Channuka

At the end of Kislev comes Channuka. This festival commemorates the rededication of the Temple at the hands of the Maccabees, after it had been defiled by the Antiochus of Syria and the Hellenists (Jews who had adopted the idolatrous culture of the Greeks). When the Temple was recaptured (139 BCE), there was only sufficient oil to light the menorah for one day. By miracle, it lasted for eight days, long enough for new oil to be refined. One additional candle is lit after nightfall on each of the eight days of the festival. It is traditional to eat latkes, doughnuts and other fried foods, to commemorate the miracle of the oil.

Children gamble with the dreidel, a 4 sided spinning top. The Greeks had prohibited Torah study, so the Rabbis would instruct their students in secret, pretending to play with them when patrols passed by.

Source of Channuka
The historical story of Channuka is recorded in the Book of the Maccabees in the Apocrypha - the collection of writings of the Biblical era, which the Rabbis excluded from the Tanach. It is also told by the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, who lived at the time of the Romans.

Power struggles
After the death of Alexander the Great of Greece (323 BCE), his empire was divided among his generals. Israel was a much disputed buffer zone and was first taken by the Ptolemy dynasty that ruled Egypt, then by the Selucid dynasty of Syria (201 BCE). The Selucid king Antiochus III allowed the Jews much religious freedom. He was killed in 187 BCE and his son, Antiochus IV came to the throne. At this time, Rome was emerging as an international power and Antiochus IV built up huge debts to Rome, which he sought to repay through extortion.

Assimilation
When the High Priest, Onias, refused to hand over Temple Treasures to the Selucids and was summoned to Antioch, his brother Jason deposed him in a coup and bought the High Priesthood. Jason instituted many Greek cultural reforms, such as a gymnasium and theatre. These innovations were welcomed by the Hellenists (Jews who supported the Greek civilisation), but opposed by Jewish zealots.

Corruption
In 172 BCE Menelaus deposed Jason by buying the High Priesthood. For the first time since the time of King Solomon, the High Priest was not a descendant of the line of Zadok. Jason fled and Menelaus arranged for Onias to be assassinated in Antioch.

Repression
Menalaus plundered the Temple treasury, was briefly replaced by Jason in a coup. Antiochus invaded Jerusalem and built a fort on the Temple Mount. He placed an altar of Zeus in the Temple, encouraged pagan worship, prohibited Torah study and worship, especially Brit Milah - which symbolises the imperfection of man - an inimical idea to the Greeks, who saw perfection in the human form. Torah scrolls were burned and those who sought to uphold the religion were put to death. There were many martyrs, such as Hannah and her 7 sons who refused to eat pork or bow to an idol of Zeus outside the Temple.

Rebellion
Mattathias, a priest and patriarch of the Hasmonean family, and his sons, launched a zealot revolt from their home town, Modi’in. They called themselves the Maccabees (meaning Hammers). Their principal target was the Hellenist Jews. Mattathias died and was replaced by his son Judah. After initial setbacks, such as being massacred for not fighting on Shabbat (which they then changed in the interests of Pikuach Nefesh), they recaptured Jerusalem and recovered the Temple on 25th Kislev in 139 BCE. The war against the Hellenists continued and the Hasmonean dynasty ruled under the Greeks and Romans for the next 200 years.

Rededication
The Gemarra records only that in the Temple area they found only one vial of pure oil with the seal of the High Priest, fit for the Menorah. It would take 8 days for new oil to be prepared. Rather than hold off the rededication of the Temple, they lit the Menorah and by miracle the oil lasted for the eight days. A festival was held to mark the rededication. Channuka means dedication.

Religious Observance

How many lights does it take to publicise a miracle?
The festival of Channuka occurs on the 25th of Kislev and lasts for eight days. The thrust of the celebration is “Pirsumey Nisah” or the publicising of the miracle. According to Halacha this is achieved by lighting one candle every evening. The Rabbis ruled that the mitzvah is so important that even a pauper must sell the shirt off his back to buy oil and a wick for Channuka. The Gemarra records a debate between the schools of Shammai and Hillel over how to fulfil the mitzvah in the best possible way. Shammai reckoned that one should light eight candles on the first day, seven on the second and six on the third etc. Hillel, whom we follow, argued that one should always climb in holiness, starting with one and working up to eight.

The Chanukiah
Ideally, the Chanukiah is lit at sundown so that it can be seen by those passing outside. In Israel, most families light at the main entrance of their house. No work should be done for the first half hour that the candles are burning. Nor may any work be done by the light of the candles; they are solely for the purpose of publicising the miracle. For this reason, a Shamash or “service” candle is added to the Chanukia. It is used to light the other candles and the light it radiates can be employed to help illuminate a room.

