the chanukah

“A great miracle happened there.”

CHANUKAHThe

bxDsukvhvao

Table ofContents3 - Through The Ages

4 - Lights, Candles,Action

5 - A Gelt Trip

7 - The Big Spin

9 - Thought For Food

10 - The RambamMenorah

11 - Dates & Times, Blessings andMelodies

© 2005 by The Shluchim Office, Design © 2005 by Spotlight DesignTexts are reprinted with permission from Chabad of California's Farbrengen magazine

Cover artwork by Michoel Muchnik, www.muchnikarts.com

© 2005 by The Shluchim Office, Design © 2005 by Spotlight DesignTexts are reprinted with permission from Chabad of California's Farbrengen magazine

Cover artwork by Michoel Muchnik, www.muchnikarts.com

Chanukah: In A New LightLooking at some recent events, you start towonder, did Chanukah happen years ago or is ithappening now? The story of a little lightpushing away an empire of darkness, humansensibility defying terror and brute force, lifeand growth overcoming destruction—these arebattles very much alive within each of us, andin the world outside of us.

The victory of light over darkness is the cosmicmegadrama. It is an ongoing story.

This victory occurs at every winter solstice andat the dawn of each day. It is found in everydecision to do good in the face of evil, to bekind where there is cruelty and to build whereothers destroy.

Chanukah is more than a holiday; it is an eight-day spiritual journey. Many people know thestory of Chanukah, the triumph of a smallgroup of Jews who challenged their Greekoppressors and a little oil that miraculouslykindled the lights of the menorah for eight days.The spirit of Chanukah is experienced when weapply its joy, warmth and light to our lives-notonly in our homes with our loved ones, but withthe entire world.

—Adapted from a letter of the Lubavitcher Rebbe

The festival of Chanukah is aboutlight overcoming darkness. Ourworld is currently experiencing a

particularly dark time. We have evenbecome apprehensive about opening the letters in ourmailbox. Our sons, daughters, friends and neighborsare half way around the world, fighting an enemy thathas no borders.

“The soul of man is a lamp of G-d” (Proverbs). Ourchallenge, whether we are on the front lines orfighting rush hour at home, is to bring light into theworld. The reason the Chanukah candles are lit afternightfall is to remind us that even in our darkestmoments, we have the potential to illuminate whenwe kindle a flame.

The Greeks were greatphilosophers. Theyacknowledged themitzvot as part of a

great culture, and the Torah as great work ofJewish literature. What they would not toleratewas that “G-d, Creator of the Universe, ordainedthe practice of these mitzvot.” In the words ofthe prayer recited on Chanukah, the Greeks setout to have the Jews forget “[G-d’s] Torah,” andto cease observing “[G-d’s] commandments.”

Whenever we do a mitzvah, we become G-d’sautograph on His masterpiece, declaring to allthat this world is not a jungle where the strongdevour the weak. It is a beautiful garden, filledwith the light of its Creator.

Throughthe Ages

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“The passage in Genesis1:2, ‘And darkness uponthe face of the deep’refers to Greece, whichdarkened the face ofIsrael. Accordingly, G-dcommanded [ibid. v.4],‘Let there be light’ - thelight of the MessianicRedemption.”

—The Zohar

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TheMenorah

Lights, Candles, Action.A Chanukah menorah has eight candleholders in onestraight row of equal height. The Shamash (servant candle),which is used to light the menorah, is placed higher or setaside from the others. A menorah which uses electriccandles can be used as a Chanukah decoration, but does notachieve the mitzvah (connection to the Divine) of lightingthe menorah.

Part of the Chanukah mitzvah is publicizing the miracle ofChanukah, so we place the menorah in the doorwayopposite the mezuzah, or by a window, clearly visible to theoutside. Candles may be used, but because of its role in theChanukah miracle, a menorah of oil is especially significant.

On the first night of Chanukah, gather the family for thelighting of the menorah. Before lighting, say the appropriate

blessings (see last page). Use the Shamash to lightthe first candle on your far right of the menorah.

On the second night, light an additional candle tothe left of the candle lit the night before. Lightthe “new” candle first, followed by the onedirectly to its right. Repeat this pattern each nightof Chanukah. The candles must burn for at leasthalf an hour. After lighting the candles, recite theHaneiros Hallolu (see last page).

On Friday afternoon, we light the Chanukahcandles just before the Shabbat candles. (OnShabbat, the holy day of rest, it is prohibited toignite a flame.) On Saturday, the Chanukahcandles are not lit until the end of Shabbat, afterthe Havdalah prayer is recited.

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King Solomon wrote,“Everything has its season…

A time to be born, a time to die…A time for war, a time for peace”

(Ecclesiastes). In Judaism, peace is essential.Yet, if one is being attacked, Jewish law forbids a passivestance. Peace and the sanctity of human life requires, attimes, that one must defend one’s self, one’s family andone’s country.

Despite the fact that the Maccabees were fewer instrength and in numbers, they stood up against theoppressor with complete faith in G-d’s mercy. Onelesson of Chanukah is that when we resolve tointroduce spirituality into our lives, G-d assists us wellbeyond our limitations. G-d tells His children, “Makefor me a small opening, like the eye of a needle, and Iwill open for you an opening through which caravanscan enter” (Midrash).We simply need to begin theprocess for G-d to help us attain that which weperceived as unattainable.

