Hanukah Research Paper

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Hanukah What is Hanukkah? Hanukkah is a Jewish festival, lasting eight days from the 25th day of Kislev and commemorating the rededication of the Temple in 165 BC by the Maccabees after its desecration by the Syrians. It is marked by the successive kindling of eight lights. In Hanukkah it is a way to celebrate the rededication during the second century B.C. of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, where according to legend Jews had risen up against their Greek-Syrian oppressors in the Maccabean Revolt. Hanukkah is also a celebration kind of like a Jewish Christmas, but a different meaning. Christmas is the celebration of Jesus being born the Messiah where in Judaism, Jesus is not to be believed to be the Messiah. The Messiah is the Savior, but …show more content…

The whole family should be there for the menorah lighting. If everyone cannot be there, than one person is allowed to light on everyone’s behalf. To increase the communication of the miracle Hashem did for us, most people light the menorah in the window. Anywhere the family can see it is acceptable. Use a Shammosh to help the Hanukkah menorah lights. It should always be above the other eight and use a Shammosh to light other candles. The first night you light at the far right of the menorah. You then light the far left candles and it goes back and forth. When you light the menorah it is required to sing the blessings. It is most preferred to light the menorah with oil because the miracle happened with oil. The lights must burn for at least half an hour. When the Sabbath has started it is forbidden to light anymore. The blessings are a big part of Hanukkah. Because it shows that you are worshiping and acknowledging our savior. First in English or your native languages recite... “I am hereby ready and prepared to fulfill the commandment of lighting the Chanukah menorah” after you must recite these blessings “boruch attah adonoy, elohainu Melech ha-olam, asher kidishanu b’mitzvotav, v’tsivanu l’hadlik ner shel Chanukah” (Chabad.org). That blessing translates into “blessed are you, lord our god, king of the universe, who has sanctified us with his commandments, and commanded us to kindle the Chanukah …show more content…

Chocolate coins are also a treat to have. Also doughnuts would be included because it is fried. The reason they have fried and cheesy items is because there was 1 candle left to keep all the Jews alive and the oil was only supposed to last a day but it lasted seven so that is why they cherish oil. (Hanukah lasts 8 days and it changes every year it ranges from November to December, whichever one is closer to the Kislev month. This year of 2016 it is said to start on the 24th to the 1st where gifts are exchanged and contributions made to the poor.)   To conclude, Hanukkah has many meanings to it and many traditions, reasons, and beliefs. Jews light the menorah to communicate and spread their belief because it is their thought that it is a positive message to others. The blessings will always be an important part because it makes Jews feel whole and comfortable. Traditions are Important because if there were no traditions, how would we celebrate this important day of the oil miracle? Would we dance or sleep how would we know what to do if there were no traditions, no blessings, no feast, no menorah? This is why Hanukah exists because of all of these

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