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HANUKKAH
For eight days in December, this “Festival of
Lights” honors an ancient victory of the Jews and
the miracle followed.
※ Jew (n) a person whose ancestors were the
Biblical Hebrews ; a person whose religion is
Judaism.
◎ What is Hanukkah?
More than 2,000 years ago, the Greeks and
Syrians ruled over the Jewish Holy Land. They
forbade the Jews to worship and desecrated the
Jewish Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Then a small
group of Jews known as Meccabees, led by Judah
Meccabee, fought and won a long battle against the
mighty Greek army. When the Jews regained
control, they purified and rededicated the temple.
They lit the temple’s menorah (an oil lamp), but
there was only enough oil for one day. The
menorah lights burned for eight days, and the Jews
believed God had performed a miracle.
desecrate (v) [
] to violate the
sacredness of; treat sacrilegiously.
把(神物)供俗用;褻瀆
During Hanukkah, Jews celebrate this victory
and the miracle of the menorah for eight nights.
Each night they light candles in their own menorah –
adding one candle each night. Sometimes called
“The Festival of Lights”, this holiday is also a time
to offer blessings to God, to exchange gifts, and to
enjoy many Hanukkah foods, games, and songs.
◎ Why do we light the menorah?
During Hanukkah, Jews light the menorah to
remember the victory of the Meccabees and the
miracle of the oil that burned for eight days. The
menorah is lit each night for eight nights, adding one
candle each night. Each day represents a day of the
miracle.
◎ How to light the menorah?
The Hanukkah menorah has nine branches –
eight for each night of Hanukkah, and one set apart
for the shamash, or lighting candle. The menorah
should be placed in a window facing the street to
share the miracle with others.
The menorah is lit at nightfall when the family
is together. First, the shamash is lit, and the
shamash is used to light the other candles and placed
back in the menorah. One new candle is added
each night of Hanukkah.
As the menorah is lit, the family sings special
blessings. The third blessing is only sung on the
first night.
On the first night, the shamash is lit and the
family sings three blessings in Hebrew. Then the
shamash is used to light one other candle. On the
second night, the shamash is used to light two
candles. Tonight, and for the next six nights, the
family sings only the first two blessings.
On the third night, three candles (plus the
shamash) are placed in the menorah. The candles
are always lit by the shamash from left to right, so
the new one is lit first.
On the fourth night, the shamash is used to light
four candles. The candles are lit from left to right,
but they should be placed in the menorah from right
to left.
On the fifth night, five candles are lit by the
shamash. Each night after the menorah is lit, the
family might sing a song, like “Ma’oz Tzue” or
“Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah”.
On the sixth night, the shamash lights six
candles. Some nights of Hanukkah, the family
plays games together, like spin the dreidel.
On the seventh night, the shamash lights seven
candles. Afterwards, the family might enjoy a
traditional Hanukkah treat, like latkes (potato
pancakes) or sufganiyot (donuts). Many Hanukkah
foods are made with oil to remember the miracle of
oil.
On the eighth night of Hanukkah, all the
candles are placed in the menorah. During
Hanukkah, many families open a present each night
after the menorah is lit. Some families wait until
the last night of Hanukkah to open presents.
◎ Think About It
1. Does your family light candles over the holidays?
2. When do you light them?
3. Do they have a special meaning?
◎ dreidel
The spinning top is a popular Hanukkah game.
The four sides have the Hebrew letters nun, gimel,
hei, and shin, which stand for the Hebrew phrase
Nes Gadol Hayah Sham – A great miracle happened
there. Players take turns spinning the dreidel to
win coins, nuts, or other goodies.
goody (n)(informal; usu. pl.) something that is very
pleasing, delightful, or desirable, esp. something
sweet or delicious to eat.
◎ small gifts
In many Jewish families, children receive a
small gift each night of Hanukkah. That’s eight
presents in eight days!
◎ shalom
Shalom is a Hebrew greeting that means peace.
What does peace mean to you over the
holidays?
◎ Star of David
The star of David is a symbol of Judaism. It is
named for King David, a heroic figure of the Old
Testament. The star represents God, and in some
teachings, the six points symbolizes God’s rule in all
six directions: north, south, east, west, up, and down.
◎ latkes
Latkes, or potato pancakes, are a delicious
holiday favorite. Many traditional Hanukkah foods
are made with oil to remember the miracle of oil.
◎ Postcards
※ Postcard from Israel
“In Israel, we have many Hanukkah festivals
celebrating the victory of the Maccabees over the
Greeks. This was a very important even in Jewish
history. Everyone socializes, eats, and sings all day
long. I love to eat the jelly doughnuts, called
sufganiyot, which are very popular in Israel during
Hanukkah.” -- Maya, Israel
※ Postcard from Russia
“During Hanukkah, I love to play dreidel with
my cousins. In my family, we always have a
dreidel tournament between dinner and dessert.
Whoever wins gets 30 roubles from my grandma.”
-- Misha, Russia
※ Postcard from Australia
“My mom makes potato latkes every Hanukkah.
I grate the potatoes, and she cracks the eggs. When
we fry the latkes in oil, it reminds us of the miracle
of the oil lasting for eight days in the Holy Temple’s
menorah. I like to eat my latkes with applesauce,
but my brother eats them with sour cream.” -Sarah, Australia
※ Postcard from Mexico
“It’s a tradition to receive one small gift each
night of Hanukkah. In my family, we pick one
night when we don’t receive a gift, and instead
donate a gift to charity. My brothers and I go to the
toy store and pick out a gift to give away.” -Raquel, Mexico
※ Postcard from Argentina
“After my sister and I light the menorah, my
whole family does the hora. This dance is
traditionally done at weddings, bar mitzvahs, and bat
mitzvahs (boy and girl coming-of-age ceremonies),
but we do it to celebrate Hanukkah, too. Everyone
stands in a circle, holds hands, and moves in one
direction. It’s fun when everyone starts to move
really fast, then we all move to the center and throws
our hands up!” -- Juan, Argentina
§ hora (n) a spirited round dance, esp. of Israel and
Rumania, or the music for this dance.
§ mitzvah (n) 1. commandment (Hebrew); a
Jewish law found in or based on the Bible, or the
fulfillment of such a law.
2. (Hebrew) a worthy action.
◎ Songs
After lighting the menorah, families might
gather to sing popular Hanukkah songs, like “Rock
of Ages (Maoz Tzur)”, “I have a little dreidel”, and
“Oh Hanukkah”.