Lighting up
The Chanukiah is lit from left to right, with the new candle being added at the left. There are two brachot; the first on lighting the candles and the second recalling G-d’s miracles. On the first night the bracha “Shehechyanu” is also recited. After the first candle is lit, one sings “Hanerot Halalu”, which talks about the prohibition of using these sacred lights, and finally “Maoz Tzur”, which recalls how G-d has always rescued Israel from its foes. Although the focus of the Gemarra was the miracle of the oil in the Temple, these songs and the “Al Hanissim” prayer, which is added to Birkat Hamazon and the daily Amida, concentrate on the miracle of the military victory.

Channuka candles should be lit; earliest - sunset; alternatively, when there are 3 stars out and should burn until at least half an hour after there are three stars in the sky. On Shabbat, candles need to be lit before Shabbat comes in. For Motzei Shabbat, they should be lit after it goes out.

Seven Days or Eight?
It has been suggested that the festival should only be for seven days - after all, there is no miracle in a day’s supply of oil lasting the first day. Some commentators explain that there was nonetheless a miracle on the first day - not all the oil was consumed. Others counter that there is a day’s celebration of the initial military victory and the next seven days commemorate the miracle of the oil. A further link with eight days is that one of the main challenges to the Greeks was the defying of Antiochus’ prohibition of Brit Milah.

In Shul
A portion of the Torah is read every morning, telling of the dedication of the Mishkan in the wilderness. Hallel is also recited at the end of the Shacharit Amida.

Customs
It is traditional to eat fried food or food cooked in oil such as latkes and doughnuts. There are also a number of gambling games associated with the Dreidel - a spinning top containing the letters “Nun”, Gimmel”, “Hay”, “Shin” (or “Pey” in Israel). These are the acronym of “Nes Gadol Haya Sham” - a great miracle happened there. According to tradition, the Torah students would break off their learning when the Greek soldiers passed and would pretend that they were idling and gambling so as to evade detection.

The Laws of Channukah

Who May Light

1. Every Jewish man and woman should light Channuka lights. Even the poor must try to light at least one light each night.
2. To publicly proclaim the miracle of Channuka, the lights are lit by the head of the family in the presence of the entire household. The household members fulfil their mitzvah with the lighting by the family head, by listening to hear his blessings, and by answering “Amen.” (Even if they hear the blessings but do not to answer “Amen,” the mitzvah is still fulfilled). It is proper practice for the young to light, to familiarize themselves with the mitzvah.
3. A woman may light for herself and for others as well.
4. If a member of the household (i.e., one who lives and eats there) is out when the lights are lit, he is assumed to have fulfilled his mitzvah since the family head is assumed to have lit for him too.
5. If one is living temporarily away from home in a hotel, a dormitory, or with relatives or friends and no one lights for him at home, he must make arrangements to light for himself.

Where to Light

1. To publicly proclaim the miracle of Channuka, one preferably lights the lights outside, at the left side of the front door opposite the mezuzah.
2. When one lives on an upper floor, the lights are lit at the right side of the window facing a public thoroughfare.
3. Do not light the lamps while holding the menorah. The lamps should not be moved after lighting.

When to Light

1. With the exception of Shabbat (below), Channuka lights should be lit directly after the Ma’ariv (evening) service at nightfall - the time stars appear. This is just before 9.00pm in Auckland.
2. The lights must burn for at least half an hour after nightfall. Therefore, if you light before the stars appear, you should make sure there is enough oil or wax to burn for a half-hour after nightfall.
3. If the lights were not lit at nightfall, try to light them within a half-hour afterwards. If necessary you may light until the crack of dawn.
4. If you completely forgot to light one evening, light the rest of the evenings as usual.
5. If the lights were blown out, you have still fulfilled the mitzvah. Nevertheless, you should relight them without the blessing. The lights may not be placed where they can be blown out easily.
6. On Friday night, the candles should be lit before the Shabbat Candles, immediately before Shabbat comes in. Although the shul service is set for 7.00pm, Shabbat really begins at 8.15pm tonight, so families lighting at home should delay till then. Candles should be long enough to burn into the night.
7. After Shabbat, candles should be lit after Havdalla, once Shabbat has concluded (9.24pm this week).

With What to Light

1. All oils or waxes may be used for Channuka lights. First choice, however, is olive oil since the miracle of Channuka involved olive oil. The oil or candle should be sufficient to burn for the requisite half-hour after nightfall.
2. It is praiseworthy to light in as beautiful a menorah as you can afford.

How to Light

1. The Service is found on page 782 of the Artscroll Siddur and 371 of the Singers.
2. On the first night recite three blessings: "..asher kideshonu bemitzvotav vetzivonu le-hadlik ner shel Channuka..", "..she’osah nissim la’avoteinu.." , and Shehecheyonu. Omit Shehecheyonu on the other nights.
3. On the first night, the rightmost lamp of the menorah is lit. On subsequent nights the proper number of lamps are prepared in the rightmost positions. When lighting, however, the leftmost lamp (the one that has been added for that evening) is lit first, and then the rest of the lamps are lit moving towards the right.
4. It is forbidden to use the Channuka lights for any purpose at all, even for the study of Torah. Therefore it is customary to light an extra lamp or candle, the shammes - from which to light the Channuka menorah - and to place it very close to the Channuka lights so that you will have a light for use.

