Happy Hanukkah from A New York Foodie

from A New York Foodie

Hanukkah is celebrated on the Hebrew date of the 25th of Kislev and ends on the 2nd of Tevet. This year Hanukkah starts the evening of December 8th and ends the evening of December 16th . The word Hanukkah means “dedication” or “Festival of Lights”. It was given this name because it reminds the Jews of the time over two thousand years ago when the Holy Temple in Jerusalem was rededicated to the worship of God. On Hanukkah the Jews remember the brave Maccabees (the Maccabees consisted of Judah, Jonathan, Elieazar, Simon and Yohanan) who fought against the great armies of Syria and defeated them. The title Maccabees is derived from the nickname of Judah Maccabeus (Latin from Aramaic maqqaba, probably meaning the “Hammerer”). On the twenty-fifth day of the Hebrew month of Kislev, the Maccabees entered the Temple. They removed the idols that the Syrians had put there; they cleaned all the impure vessels and rededicated the Temple. The Jews are told that when the Maccabees were rededicating the Temple, a great miracle happened there. When they wanted to light the Menorah (candle-holder) or Hanukkiah, they found only one little flask of oil that had not been touched and made impure by the Syrians, and that had on it the seal of the High Priest. It contained only enough oil to last for one day, but a miracle happened and it lasted eight whole days. That is why the Jews celebrate Hanukkah for eight days. Each night we light one more candle. The middle candle which usually stands taller than the rest is called the Shamash. We use this one to light all the other candles. On the last day of Hanukkah we will have all 9 candles lit. Candles are added from right to left, but lit from left to right. The last candle added is lit first, then continue across from left to right. Electric menorahs, are nice in the windows, however, conventional Hanukkiah should be lit in the homes in addition and the blessings should be recited over the real candles. Traditionally, the real Hanukkiah should be in the window, but because of the danger of fire, electric menorahs are used for this purpose.

The following blessings are then said as candles are lit.

Baruch Attah Adonoy, Elohanu melech, ha-olam, asher kidshanu b’mizvotav, vetzivanu lehadlik nair, shel Hanukkah.

English translation

Blessed art Thou O Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us by Thy Commandments and commanded us to kindle the lights of Hanukkah.

Baruch Attah Adonoy, Elohaynu melech ha-olam, she-assah nissim la-avotaynu bayamim hahaim bezmahn hazeh.

English translation

Blessed are Thou O Lord our God, King of the universe, Who performed miracles for our fathers in days of old, at this season.

The following blessing is recited on the first evening only.

Baruch Attah ADonoy, Elohaynu melech ha-olam sheh-hechech-yahnu, veh-key-mah-nu, veh-hee-gee-yah-nu lazman hazeh.

English translation

Praised be Thou O Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has kept us in life, has preserved us, and enabled us to reach this season.

After lighting the candles the family then sings or chants this beautiful song called Ma-oz Tzur. It’s English equivalent is Rock of Ages. That is the song you are listening to now.

Ma-oz Tzur

Ma-oz tzur yehsu-atee, lecha nach lisha-bayach,

Tikkon bait t’fee-latee, vesham todah ni-zah-bayach,

L’ate tachin matbayach, meetzar haminabayach

Az egmor, b’shir mizmor chanukah hamizbayach

Az egmor, b’shir mizmor chanukat hamizbayach.

Rock of Ages

Rock of Ages, let our song, Praise Thy saving power;

Thou amidst the raging foes, Wast our sheltering tower

Furious they assailed us, But Thine arm availed us,

And Thy word, broke their sword, When our own strength failed us.

A traditional food that the Jews eat on Hanukkah are potato latkes (potato pancakes) and fried jelly donuts. They eat those foods because they are fried in oil and it symbolizes the oil used for the 8 nights in the Temple.

We also give gifts or gelt(money) on Hanukkah to all the children. Children also get a small gift for each night of Hanukkah or one big gift or many big gifts….LOL

Another custom on Hanukkah is playing with a dreidel. A dreidel is a child’s toy similar to a spinning top. Some of them are in two parts and inside it usually has candy or money. The children spin it and each side has a Hebrew letter on it, and each one of the letters has a different point value. The Hebrew letters are Nun, Gimmel, Hay and Shin standing for “Nes Gadol Haya Sham” which means “A great miracle happened there”. Whoever has the most amount of points at the end of the game wins.

One myth that people think about Hanukkah is that it is the Jewish substitute for Christmas. This is not true. While on the calendar the two holidays frequently coincide, Hanukkah commemorates an episode in Jewish history which occurred 160 years prior to the event marked by the birth of Christ. Christmas represents the birth of Christianity. Hanukkah marks the rejection of Hellenism through the revolt led by the Maccabees.

I would like to wish you a very Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, happy holiday season and a very happy New Year 2013. May peace, joy and love be with you throughout your lifetime.

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