חנוכה
Chanukah
The Festival of Light
כ”ה כסלו – ב’ טבת
WHAT IS CHANUKAH
Chanukah is a joyous holiday that starts on the twenty-fifth day of Kislev and ends on the third day of Tevas. We light a menorah each Chanukah night and celebrate with prayers, songs, and festivities. The word Chanukah means “dedication,” as it marks the rededication of the Beis Hamikdash, which occurred on the twenty-fifth day of Kislev.
The word חנוכה can be separated to “חנו – כ’’ה” – the Yidden renewed on the 25th day of Kislev after the war with the Yevonim.
CHANUKAH IN JEWISH HISTORY
More than 2000 years ago, there was a time when Eretz Yisroel was part of the Syrian-Greek Empire, dominated by the Syrian rulers of the dynasty of the Seleucids.
The story of Chanukah starts with Antiochus III, the King of Syria, who waged war with Egypt over the possession of Eretz Yisroel. Antiochus III was victorious and annexed Eretz Yisroel to his Empire. In the beginning, he was favorable to the Jews, but later on, after being beaten by the Romans and compelled to pay heavy taxes, the burden fell on the Jews. When Antiochus died, his son Seleucus IV took over and further oppressed the Jews.
Added to the trouble of the outside were the grave perils that threatened Judaism from within. The influence of the Misyavnim-Hellinsts (people who accepted idol worship and the Syrian way of life) increased. Yochanan Kohen Gadol opposed the Misyavnim and worked hard to lift the morale of Jewish people who kept to their faith.
After Seleucus was killed, his brother Antiochus IV began to reign over the Syrian Empire in the year 3586. He was a tyrant with an impulsive nature and scorned religion. He removed Yochanan Kohan Gadol from his position and replaced him with his brother Yehoshua, who was from the Misyavnim. When Yochanan protested against the spread of the Hellinists’ influence in the Beis Hamikdash, the ruling Kohen Gadol commanded that he be killed.
Antiochus desired to unify his kingdom through the medium of a common religion and culture, and Antiochus tried to suppress the Jewish religion by enforcing harsh decrees upon them.
Jewish worship was forbidden; Torah learning, Shabbos observance, and circumcision were prohibited under penalty of death. Thousands of Yidden sacrificed their lives, including the famous story of Channah and her seven sons. The Syrians entered the Beis Hamikdash and worshiped their idols there. They also stole and destroyed the keilim (vessels) of the Beis Hamikdash.
Mattisyahu Kohen Gadol was determined to remain loyal to Hashem, and he and loyal and courageous Jews joined as a group of fighters called Maccabee, a word composed of the initial letters of מי כמוך באילם ה’ – “Who is like you, O G-d.”
Antiochus sent his general Apollonius to wipe out the Yidden. Though greater in number and equipment than their adversaries, the Syrians were defeated by the Maccabees. Antiochus sent out another expedition and was also defeated. He realized he needed to send a mighty army of 40,000 men. Yehuda HaMaccabee (son of Mattisyahu) and his brothers heard of their approach, and after a series of battles, they miraculously won the war.
Now, the Chashmoneam (descendants of Maccabees) returned to Yerushalayim to liberate it. They entered the Beis Hamikdash and cleared it of the idols placed by the Syrian vandals. Yehudah and his followers built a new mizbayach – altar, which he dedicated on the twenty-fifth of Kislev in 3622.
Since the Syrians had stolen the golden Menorah, the Chashmoneam made a new one from cheaper metal. When they wanted to light it, they found only a small cruse of pure olive oil bearing the seal of the Kohan Gadol. It was sufficient to light only for one day. Hashem performed a miracle, and it continued to burn for eight days untill new oil was made available.
The next year, our Chachamim (sages) instituted those days as the Chanukah holiday with the recitation of Hallel.
CHANUKAH MITZVAHS
מנורה – Lighting Menorah
The mitzvah of Chanukah candle lighting takes place just after nightfall, and we place the menorahs on the windowsill or at the door so that people can see, thus publicizing the miracle of Chanukah.
