Hanukkah

Hanukkah (? חנוכה, [ xanʊka ː ] Hanukkah / i; German: " consecration, initiation", also: Chanukah, Hanukkah or Festival of Lights) is an eight days enduring, celebrated yearly Jewish festival commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple ( the Serubbabelischen temple ) in Jerusalem in the year 164 BC It begins on the 25th day of the month of Kislev (November / December ).

History

Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Second Jewish Temple in Jerusalem in the Jewish year 3597 (164 BC) after the successful Maccabean revolt of the Jews of Judea against Hellenized Jews and Syrians Macedonian, as it has been handed down in the First Book of the Maccabees, and also in the Talmud. The Maccabees ended the rule of the Seleucid kingdom of Judea, eliminated the in the Jewish temple built by Greeks Zeus Altar and led the Jewish temple service again.

The menorah, the seven-branched candlestick in the temple, should never expire. According to tradition, a jug of consecrated oil was due to the conquest of Syria, only to be found. This oil was enough for just one day. But needed eight days for the production of virgin consecrated oil. By a miracle, but the light had burned eight days had been made ​​to new consecrated oil. Remember the eight lights of the Hanukkah menorah. Every day is lit a light more, at the end of burn until all eight.

In fact, the candlestick often has nine arms or light holders, the ninth light is the servant (Hebrew shamash ). Only with this the others are lit after the necessary blessing (Hebrew Brachot ) were spoken. As lights candles or oil lamps are used. Olive oil is often used, as in the menorah in the temple ruins.

After the desecration of the Second Temple the Chanukkawunder was celebrated for the rededication (1 Macc 4.36 to 59 EU; 2 Mac 10.5 to 8 EU ( Septuagint )) ( a time value in the New Testament ( Jn 10,22 EU) dated after the feast of Dedication ) until the temple was finally destroyed by the Romans in the year 3830 the Jewish calendar (70 AD). The Jewish population was then compelled to numerous waves of immigration (Jewish Diaspora ). Thus began the first domestic Chanukkafeiern.

Hanukkah traditions

Hanukkah is primarily a domestic festival. Families gather to exuberant celebrations with friends at the Hanukkah evenings. Community celebrations are common, the children receive gifts and sweets. Are mainly eaten baked foods in oil such as donuts (or donuts ) (Hebrew סופגניות Sufganiyyot ) or latkes ( potato pancakes ) with applesauce and cream and other specialties of Jewish cuisine. After lighting the lights are sung to Mao and other Chanukkalieder. Originally lit only see the lights in the houses on, and later in the synagogues. Literary mention is the feast among others, Heinrich Heine. In his memorandum for Ludwig Borne Heine describes a walk the two writers of Jewish descent through the winter Judengasse.

The menorah is lit immediately after nightfall. Here, prayers are spoken, sung songs and tells the Hanukkah story. Also popular is the game with the dreidel, a spinning top, on the sides of four Hebrew characters ( Well Gimel Hey Shin ) are. The letters stand for the initials of the Hebrew sentence " A great miracle happened there " (Hebrew: Nes Gadol Haya shame). In Israel stands on the three -punching today the phrase Nes Gadol Haya Po, " A great miracle happened here. " For the purpose of the game the letters as abbreviations of Yiddish words, German: "nothing", "whole", "half" and " set" designed.

During the Chanukkatage get coins given to children and encouraged some of the money to charity to donate ( tzedakah ). The popular some have the custom to prepare for Hanukkah goose is justified by the accumulated fat that one can burn in chandeliers. A game that was once one become an integral part of the Hanukkah evenings, is bell and hammer.

The order in which the candles are lit

For the number of candles there are different traditions. Enforced has become the school of Hillel: the first evening a light and every other evening, a light more so that on the eighth night eight lights are kindled. For this purpose one uses a Chanukah candelabra with eight flames. The candles are lit as soon as the first stars in the sky can be seen, that is, immediately after the evening prayer. As long as the lights are burning, resting each work. The lights need at least half an hour to burn.

The Chanukah candelabra must be positioned so that it falls into the public eye, because behind this commandment is the intention to make the miracle public. The lights used in this case may serve no other purpose. From them one may have no benefit, they may only watch. Therefore, it has become customary to deal with games, while the lights are burning. For this reason, the chandelier is placed on a window or, especially in Israel, to the left of the entrance. Here he stood opposite the mezuzah, which is mounted on the right. Also in the synagogue Chanukah are lit daily. The lights in the Chanukah candelabra are lit with another light, called the shamash ( servant).

There are various traditions, such as the Chanukah candelabra is lit: Originally only a candle was lit for each day, which is sufficient to meet the time allotted for Hanukkah good deed. Since the 13th century, then a variety of traditions have developed that provide for the lighting of eight candles of Chanukkaleuchters.

On the first Chanukkatag the first candle is lit. Here, they say three benedictions

Only the first two prayers are said before Kerzenanzünden On the other days. On Friday evening, the lights of Hanukkah are so lit before the Sabbath lights in daylight. After lighting the lights, the Sephardic Jews recite Psalm 30, while the Ashkenazi Jews the song Mao to sing, O mighty rock.