The holidays are, a time for tradition, celebration and, above all, family, from Christmas to Kwanzaa to the Winter Solstice, and, for the Jewish people, “the Festival of Lights”—Hannukah.

THE STORY

The story of Hannukah centers on the incursion of the Seleucid Empire into Judea, and the efforts of Antiochus IV Epiphanes to suppress the Jewish people and their customs, including Temple practices. The Maccabees—led by Matthias and Judah—launched a successful rebellion against this oppression. Following the victory, the Second Temple of Jerusalem was cleansed and rededicated, but there was only enough oil present to light the temple for one night. However, the oil miraculously lasted for eight nights—long enough for more oil to arrive, and a sign that the identity of the Jewish people could and would not be extinguished.

THE SIGNIFICANCE

Prayers to God for having “wrought miracles for our fathers in days of old, at this season,” including the Shehecheyanu—an important Jewish prayer thanking God for allowing us to reach this season, together and intact—are recited on Hannukah.

Though holidays such as Passover and Yom Kippur are considered holier than Hannukah, it has nevertheless carved out a unique place in Jewish tradition. From both a religious and secular perspective, it serves as a reminder of the incredible resilience of the Jewish people in the face of the oppression they have so often faced.

Within the Diaspora, Hannukah is especially important to the identities of Jews living in the English-speaking world, particularly in North America, where it allows Jewish families the same sense of joy and identity come wintertime as Christmas allows for Christian families.

THE MENORAH

The menorah is one of the central symbols of the Jewish people worldwide. While other menorahs have six places as well as a center one, the Hannukah menorah has eight places—for the eight nights—and a center one, or “shamash.” Menorahs may be lit with oil or candles; in the case of the latter, the center candle is used to light the others.

THE SPELLINGS

Hanukah, Hannukah, Chanukah, Chanukkah—why are there so many spellings? This has to do with the different ways in which the Hebrew is translated. For example, the “Ch”—or “Kh” in some Eastern European translations— corresponds to the “hard H” sound in Hebrew, but as “Ch” makes a completely different sound in English (“cheese”), French (“Chéri”) and other languages, it is sometimes dropped.

THE DATES

As with all Jewish holidays, Hanukah is determined by the Hebrew rather than Gregorian Calendar. Hanukah in 2015 begins at sundown December 6^th and ends December 14^th.

THE LATKES

Latkes are by far the most popular and distinctive element of Hannukah cuisine. These “potato pancakes” are made from potatoes, eggs, flour, breading, and are fried in oil, which relates back to the Miracle of the Oil.

THE DREIDELS, GIFTS AND GELT

Toys, gifts, and gelt (chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil) are part of what makes Hannukah such a wintertime delight. The dreidel is a four-sided top adorned with four Hebrew letters—Shin, Hey, Gimmel and Nun — and can be used for various games.

Many families give presents for each of the eight nights, and Your Holy Land Store offers a wide variety of presents which are perfect for the occasion, both online at www.yourholylandstore.ca and at our store in Vaughan (Toronto area).

From London to Los Angeles, New York to Navarre, Tel Aviv to here in Toronto, Hannukah is a perfect celebration of Jewish identity, and how it has been kept alight from antiquity to today.