dec2015

HOLIDAY
The Meaning of Chanukah
Rooted in History
This year Chanukah begins at sunset
on Sunday, December 6, and ends on Monday,
December 14. According to Chabad, “chanu” means
“they rested” and “kah” has the numerical value of
25, which signifies that, on the 25 th day of the Hebrew
month of Kislev, the Maccabees rested from battle and
entered the Holy Temple in Jerusalem to rededicate it.
The full story of Chanukah is documented and preserved
in the books of the First and Second Maccabees.
You will often hear
people refer to this holiday
as the Festival of
Lights. “It is celebrating
the victory of the Jews
living during the time
of the temple period
against the Syrians who
are brought in, so there
is a military component
to it,” says Rabbi David
Baum of Congregation
Shaarei Kodesh in
Boca Raton. “There are
teachings that Chanukah can be a time to rededicate
our own Jewish lives in service of G-d.”
The miracle of the holiday is that when one vial of oil
was found in the temple that was thought to only have
enough oil to burn for one day, it lasted eight days.
“Another aspect that is interesting is the idea of light
and darkness,” says Baum.
Since the holiday falls in winter, the darkest time of
year, it is ironic that it is still referred to as the Festival
of Lights. “There is a
component of giving
people hope during
dark times and the
lesson that everyone
has a spark within them
that G-d created,” says
Baum.
One way families celebrate
is by lighting the
menorah, which consists
of eight branches
and one branch that is
taller than the rest. The
This Festival
of Lights
celebrates the
victory of the
Jews over the
Syrians. It’s
time to light
the menorah.
By Jamie Lober
extra light is called the
shamash and is used
to light the others.
Chabad-Lubavitch is
well-known for doing
public candle lighting
ceremonies. Even
the White House has
an annual candlelighting
ceremony
and a menorah on
public display. The
menorah, along with
the Star of David, are
two traditional signs of
Judaism.
Private and public celebrations take place. “People
come together as a family, eat fried food like latkes,
which are
fried potato
pancakes,
sing songs,
and give gifts
to the kids,”
says Baum.
In addition to
presents, kids
look forward
to getting gelt,
Yiddish for
money, which are delicious chocolate coins. On the
synagogue level, many rabbis are hosting bonfires and
sing-a-longs in parks.
Chanukah is a time of reflection. “It should be about
being grateful for family and being proud of being Jewish,”
says Baum. Families may play the dreidel game
which involves a four-sided spinning top. The Hebrew
letters on the dreidel abbreviate the words Nes Gadol
Haya Sham, which means “a great miracle happened
there,” referencing the miracle of the oil.
Other rituals include eating jelly donuts and engaging
in blessings. Some families encourage giving tzedakah,
or charity, at this time. While there are definitely
prayer components involved, this is a holiday during
which people should become introspective. “It is about
family, pride, pride of being Jewish, finding your inner
light, hope in time of despair, and hope for the future,”
says Baum. P
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DECEMBER 2015