Back to
Religious Objects Religious Living Temple
Israel Home Page Temple Israel of Northern Westchester
Back to
Religious Objects Religious Living Temple
Israel Home Page
See More Images of Chanukah Menorah
 |
"For Mitzvah
is a lamp and Torah is light” Proverbs 6:23 |
| According to the Jewish historian Josephus (1st century C.E.), the festival we know as Chanukah (“Dedication”, in Hebrew)was called “Lights” (Urim) in his time. How apt that the Chanukah lamp or “menorah” and the lights which illuminate it are the symbols of this joyous celebration. |  |
 |
The traditions that form the core of the story of why we celebrate Chanukah with lights are legends. The menorah is the representation of the Temple candelabrum and the lone cruse of undefiled oil that was said to have burned for eight days when it should have only been able to burn for a single day. Legend or not, it is a symbol of Jewish triumph over any dark forces that seek our destruction. For centuries, in every land that has harbored the Jewish diaspora, the Chanukah lamp, (publicly positioned) almost defiantly has reflected the light of Torah and Jewish determination to remain faithful to its teachings. |
| Following the established tradition, one candle is lit the first night of Chanukah and the number is increased by one each night, for eight days. The menorah should be placed where it can be seen from the outside, to celebrate publicly the miracle of the lights. On each successive night, one candle is added, placed from right to left. The first candle lit each night represents the new day, so that the candles are lit from left to right but placed in the lamp from right to left. Since it is prohibited to use the lights for any work or practical use, a special candle called the Shammas or Shamash is used to kindle the others and to provide light. On Friday evening, the Chanukah candles are lit before those for Shabbat. |
|
|
Baruch
atah Adonai, eloheynu melech ha-olam, a-sher
kid’shanu b’mitzvotav, vitzivanu l’hadlik
ner shel Chanukah. |
Baruch atah Adonai, eloheynu melech ha-olam, sheh-asah nissim l’avo-teynu ba-yamim ha-heym, baz-man ha-zeh. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, Who worked miracles for our ancestors in those days at this very season. |
|
The following blessing, “who has kept us alive” is said only on the first night:
|
Baruch
atah Adonai, eloheynu melech ha-olam, sheh-hechianu
v’ki’manu, v’higianu laz-man ha-zeh. |
| For Further Reading: |
Religious Objects is produced by Steve
Butterfass and Eric Bonnell
