![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/hebrew\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/34\/2016\/12\/5255175512_2764bb8c16_z-350x263.jpg\")
<\/a>6th Night by Shoshanah from Flickr.com is licensed under CC BY 2.0<\/p><\/div>\n
\u05d7\u05b2\u05e0\u05bb\u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4 is an eight day festival of light that commemorates the rededication of the great temple in Jerusalem. It celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, the triumph of spirituality over materiality, the triumph of purity over adulteration. The festival begins according to the Jewish calendar on the eve of the 25th of the third month of the year, somewhere around Christmas. Here is a short guide to how to celebrate \u05d7\u05b2\u05e0\u05bb\u05db\u05bc\u05b8\u05d4:<\/p>\n
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1) Get Familiar with the Story of the Holiday<\/p>\n
At the second century BCE the Holy Land was ruled by the Seleucid Empire. The Seleucids respected the Jewish culture and protected their institutions. Life went peacefully until Antiochus IV was crowned. Antiochus IV sought to forcefully Hellenize the people of Israel. He issued decrees forbidding Jewish religious practice. The Jewish temple located in the walled city of Jerusalem was looted and Judaism was outlawed.<\/p>\n
Most of the Jews obeyed Antiochus out of fear. But other were brave enough to refused. Judah Maccabee was one such man. Judah and his brothers formed an army of their own to fight King Antiochus. Other joined them, and although they were greatly outnumbered, the Maccabees defeated Antiochus. Against all odds, a small band of faithful Jews defeated one of the mightiest armies on earth at that time, triumphantly reclaimed the Temple in Jerusalem and rededicated it to the service of God.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately the temple was in shambles. They began tidying the temple and sought oil to light the Menorah. They found one little cruse of olive oil, an amount that will be enough for one day. Miraculously, the lamps kept burning and the one day supply burned for eight days and eight nights, until new oil could be prepared. The Maccabees rededicated the temple to the service of God, and the miracle signed that God with them.<\/p>\n
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2) Light the Hanukkiah \u05d7\u05b7\u05e0\u05bb\u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9\u05b8\u05bc\u05d4<\/p>\n
To signify the miracle we light the Hanukkiah (\u05d7\u05b7\u05e0\u05bb\u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9\u05b8\u05bc\u05d4) for eight days. \u05d7\u05b7\u05e0\u05bb\u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9\u05b8\u05bc\u05d4 is a nine branched candelabrum: eight branches for eight days of candles and one branch for the \u05e9\u05c1\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b8\u05e9\u05c1 (Sha-mash), an auxiliary candle. The \u05d7\u05b7\u05e0\u05bb\u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9\u05b8\u05bc\u05d4 candles are sacred and can’t be used to light each other. The only way to light them it with the help of the \u05e9\u05c1\u05b7\u05de\u05bc\u05b8\u05e9\u05c1. Not only the candles, but the \u05d7\u05b7\u05e0\u05bb\u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9\u05b8\u05bc\u05d4 light is also sacred. It may not be used for any purpose. One cannot play with the candles, read by their light, etc. They are only for the joy of seeing them.<\/p>\n
Placing the \u05d7\u05b7\u05e0\u05bb\u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9\u05b8\u05bc\u05d4 is important. We are commanded to publicize the miracle and the best way to do so is by displaying the \u05d7\u05b7\u05e0\u05bb\u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9\u05b8\u05bc\u05d4 on the windowsill. Secular people do not always do that, but the truly religious people even take out the \u05d7\u05b7\u05e0\u05bb\u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9\u05b8\u05bc\u05d4 and conduct the ceremony on the pavement. For eight evenings the family gathers around the \u05d7\u05b7\u05e0\u05bb\u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9\u05b8\u05bc\u05d4, blesses the candles, lights them (one candle on the first day, two candles on the second day, and so on), and sings together.<\/p>\n
Check out this video to learn the process of lighting the \u05d7\u05b7\u05e0\u05bb\u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9\u05b8\u05bc\u05d4 ceremony:<\/p>\n