|
|||||||||||||
Printer-Friendly
Email this Story
Post a Comment (0)
Put on your yamaka ...
It isn't just Advent that started this week; the eight-day celebration of Hanukkah began on Wednesday night.
Hanukkah is traditionally a minor holiday for Jews but has risen to a more prominent role because of its proximity to Christmas. The holiday generally falls in December but follows the lunar calendar so the date changes from year to year.
Hanukkah history began more than 2,000 years ago when the Syrian-Greek leader, Antiochus IV, attempted to force the Jews in Israel to renounce their religion and culture.
Judah Maccabee led a revolt and defeated the much larger Syrian-Greek army.
The victorious Jews retook Jerusalem but the temple had been defiled by the Syrian-Greek army. Judah ordered the temple to be cleaned and a new alter to be built but the ceremony required the sacred lamp -- or menorah -- to burn all night for days on end.
Though there was only enough oil for one night, the menorah miraculously burned for eight days -- long enough for more oil to be prepared.
The eight-day festival and the lighting of the menorah each night commemorates the victory and the miracle.
Today, the menorah is the most enduring Hanukkah tradition.
One candle is lit on the first night, two are lit on the second, and so on, until all eight are lit on the eighth night. The candles are added from the right, but lit beginning with the first one of the left.
You must be logged in to post a comment.