Though a person might have aburning desire to be spiritual,concrete action is needed toignite a flame. Lacking genuine

substance, one’s passion canquickly fade, failing to introduce any enduring lightinto the world. A life without mitzvot is like a wickwithout oil—it yields little or no light.

There are nine branches on the Chanukah menorah,even though Chanukah is celebrated for eight days.The ninth branch is the Shamash, the “servant” candle,which stands apart from the other candles. This candle

On Chanukah, it istraditional to give gelt(money) to children.Maimonides explains thatthe Greeks attempted toruin not only Jewishrituals, but also Jewishproperty. The triumph ofChanukah is celebrated bygiving gelt, oftendesignated for charity.

Charity is one of thegreatest mitzvot because aperson uses time, energy,body and mind to workfor that money. When heor she gives to the needy,all his or her work iselevated beyond thephysical.

A Gelt Trip

is lit so that when we make use of the Chanukah light,we do so from the Shamash, and not from the eightChanukah flames. “…These [eight Chanukah] flamesare kodesh (holy). We are not permitted to make useof them, only to gaze at them” (Chanukah liturgy).

The Hebrew word kodesh literally means separate andbeyond. In Judaism, although we can appreciate holyobjects and observances on many levels, they areessentially higher than our finite understanding andperception, since they are rooted in the infinite. It wasthis holiness that the Greeks failed to destroy, and it isthis holiness that is manifested in the lights of Chanukah.

On Chanukah we celebrate twomiracles: the victory of theMaccabees over the forces of

Antiochus IV in the battlefield, andthe miracle of the oil, which burned for eight days. Thevictory on the battlefield was a miracle that affected usin a very basic and real physical sense. The miracle ofthe oil enabled the Jewish people to resume the servicein the Holy Temple and thus was a spiritual miracle.Jews around the world recreate this miracle andspirituality today by observing Chanukah.

The Chanukah struggle is found within each of us.Chassidic teachings explain that we have two souls.One soul is drawn to the spiritual, the other to thematerial. We may reconcile this duality by beinginvolved with the material world, but toward a spiritualend. This is one reason why there are so many mitzvotin the Torah, all of them involving physical action.When the physical is engaged for spiritual purposes,the conflict is transformed into peace and harmony. A world of peace begins with inner peace. When one

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The Big SpinThe game of dreidel is one of the oldest recorded games inhistory. Around 170 B.C.E., the Greeks, who occupied Israel,deemed Jewish rituals punishable by death. Teachers and theirstudents defiantly studied in secret and when patrols cameby, they would pretend to be playing an innocent game.

The dreidel (or sevivon in Hebrew) is a four-sided spinningtop. A Hebrew letter is written on each side: Nun, Gimel,Hay and Shin, representing the phrase Nes Gadol HayahSham—A Great Miracle Happened There. In Israel, theShin is replaced with a Peh, for the word Po, Here.

Each player begins with a certain amount of coins,candy or any kind of token. Each player puts atoken into the pot. The youngest player (or you canspin for it) spins the dreidel first. The letter facingupward determines the pay-off.

b Nun = nothing

d Gimel = everything

v Hay = half

a Shin = add 2 tokens to the pot

The Dreidel

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makes peace within, it has an effect on his or herhome, environment, and eventually the entire world.

What does a soul look like? Look atthe flame of a candle. A flame isbright, jumping, and never

resting. The natural desire of asoul is to “jump up” to G-d, to break free of physicallimitations. The wick and candle anchor a flame, and aphysical body grounds the soul, forcing the soul to doits job, to give light and warmth. The human body,precious and holy, is likened to the Holy Temple. TheBaal Shem Tov, founder of Chassidism, always advisedagainst asceticism, excessive fasting and hurting thebody. Better, he would say, to use your body toperform a deed of kindness.

Kindness is contagious. When our soul tells our body todo a kind deed, both the soul and body are

affected. Even more, other souls around usawaken and influence their bodies to do the

same. Before long, we can create aninternational epidemic of kindness.

This is one reason why theChanukah menorah is placed

where it can be seen fromthe street, either in the

doorway across from themezuzah or in thewindow, reminding us ofour duty to share thespiritual light of warmthand wisdom with oursurroundings.

Thought for FoodTo celebrate the miracle of the oil, it is traditional to eat friedfoods, such as potato latkes (pancakes) and sufganiot (Israeli-style doughnuts).

To produce oil, intense pressure is put on the olive.Chassidic Teachings explains that many times peopleexperience pressures in life. Yet, “G-d does not overburdenHis creations.” The purpose of this pressure is to unleashone’s potential and hidden strength.

We also eat dairy products on Chanukah, to commemoratethe Jewish heroine Yehudis. In 164 B.C.E., the Greek generalHolofernes besieged the village of Bethulia. After intensefighting, Yehudis rebuked the town elders who were aboutto surrender. She then approached Holofernes to offer herservices as a spy. She met Holofernes in his tent and offeredhim salty cheese, followed by wine to quench his thirst,causing him to fall asleep. Yehudis beheaded him andescaped. When the Greek soldiers found his corpse, theyretreated in fear. Yehudis saved her village and countlesslives with the help of a little cheese.