Hallel – הלל
We recite special Chanukah prayers all eight days of the holiday, including Hallel (a collection of Psalms that praise Hashem on special occasions). On Chanukah, we say a full Hallel each day for each day is considered a separate miracle and because each day we read different korbanos.
V’Al HaNissim – ועל הניסים
During the three daily Shemoneh Esra prayers (prayer recited quietly while standing) and in Birchas Hamazon (Grace after Meals), we add a paragraph of praise as well: Al Hanissim of Chanukah. This prayer thanks Hashem for the nissim (miracles) and salvation He performed in the times of Mattisyahu.
CHANUKAH CUSTOMS
Dreidel
We play dreidel (a four-sided spinning top bearing the letters, נ, ג, ה and ש – an acronym for נס, גדול, היה, שם – a great miracle happened there) since the children who learned Torah despite the decree, used to play dreidel when they saw the Yivanim – Greeks approaching.
Women and Chanukah
Women are required to be present while lighting the Chanukah menorah. They must also refrain from mundane activities for the first half hour following candle lighting. The Shulchan Aruch explains the reason since one of the Chanukah miracles happened through Yehudis – a brave woman who killed the mighty Greek General Holofernes.
Oily Foods
Since the Chanukah miracle involved oil, it’s customary to eat foods fried in oil. A famous Hungarian Chanukah food is latkes – potato pancakes that are deep fried in oil, and sufganiyot donuts that are deep fried in oil.
Dairy Foods
We eat dairy foods to remember the miracle with the general Aliphornes, who wanted to marry Yehudis, the daughter of Yochanan Kohein Gadol. He threw a party, and Yehudis served him salted cheese, milk, and wine, which caused him to fall into a deep sleep. She cut off his head and returned to Yerushalayim with his head. When the soldiers saw that their general was killed, they all fled.
Chanukah Gelt
It’s customary to give gelt (money) to children to remind them that although Torah learning was abolished, the Jews continued learning with greater resolve. Therefore, we give our children Chanukah gelt to impart the message: “Here’s some money towards the yoke of Torah you accepted upon yourselves.”
Giving Tzedakah
When the Chashmonaim won over the Greeks, they gained power over the Greek’s treasures. They took all the money and handed it to the poor of Yerushalayim. Another reason is that the poor people went from door to door to collect tzedakah on Chanukah since the wealthy people used to light their menorahs at the doorpost.
Dreidel
We play dreidel (a four-sided spinning top bearing the letters, נ, ג, ה and ש – an acronym for נס, גדול, היה, שם – a great miracle happened there) since the children who learned Torah despite the decree, used to play dreidel when they saw the Yivanim – Greeks approaching.
Oily Foods
Since the Chanukah miracle involved oil, it’s customary to eat foods fried in oil. A famous Hungarian Chanukah food is latkes – potato pancakes that are deep fried in oil, and sufganiyot donuts that are deep fried in oil.
Chanukah Gelt
It’s customary to give gelt (money) to children to remind them that although Torah learning was abolished, the Jews continued learning with greater resolve. Therefore, we give our children Chanukah gelt to impart the message: “Here’s some money towards the yoke of Torah you accepted upon yourselves.”
Women and Chanukah
Women are required to be present while lighting the Chanukah menorah. They must also refrain from mundane activities for the first half hour following candle lighting. The Shulchan Aruch explains the reason since one of the Chanukah miracles happened through Yehudis – a brave woman who killed the mighty Greek General Holofernes.
Dairy Foods
We eat dairy foods to remember the miracle with the general Aliphornes, who wanted to marry Yehudis, the daughter of Yochanan Kohein Gadol. He threw a party, and Yehudis served him salted cheese, milk, and wine, which caused him to fall into a deep sleep. She cut off his head and returned to Yerushalayim with his head. When the soldiers saw that their general was killed, they all fled.
Giving Tzedakah
When the Chashmonaim won over the Greeks, they gained power over the Greek’s treasures. They took all the money and handed it to the poor of Yerushalayim. Another reason is that the poor people went from door to door to collect tzedakah on Chanukah since the wealthy people used to light their menorahs at the doorpost.
GIVE TZEDAKAH ON CHANUKAH
Chanukah in Belz
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