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Chanukah is a Jewish holiday, also known as the Festival of lights.
Chanukah is a Hebrew word meaning "dedication". It is also spelled
Chanuka, Hannukah or Hanukkah. The first evening of Chanukah (called
Erev Chanukah) starts after the sunset of the 24th day of the Hebrew
month of Kislev. As in Jewish tradition the calendar date starts at
sunset, Chanukah begins on the 25th. |
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Chanukah rituals:
The
Jewish Holidays of
Chanukah (Feast of Dedication) has relatively simple religious
rituals. Some aspects are practiced at home by the family, other aspects
are communal. There are additions to the regular daily prayer services
in the Siddur, the Jewish prayer book.
The Chanukiah (Chanukah menorah)
Chief importance is attached by Jewish law and custom to the kindling of
the Chanukiah, a menorah specially designed for use on this holiday. The
reason for its use is not for the lighting of the house within, but
rather for the illumination of the house without, so that passers-by
should see it. Accordingly lamps are set up near the door leading to the
street; and when a house had doors on several sides, lamps are placed in
front of each door. It is customary to have a separate Chanukiah for
each family member.
Only when there was danger of Anti-Semitic persecution, as was the case
in Persia under the rule of the fire-worshipers, or in Europe before and
during World War II, were lamps supposed to be hidden indoors. As the
lights were intended only for illumination in honor of the feast,
reading by them was prohibited (Talmud, Tracate Shabbat 21b-23a).
Blessings over the candles
Typically 3 blessings (Brachahs) are recited during this eight-day
festival. On the first night of Hannukah, Jews recite all three
blessings, on all subsequent nights, they recite blessings number 1 and
2. On the first night of Chanukah one light (candle, lamp, or electric)
is lit on the right side of the Menorah, on the following night a second
light is placed to the left of the first and is lit first proceeding
from left to right, and so on each night.
The First Brachah.
Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheynu melekh ha-olam, asher kid'shanu be-mitzvotav
ve-tzivanu le-hadlik ner shel Chanukah.
Praised are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us
with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the Chanukah lights.
The Second Brachah.
Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheynu melekh ha-olam, she-asah nisim la'avoteynu,
ba-yamim ha-hem, ba-zman ha-zeh.
Praised are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who performed
wondrous deeds for our ancestors, in ancient days, at this season.
The Third Brachah.
Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheynu melekh ha-olam, she-heche'yanu, ve-kiy'manu,
ve-higi'anu la-zman ha-zeh.
Praised are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has kept us in
life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season.
After kindling the lights, the
Hanerot Halalu prayer is recited.
HANEIROT HALALU - THESE LIGHTS....
Haneirot halalu anachnu madlikin Al hanissim ve'al haniflaot Al
hatshu-ot ve'al hamilchamot She-asita la'avoteynu Bayamim hahem, bazman
hazeh Al yedey kohanecha hakdoshim.
Vechol shmonat yemey Chanukah Hanerot halalu kodesh hem, Ve-ein lanu
reshut lehishtamesh bahem Ela lirotam bilvad Kedai lehodot u'lehalel
leshimcha hagadol Al nissecha veal nifleotecha ve-al yeshuotecha.
We light these lights For the miracles and the wonders, for the
redemption and the battles that you made for our forefathers, in those
days at this season, through your holy priests.
During all eight days of Chanukah these lights are sacred. We are not
permitted to make ordinary use of them, but only to look at them; In
order to express thanks and praise to Your great Name for your miracles,
Your wonders and your salvations.
Additions to the daily prayers
An addition is made to the "hoda'ah" (thanksgiving) benediction in the
Amidah, called Al ha-Nissim. This addition refers to the victory
achieved over the Syrians by the Hasmonean Mattathias and his sons. (The
erroneous designation of Mattathias as son of Johanan the high priest
seems to rest upon the late Hebrew apocryphal "Megillat Antyokus" or "Megillat
Hanukkah," which has other names and dates strangely mixed.)
The liturgical part inserted reads as follows:
"We thank You also for the miraculous deeds and for the redemption and
for the mighty deeds and the saving acts wrought by You, as well as for
the wars which You waged for our ancestors in ancient days at this
season. In the days of the Hasmonean Mattathias, son of Johanan the high
priest, and his sons, when the iniquitous Greco-Syrian kingdom rose up
against Your people Israel, to make them forget Your Torah and to turn
them away from the ordinances of Your will, then You in your abundant
mercy rose up for them in the time of their trouble, pled their cause,
executed judgment, avenged their wrong, and delivered the strong into
the hands of the weak, the many into the hands of few, the impure into
the hands of the pure, the wicked into the hands of the righteous, and
insolent ones into the hands of those occupied with Your Torah. Both
unto Yourself did you make a great and holy name in Thy world, and unto
Your people did You achieve a great deliverance and redemption.
Whereupon your children entered the sanctuary of Your house, cleansed
Your temple, purified Your sanctuary, kindled lights in Your holy
courts, and appointed these eight days of Chanukah in order to give
thanks and praises unto Your holy name." |
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Denver is a mile high. There's
a spot on the steps of the State
Capitol building that is exactly
5,280 feet above sea level. |
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