1. חַנֻכָּה

2. חַנֻכָּה falls on כ"ה כִּסְלֵו (the 25th of Kislev) The story of חַנֻכָּה is not in the תוֹרָה or תנ"ך The story of חַנֻכָּה is written in the Apocrypha –“Apocrypha” means “hidden writings” –The Apocrypha includes writings not found in the Bible –חַנֻכָּה is also mentioned in the תַלְמוּד חַנֻכָּה recalls the Jewish struggle for religious freedom חַנֻכָּה commemorates the victory of the Jews over the Syrians in 165 B.C.E.

3. The Word חַנֻכָּה The word “ חַנֻכָּה ” means dedication This refers to the rededication of the בֵּית הַמִקְדָש after it had been desecrated (treated without respect for its holiness)

4. History Alexander the Great was the ruler of Greece Alexander the Great gave the Jews religious freedom Hellenism means anything having to do with the Greek culture –Positive aspects of Hellenism included: athletics, theater, philosophy, art –Negative aspects of Hellenism included: infanticide, adultery, idol worship –Jews adopted many of the good aspects of Hellenism –Many Jews struggled to hold onto their religion and resist Hellenism

5. Before the War After the death of Alexander the Great, Antiochus came into power Antiochus forced the Jews to adopt all aspects of Greek He forbid: –Torah study –Shabbat –Eating kosher food The Asyrian Greek army came to Modin They built a pagan altar (place to worship idols

6. The War The Assyrian Greeks ordered a cohen named מַתִתְיָהוּ to sacrifice to an idol מַתִתְיָהוּ refused Another Jew offered to make the sacrifice מַתִתְיָהוּ got mad and killed the other man מַתִתְיָהוּ attacked the soldiers who had come to Modin Other Jews joined in the attack

7. The War מַתִתְיָהוּ had a son named יְהוּדָה יְהוּדָה led the a small group called the Maccabees מַכָּבִּי means hammer מַכָּבִּי is an accronym for – מי כמוך באלים ה" –Who is like God? The מַכָּבִּים won the war in 165 B.C.E. On the 25th of Kislev, they reclaimed the בֵּית הַמִקְדָש

8. בֵּית הַמִקְדָש The תַלְמוּד says that when the Jewish army went to rededicate the בֵּית הַמִקְדָש, they were unable to find enough oil to light the מְנוֹרָה A miracle happened: –The oil that should only have lasted one day –Instead, it lasted for eight days The miracle of the oil is not described in the Apocrypha

9. Religious Meaning Victory of the few over the many –It is a miracle that we have won our battles –It is heroic that we even dared to fight A “light to the nations” –Jews are to be a “shining” example to all people in the world –We must seek justice, be active in social causes, and support human rights

10. Laws and Customs The חֲנוּכִּיָה is in memory of the מְנוֹרָה which was used in the בֵּית הַמִקְדָש in Jerusalem The מְנוֹרָה had seven branches, one for each day of the week Each branch had a container of oil on top that fueled the flames The מְנוֹרָה was lit daily by a כּוֹהֵן A חֲנוּכִּיָה has 8 branches and is lit on חַנֻכָּה

11. חֲנוּכִּיָה A “kosher” חֲנוּכִּיָה –Must have eight spaces for candles in a straight row, the same height –A ninth, extra space must be raised above the eight other candles The ֹשָמָֹש lights the other candles –The ֹשָמָֹש is the only “usable” candle on the חֲנוּכִּיָה –The eight other candles are only to look at, but not to be used for any other purpose –If a candle were needed for something else you would have to use the ֹשָמָֹש In order to fulfill the mitzvah of lighting the חֲנוּכִּיָה, we are told to publicize the miracle ( פִּרְסוּם הַנֵס ) of חַנֻכָּה by placing our חֲנוּכִּיָה in a window This is so people who see the חֲנוּכִּיָה and its burning candles will remember and talk about the great miracle of חַנֻכָּה

12. How to light the חֲנוּכִּיָה Candles or oil and wick may be used Oil and wick is more authentic Place the candles in the חֲנוּכִּיָה from right to left Light the candles from left to right. On שָבָּת you first light the חֲנוּכִּיָה, then the שָבָּת candles On Saturday night, first do הַבְדָלָה and then light the חֲנוּכִּיָה

13. Rabbi Hillel and Rabbi Shammai A famous debate took place in Talmudic times Rabbi Shammai said to light all eight candles on the first night, and go down to one on the last night Rabbi Hillel said to start with one candle on the first night, and go up to eight candles on the last night Who won the debate? –Rabbi Hillel

14. Presents There is a tradition of giving דְמֵי חַנֻכָּה (gelt) during חַנֻכָּה –Gelt means money –Some people give candy gelt Eight nights of presents is based on the American experience and other December holidays

15. Foods It is a custom to eat foods fried in oil – לְבִיבוֹת latkes (potato pancakes) – סוּפְגָנִיוֹת jelly doughnuts –Bunuelos: Sephardic Hanukkah Donuts with Honey –Ejjeh batata: potato fritters served inside a pocket of Syrian flatbread (pita) with slices of tomato, cucumber, pickled cabbage, and cauliflower –Ataiyef: stuffed Syrian pancakes filled with ricotta cheese and folded into half-moons, deep-fried and soaked in shira, a thick, fragrant Aleppian and dipped in chopped pistachios –Zalabieh: fried pastry balls soaked in sugar syrup glaze

16. Games סְבִיבוֹן (dreidel) The סְבִיבוֹן was used to trick the enemy into thinking the Jews were gambling instead of studying תוֹרָה נֵס גָדוֹל הָיָה ֹשָם A Great Miracle Happened There נֵס גָדוֹל הָיָה פֹּה A Great Miracle Happened Here

17. Prayers The עַל הַנִיסִים is about miracles. It is recited during the silent עֲמִידָה הַלֵל (Psalms of Praise) is recited during morning services תוֹרָה readings from בַּמִדְבָּר which focus on the story of (re)dedication On Shabbat morning of חַנֻכָּה, a special הֲפְטָרָה is read from the book of זְכָּרְיָה

18. Hannah From the Talmud and from Maccabees II Hannah was forced to watch all seven of her sons be tortured by King Antiochus for refusing to eat pig One by one the sons were tortured The King urged Hannah, “Try to convince your youngest son to break the law and eat non- Kosher meat.” Hannah would not, and her youngest son followed his older brother’s example Special poems were written about Hannah and her sons and were recited in synagogue on חַנֻכָּה ֹ שָבָּת.

19. Judith A man named Holifernes wanted to conquer Judea In Jerusalem the townspeople were ready to surrender A beautiful widow named Judith had a plan –Judith went to Holifernes’ camp –She convinced him that by praying to God, she could help him conquer Judea –She stayed with him for three days, leaving each night to pray –The camp guards got a false sense of security –On the fourth day, Holifernes invited Judith to a banquet –She gave him salty cheese to eat. –Holifernes got thirsty, drank a lot of wine to drink and he fell asleep –While he was sleeping, Judith took his sword and cuts off his head –When the army saw their general’s head cut off, they ran away In honor of Judith’s bravery, women are to refrain from work on חַנֻכָּה while the candles are burning In honor of this story, there is a tradition to eat cheese on חַנֻכָּה