Blessings

The following Brachot are recited before lighting the candles

Blessed are you O Lord our G-d King of the universe, who has made us holy through his commandments and commanded us to light the Chanukah lights.

Blessed are you O Lord our G-d King of the universe, who made miracles for our forefathers in those days at this season.

This Bracha is said on the first night only

Blessed are you O Lord our G-d King of the universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us and brought us to this season.

Baruch Atah Adonoy Elohenu Melech HaOlam Asher Kidshanu B'Mitzvotav V'Tzivanu L'Hadlik Ner Shel Chanukah

Baruch Atah Adonoy Elohenu Melech HaOlam She'asa Nissim La'Avotaynu Bayamim Hahaym Bazman Hazeh

This Bracha is said on the first night only

Baruch Atah Adonoy Elohenu Melech HaOlam She'hecheyanu V'Kiyamanu V'Higiyanu Lazman Hazeh

After lighting the first candle, the following is sung. It explains how the lights of the Chanukiah are a symbol of our praise to G-d for the miracles of Chanukah and therefore their light may not be used for any other purpose. Accordingly, we light a Shamash or "service Candle" to light the others and to add to the light in the room

These candles that we light commemorate your wonders, your miracles, your redemption of our ancestors by the hands of your holy priests. For all eight days of Chanukah these candles are holy and we are not permitted to make use of them, save just to look at them; in order to give praise to your name, for your miracles, your redemption and your wonders.

Hanerot Halalu Anachnu Madlikin,

Al Hanisim V'al Hatshuot V'al Haniflaot,

She'asita La'Avotaynu Al Yaday Kohanecha Hakdoshim.

Vechol Shemonat Yamay Chanukah Hanerot Halalu Kodesh

V'ayn Lanu Reshut Lehishtamesh Bahem Elah Lirotam Bilvad.

Keday Lehodot Leshimcha.

Al Nisecha V'al Yeshuatecha V'al Niflaotecha.

Maoz Tzur

O Fortress, Rock of my salvation, to you it is fitting to give praise
Restore my house of prayer and there shall I offer you thanksgiving
When you have readied for the slaughter the blaspheming foe
Then will I complete with song and psalm the dedication of your altar.

Troubles filled my soul when my strength was consumed with grief
They had embittered my life with hardship in subjugation to the kingdom of Egypt
But with His great hand He rescued His treasured people
Pharaoh's army and all his descedants plummeted into the deep like a stone.

To His holy temple He brought me but there, too, found I no rest
An oppressor came and exiled me for I had served strangers
And I had quaffed the intoxicating wine no sooner had I left the Land
I had fein perished when Babylon's end drew near and Zerubavel came after 70 years.

To fell the lofty Cypress sought the Aggagite son of Hammedata
But in this he ensnared himself and his pride was vanquished
You lifted the head of the man from Binyamin and blotted out the name of his foe
His many trees and possessions You hanged from the tree.

The Greeks gathered against me Then in the days of the Hasmoneans
And they breached the walls of my citadels and defiled all the oils
And from the remnant of the vials a miracle was wrought for your beloved
And their men of understanding Designated these 8 days for song & jubilation

Maoz Tzur Yeshuati Lecha Naeh Leshabe'ach
Tikon Beit Tefilati Vesham Todah Nizabe'ach
Le'ayt Tachin Matbe'ach Mitzar Hamnabe'ach
Az Egmor Beshir Mizmor Chanukat Hamizbe'ach.

Ra'ot Sava Nafshi Beyagon Kochi Kalah
Chayay Mayraru BeKoshi Beshibud Malchut Egla
Uvyado Hagdola Hotzi Et Hasgula
Chayl Paro V'chol Zaro, Yardu K'even M'Tzulah

Dvir Kadsho Heviani V'gam Sham Lo Shakat'ti
Uva Noges V'Higlani Ki Zarim Avad'ti
V'yayn R'al Masachti Kim'at She'avarti
Ketz Bavel Z'rubavel L'ketz Shivim Nosh'ati

K'rot Komat B'rosh Bikesh Agagi Ben Chamdata
V'nihyata Lo L'mokesh V'gavato Nishbata
Rosh Y'mini Nisayta V'oyev Shmo Machita
Rov Banav V'Kinyanav Al Haetz Talita

Y'vanim Nik'btzu Alay Azay Biymay Chashmanim
Ufartzu Chomot Migdalay V'Timu Kol Hashmanim
Uminotar Kankanim Nasa Nes Lashoshanim
Bnei Vina Yemay Shmona Kavu Shir U'rnanim