the lights of Chanukah. (Amen)
Blessing for Chanukah
Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam
Blessed are you, Lord, our God, sovereign of the universe
she'asah nisim la'avoteinu bayamim haheim baziman hazeh. (Amen)
Who performed miracles for our ancestors in those days at this time.
Shehecheyanu (first night only)
Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam
Blessed are you, Lord, our God, sovereign of the universe
shehecheyanu v'kiyimanu v'higi'anu laz'man hazeh. (Amen)
who has kept us alive, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season. (Amen)
After reciting the blessings, use the shammus to light the Chanukah candles from left to right (newest to oldest).
Candles should be left burning until they go out on their own. They must burn for more than half an hour. Standard Chanukah candles burn for about an hour.
Chanukah Lights Everywhere
Amazon Price: $7.00 (as of 01/01/2010)
On each of the eight nights of Chanukah, a young boy finds a matching number of lights in the world around him to remind him of the burning candles on his family's menorah. The warm, appealing acrylic illustrations and the counting element make this a good choice to share with preschoolers.-E. M.
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What Holidays Have Meaning to You?
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- spirituality spirituality Nov 27, 2009 @ 6:25 am
- Great lens. I've featured this at my Judaism quiz: http://www.squidoo.com/quiz-judaism
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- Pukeko Pukeko Nov 9, 2009 @ 9:51 pm
- Excellent job here. I have featured this lens at
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- KimGiancaterino KimGiancaterino May 7, 2009 @ 10:36 pm
- Very nice... I'm lensrolling to my 'Chanukah Song' lens.
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- JustBon-Crochet-Designs JustBon-Crochet-Designs Nov 16, 2008 @ 1:50 pm
- Great lens. I learned something here. 5*s
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- WendyKrick WendyKrick Nov 16, 2008 @ 8:51 am
- Wonderful Lens.
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- ArtByLinda ArtByLinda Nov 14, 2008 @ 11:15 pm
- Beautiful lens, I've learned a lot about the holiday. Though I have to say the candles on the menorah is too easy because they are right above the question! :-)
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- Mayflowerblood Mayflowerblood Nov 14, 2008 @ 10:37 pm
- Thanksgiving is very important to me it has to do with my family's history
Other Chanukah Lenses
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Playing Dreidel--A Chanukah Tradition
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Every religion has its rituals and traditions, and that is true of Chanukah as well. In our family, we light the Chanukah candles each night of Chanukah, eat our dinner, then after dinner we play the game of dreidel. Dreidel is a traditional Chanuka...
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Rosh Hashanah--The Jewish New Year
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Rosh Hashanah is the first holiday of the Jewish year, and begins the cycle of fall holidays which include Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah. These holidays hold deep meaning for Jews around the world, and are cel...
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Potato Latkes for Chanukah
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Chanukah is one of my favorite holidays to celebrate. I think that I like it so much because I always associate it with family, warmth, and good potato pancakes recipes. Of course, in our family, it is also a time to exchange presents which is fun in...
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Chicken Soup--Busting the Myth Behind Jewish Penicillin
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Chicken soup--the Jewish penicillin. How did that phrase develop? Well, I can tell you from a personal perspective that chicken soup is a penicillin in my family. And here is why--chicken soup may not heal all ills, but it sure makes you feel better...
- St Monica's Bridge: Catholics and Chanukah
- As for the question as to whether Jesus would have celebrated Chanukah, again not being a scholar of history, theology or science, I believe he was a faithful and practicing Jew and would have participated in all of the traditions and ...
- LA Moms Blog: Our Chanukah traditions: It's a wrap!
- Note: The follow sequence happens every year. On the first night of Chanukah, our house is a showpiece. Menorahs are displayed, gifts are piled high on the dining room table, the air is fragrant with the aroma of fresh latkes....
- Chanukah Traditions Remade: Jewish Festival of Lights is Retold ...
- Jews have found new ways to tell the story of the Maccabean revolt and its link to the nine-branch Chanukah menorah that is lit in memory of a miracle.
- Maggie's Notebook: Chanukah Traditions: Jewish Religious Determination
- Chanukah Traditions: Jewish Religious Determination. Rabbi Wyne tells the story of Chanukah in the video below. The holiday begins tonight. As a gentile, I forget the details, so this reprint from last year is a reminder of why Chanukah ...
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