| Chanukah (pronounced KHAH-noo-kah) means "dedication." It is an eight-day holiday commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple after a period of enemy occupation.
And now for an abridged version of the story: It is 223 BCE and the Greek Seleucid Dynasty rules parts of the Middle East, including ancient Israel. King Antiochus III is good for the Jews except for his huge taxes and cultivation of Hellenist culture. He dies. Son Seleucus IV takes over, increases taxation. Hellenistic cultural invasion of Jewish society reaches epidemic proportions--monotheistic Judaism out, humanistic Hellenism in.
Seleucus gets iced in 174 BCE, brother Antiochus IV takes throne, forcefully attempts to rub out Judaism--forbids Shabbat, Kashrut, circumcision et al on pain of death. Mass persecution/execution of Jews begins around 170 BCE.
140 BCE sees riot erupt in quaint little village Modi'in: local Jews led by elder Mattityahu and sons defend daughter/sister from pre-marriage initiation, kill Antiochus' soldiers, head for the hills. News spreads, Jewish rebel army quickly forms across country and wages increasingly successful guerilla warfare for a year.
On or around December 14, 140 BCE (the 25th of Kislev, 3622) Jewish army restores regular Temple operations with limited resources, light makeshift Menorah with one-day supply of olive oil, and miracle of miracles! Oil burns for eight days until fresh fuel arrives, and the shine of spirituality melts the senselessness of secularism, then and for all time.
In 139 BCE, the Rabbis designate those eight days as an annual holiday celebrating the chanukah, or dedication, of the Temple and the miracle of the menorah.
1. Light the Menorah
The centerpiece of Chanukah, the one we’re all familiar with, is the nine-branched candelabrum1 known to the world as the Menorah, which is lit each Chanukah night. To find out how, when and where to light the menorah, see How do I light the Menorah.
2. Be Appreciative
The rabbis knew what they were doing when they established Chanukah as a holiday for posterity--its timeless lessons of spiritual identity and religious freedom are things to cherish and celebrate in every day and age. For this reason, we thank G-d each day of Chanukah by reciting the complete Hallel in the Shacharit Tefillah. We also insert a special prayer of thanksgiving, called the V'al Hanissim, whenever reciting the Amidah or Grace After Meals. Also, due to the festive atmosphere, throughout Chanukah (and also by the Mincha prayer of the day beforehand) we omit the Tachanun (prayers for forgiveness and confession) from our prayers.
Get Fried on Chanukah. Pan-fried potato fritters known as latkes (pronounced LAHT-kess), which means pan-fried potato fritters in some language, are traditionally home-manufactured and consumed in large quantities over the Chanukah holiday. Olive oil is used to symbolize the Menorah's miraculous olive oil
3. Get Fried, Go for a Spin
Pan-fried potato fritters known as latkes (pronounced LAHT-kess), which means pan-fried potato fritters in some language, are traditionally home-manufactured and consumed in large quantities over the Chanukah holiday. Olive oil is used to symbolize the Menorah's miraculous olive oil. Also, don't forget to play dreidel. The dreidel (pronounced DRAY-dul) is a small, four-sided, pointy-bottomed top with a Hebrew letter on each side, forming a Hebrew-language acronym for "[a] great miracle happened there." Dreidel games are reminiscent of the little games Jewish kids would whip out and play to hide their secret Torah classes under Seleucid domination.
4. Spread the Light
Chanukah is all about publicizing the great miracle of the triumph of light over darkness. Be a sport and share the Chanukah message with a friend. Invite over some friends for a Latke Party, share with them the message, and encourage them to light their own menorahs in their own homes.  |