Download
1 / 14
170 likes | 907 Vues
Chanukah By, Jessica Glanden & Amanda Shane The History of Chanukah During the second temple period, the Greco-Syrian kings outlawed the Jewish religion. All reading of the scripture, circumcision, Sabbath observance, and a number of other Jewish religious practices were forbade.
E N D
Chanukah By, Jessica Glanden & Amanda Shane
The History of Chanukah • During the second temple period, the Greco-Syrian kings outlawed the Jewish religion. • All reading of the scripture, circumcision, Sabbath observance, and a number of other Jewish religious practices were forbade.
Rebellion! • This caused the Jewish peoples to rebel in what became known as the Maccabean Revolt, led by Judas Maccabee ( “The Hammer”) • The Jewish peoples were victorious in their revolt against the government, and gained control back of their Holy Temple.
Victory! • After the Maccabees’ victory, they returned to their temple to begin purification, but found it in ruins. • There was only one small vessel of oil left that would last one day. • The miracle was that the oil lasted 8 days, enough time to make more oil for the temple.
*Festival of Lights* • A year later, the Rabbis designated these 8 days as Yomin Tovin (Holidays) on which praise and thanksgiving were to be said (Chanukah). • Today, the Festival of Lights is a part of this celebration, where colorful candles are lit in a menorah with 8 branches.
-The Menorah- • The Menorahs’ 8 branches marks the 8 days of Chanukah. • On the first day of Chanukah a candle is lit on the menorah, and with everyday proceeding a new candle is lit in celebration. • Blessing on the Menorah
~Shamash~ • Means guardian of the ninth candle • As a universally-practiced “beautification” of the mitzvah, the number of lights lit increases by one each night. • An extra light called the shamash is also lit each night, and is given a distinct location, either lower or higher then the others.
~Shamash Cont.~ • The purpose of the extra light is to adhere to the prohibition specified in the Talmud (Tracate Shabbat 21b-23a), against using the Chanukah lights for anything other than publicizing- or meditating on- the Chanukah story • The candles are lit on sundown, in keeping with the Shabbat traditions • Ner Rishon
Chanukah Prayer Song • Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu I’hadlik neir (shei) chanukah
Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel • A four sided spinning top associated with Chanukah. • Each side is engraved with a different Hebrew letter: * נ (Nun) * ג (Gimel) * ה (Hey) * ש (Shin)
Dreidel Cont. • These letters are an acronym for the Hebrew words, נס גדול היה שם, Nes Gadol Haya Sham- “A great miracle happened here” (referring to the miracle of the oil that took place in the Beit Hamikdash)
Other • Chanukah is spelled many different ways, including: • * Hanukkah, which means dedication. (most common in the United States) • * Chanukah (common alternative in the United States) • * Hanukah (less common alternative in the United States) • * Chanuka (rare spelling; in Hebrew, dropping the final 'h' would change the gender of the word) • * Hanuka (rare spelling; again, the gender would be masculine instead of feminine, in Hebrew) • *Channukah • * Hanukka (rare spelling) • *nike (YIVO standard transliteration from the Yiddish and/or Ashkenazic pronunciation of the Hebrew)
~Latkes Legend~ • Because the Chanukah story much involves oils, foods fried in oils are traditional. • Legend says that during the Jewish peoples’ fight against the Greco-Syrian government 2,000 years ago, women made flat cakes and fried them for the warriors because they could be prepared quickly. • Today, these potato pancakes, also known as Latkes, are still prepared and eaten throughout the Chanukah holiday.
