Hanukkah - the festival of lights  (December 26, 2005 - January 2, 2006; Kislev 25 - Tevet 2, 5766)

For eight consecutive nights we recall the rekindling of the temple’s original seven branched menorah and the Maccabees miraculous revolt of the five brothers against the whole Greek army by lighting the Hanukkah menorah of eight branches (plus a ninth one for the service candle--the shamash-- that provides the light by which we read the blessings and the flame by which we light the eight candles). Every night we add another candle of oil or wax to mark the growing light of holiness in the world as the days begin to get longer and the moon waxes. The Hanukkah menorah or Hanukkiah is placed in the window sill at dusk to proudly let everyone outside know that we are Jews celebrating our religion and our stories. As the Maccabbes were not afraid to maintain their beliefs nor are we.

After the candle lighting and blessings (brachot), we sing songs like Maoz Tzur and read some of the stories of Hanukkah. We read about the Maccabees revolt and about the small vessel of pure oil that burned for 8 days in the temple rededication ceremony after the Maccabean victory. Throughout the world, Jewish children also receive coins called Hanukkah gelt, play the gambling game called dreidel with a 4-sided top with 4 Hebrew letters and eat oily foods like latkes, potato pancakes, whose oil reminds us of the oil in the temple menorah. In the USA children also receive gifts but they should give gifts as well.