Latkes forDummies

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5 large potatoes, peeled

1 large onion

4 eggs11/33 cup of matzo meal

1 teaspoon of salt11/44 teaspoon black pepper11/33 cup vegetable oil for frying

Grate potatoes and onionin your food processor, oron the fine side of a handgrater. Add eggs, matzomeal and seasoning. Mixwell in a large bowl. Heatoil on a high flame in afrying pan. Add mixture,one tablespoon at a time,to the pan. When goldenbrown, flip, and brownthe other side. Enjoy withapple sauce, fruit jam orsour cream.

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The RambamMenorah

Chassidic teachings explain thatdespite any attempts by others to

sever our connection to G-dliness,the essence of a soul can never be defiled. This spark ofholiness continuously burns and longs to be fanned into agreat flame. “The universe was created to perpetuatelight, and it is inherently good” (Genesis). There aretimes, however, when darkness invades G-d’s world. Atsuch times, we search for the hidden “single jar of pureoil” (Chanukah liturgy), the pure and indestructible sparkof Creation, which radiates goodness and holiness.

The last night of the holiday iscalled Zot Chanukah, “This isChanukah.” Our Sages explainthat “zot” refers to something

when it is revealed and tangible,“when it can be pointed to with a finger.” Unlike themiraculous victory of the Maccabees, which some wouldattribute to superior strategy, the miracle of the oil lastingfor eight days was a scientific impossibility, and there wasno denying G-ds involvement in that event.

G-d performs miracles because without them, one mightbelieve that the laws of physics define reality. However,once we see the inexplicable transpire, we witness atranscendent reality and attain a higher consciousness.We can then look back at physics, point with our fingerand realize, “This, too, is a miracle.”

The ultimate miracle is the arrival of Moshiach (Messiah).At that time, nature itself will uncover its miraculousessence. What is now perceived as a wall between thephysical and spiritual will be revealed as a bridge. We willbring this miracle with the light of our collective mitzvot.

A 12th century hand-drawing by Maimonidesdepicts the specificationsof the Temple Menorah. In this manuscript, theMenorah's seven branchesextend diagonally, instraight lines, rather thanin a semicircular oroblong shape.

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MelodiesHaneiros hallolu onu madlikin, al hat-shu-os v'alha-nisim v’al ha-nif-lo-os,She-o-siso la-avo-seinu Ba-yo-mim hoheim bizmanha-zeh, al y’dei ko-ha-ne-cho hak-doshim.

V'chol shmonas y’meyChanukah, haneros halloluko-desh heim, v'ein lonur’shus l’hish-ta-meish bo-hein,eloh lir-o-son bilvod, k'deil'ho-dos ul'ha-lel l’shimchohagodol, al ni-se-cho v’al nif-le-o-se-cho v'al y’shu-o-se-cho.

We kindle these lights [tocommemorate] the saving acts,miracles and wonders which youhave performed for ourforefathers, in those days at thistime, through your holyKohanim. Throughout the eightdays of Chanukah, these lightsare sacred, and we are notpermitted to make use of them,but only to look at them, inorder to offer thanks and praiseto Your great Name for Yourmiracles, for Your wonders andfor Your salvations.

Ma’oz tzur yeshu’ati lechana’eh leshabe’ach Tikon bettefilati vesham todah nez-abe’ach Le’et tachin mat-be’ach mitzar ham’nabe’achaz egmor beshir mizmorChanukat hamizbe’ach.

Dates & Times1st Nightafter nightfall, say Blessings 1,2 & 3

2nd Nightafter nightfall, say Blessings 1 & 2

3rd Nightafter nightfall, say Blessings 1 & 2

4th Nightafter nightfall, say Blessings 1 & 2





On Friday we light the menorah before Shabbat & candle lighting.On Saturday we light the menorah after Shabbat & havdalah.

BlessingsBaruch Atah Ado-noi Elo-hei-nu Melech Ha-olam Asher Ki-de-sha-nu Be-mitz-vo-sav Ve-tzi-vanu Le-had-lik Ner Cha-nu-kah

Baruch Atah Ado-noi Elo-hei-nu Melech Ha-olam Sheoso Ni-sim La-avo-seinu Ba-yo-mim Hoheim Bi-z'man Ha-zeh.

Baruch Atah Ado-noi Elo-hei-nu Melech Ha-olam She-heh-che-yah-nu Ve-kiye-ma-nu Ve-hi-gi-ah-nu Liz-man Ha-zeh.

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SHAMESH1

SHAMESH1 2

SHAMESH1 2 3

SHAMESH1 2 3 4

SHAMESH1 2 3 4 5

SHAMESH1 2 3 4 5 6

SHAMESH1 2 3 4 5 6 7

SHAMESH1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Chabad Lubavitch wishes you a happy Chanukah

To learn more about chanukah, visit www.virtualchanukah.com

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