Hanukkah

=Hanukkah=

==== Hanukkah is the Jewish celebration of light. It is celebrated for 8 days and nights. Hanukkah starts on the 25th day of Kislev and ends on the 2nd or 3rd day of Tevet. Kislev is the name of the 9th month of the Jewish calendar. The 25th day of Kislev is the first day of Chanukah. The month overlaps with our month of December. The colors for Hanukkah are blue and silver. The symbol of light for Hanukkah is Menorah or Chanukkiah. It has nine candles on it. The center candle is called a Shamash. During Hanukkah people also play a game called The Dreidel game. Here is how the game works. ====

//**__The Dreidel Game__**//
Playing with the Dreidel is a traditional Hanukkah game played in Jewish homes all over the world, and rules may vary. Here's how to play the basic Dreidel game: 1. Any number of people can take part in this great game. 2. Each player begins the game with an equal number of game pieces (about 10-15) such as pennies, nuts, chocolate chips, raisins, matchsticks, etc. 3. At the beginning of each round, every participant puts one game piece into the center "pot." In addition, every time the pot is empty or has only one game piece left, every player should put one in the pot. 4. Every time it's your turn, spin the Dreidel once. a) Nun means nothing. The player does nothing. b) Gimmel means everything. The player gets everything in the pot. c) Hey means half. The player gets half of the pot. (If there are an odd number of pieces in the pot, the player takes half of the total plus one). d) Shin means put in. The player adds a game piece to the pot. 6. When one person has won everything, the game is over!

__//** Shamash **//__
 * The Shamash is the ninth candle of the hannukkiyah but is placed in the center
 * It is used to light the other eight candles because they are held Sacred and should not be used for anything other than worshiping
 * //Shamash// means "the attendant"
 * The other eight candles are called Mitzvah
 * The Shamash's holder is higher up than the rest of the candles on the hannukkiyah
 * It is kept light and made out of beeswax[[image:http://www.centralmoravianchurch.org/ourchurch/images/candle2.jpg width="172" height="285" align="right" caption="Shamash candle"]]
 * The Shamash has a calm flame

__**//Menorah//**__
 * A hanukkiyah is a candelabrum with eight candleholders in a row and a ninth candleholder set a little above the others.
 * It's different from a menorah, which has seven branches and was used in the Temple before it was destroyed.
 * A hanukkiyah is nevertheless a kind of menorah.
 * Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days and a candle is lit on the hanukkiyah on each of those days.
 * One candle is lit the first night, two the second, and so on, until the final night when all the candles are lit.
 * Each of the eight candles is lit with a “helper” candle known as the shamash.
 * The shamash is lit first, is used to light the other candles, and then is returned to the ninth candle spot, which is set apart from the others.

__//** HOW TO LIGHT A MENORAH... **//__

1. What to Light buy or make a Hanukkah Menorah. The Menorah should have eight candle holders in a row and a separate candle holder for the Shamash. The Shamash candle is used to light the other eight candles. 2. Where to Light To best publicize the miracle the Hanukkah Menorah is ideally lit outside the doorway of your house on the left side when entering. If you can't then the Menorah should be lit in a window facing the public. If the Menorah cannot be lit by the window it may be lit inside the house on a table. 3. When to Light The Menorah should be lit at nightfall. It is best to wait until all members of the household are present to light the Menorah. It should remmain lit for 30 minutes after nightfall. On Friday the Menorah should be lit before sundown. 4. How to Light on the First Night On the first night, place one candle in the Menorah's far right candle holder. Another candle is placed for the Shamash. Say a blessing and then light the candle using the Shamash. 5. How to Light on the Second through Eighth Night The second night place two candles in the Menorah's far right candle holders. Another candle is placed for the Shamash. Light the left-most candle first and then light in order from left to right. Follow this procedure for each night of Hanukkah.


 * When lighting the Candles Hanerot Halalu is traditionaly recited
 * After It is light Maoz Tzur is traditionaly sung.

Hanerot Halalu 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 And we are not permitted to make Ordinary use of them, But only to look at them; <span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in 22.5pt; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">In order to express thanks <span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in 22.5pt; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">And praise to Your great Name <span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in 22.5pt; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">For your miracles, Your wonders <span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in 22.5pt; tabstops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">And your salvations.

Maoz Tzur <span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in;">Rock of ages, let our song <span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in;">Praise Your saving power; <span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in;">You, amid the raging foes, <span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in;">Were our sheltering tower. <span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in;">Furious they assailed us, <span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in;">But Your arm availed us, <span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in;">And Your word, <span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in;">Broke their sword, <span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in;">When our own strength failed us. <span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in;">O mighty stronghold of my salvation, <span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in;">to praise You is a delight. <span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in;">Restore my House of Prayer and there <span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in;">we will bring a thanksgiving offering. <span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in;">When You will have prepared the <span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in;">slaughter for the blaspheming foe, <span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in;">Then I shall complete with a song of hymn <span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in;">the dedication of the Altar.

**__<span style="color: #8db3e2; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; text-underline: double; textunderline: double;">Food and Drinks __** <span style="background: white; color: #000000; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">I. Sufganiyot- jelly filled donuts (jelly munchkins) <span style="background: white; color: #000000; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">II. Latkes- potato pancakes (fried potatoes) <span style="background: white; color: #000000; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">III. Cheese <span style="background: white; color: #000000; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;">IV. Cheesecake

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">V. <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">A newer tradition in the United States is the baking of butter cookies <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">or pretzels <span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt;">in the shape of Hanukkah symbols while relating the stories. Children delight in helping and learn as they create, as well.

<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in; text-indent: -0.5in;">People fry Latkes to resemble the oil miracle. After the big takeover and the end of the war the Jews had to rededicate the temple so they burned an oil candle and even though they only had enough oil to burn for 1 night it lasted for 8. <span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in; text-indent: -0.5in;"> <span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in; text-indent: -0.5in;">﻿Hanukkah Fun... <span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in;">﻿ here are some videos i found about Hanukkah... <span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in; text-indent: -0.5in;">﻿media type="youtube" key="NOvKajKc0Q0?fs=1" height="394" width="361" media type="youtube" key="3VfChLAADS8?fs=1" height="393" width="435" <span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in; text-indent: -0.5in;">media type="youtube" key="mwb1PnLcchw?fs=1" height="162" width="246"

<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in; text-indent: -0.5in;">Links <span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in; text-indent: -0.5in;">Hanukkah Link 1 <span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in; text-indent: -0.5in;">Hanukkah Link 2 <span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in; text-indent: -0.5in;">Hanukkah Link 3 <span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in; text-indent: -0.5in;">Hanukkah Link 4 <span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 9pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0.25in; text-indent: -0.5in;">Hanukkah Link 5