The Misconstrued Perception Of The Hanukah

If you do not practice the religion of Judaism you might not know the true meaning of Hanukah. I certainly did not, like a lot of other people, I thought it was just the way Jewish people celebrated Christmas. This is a misconstrued perception of the Hanukah (the festival of lighting). Like all traditional celebrations there was a significant event that caused a celebration and Hanukah is no different. Hanukah dates back to around the second century; 165 B.C.E era and is summarized as the spiritual and psychical victory for the Jews against the Greeks.
How Hanukah came to be, the Temple of Jerusalem was overtaken by the Seleucid king of Syria who allowed the Jewish to practice their religion. When the king’s son Antiochus IV gained control
of the temple, he turned the temple into a place to worship the Greek God Zeus. This ruling from Antiochus IV of Greek culture, did not allow the circumcision of Jewish males and forced to pray in front of a display of pork (the Jewish forbidden meat). Being forced to worship a god that was not the Judaism’s “one God” began the revolt by Matitiyahu, and his son Judah the Maccabee, “priestly family of Jews who organized a successful rebellion against the Seleucid ruler Antiochus IV and reconsecrated the defiled Temple of Jerusalem.” (Encyclopedia Britannica) Hanukah’s origin began following the reclamation of the Temple of Jerusalem.
The Jewish people rededicated it as the Second Temple. During the re-dedication of the Temple of Jerusalem, Jewish people entered the Temple of Jerusalem, found the Holy Temple in shambles and desecrated. They found only one jar of pure oil sealed by the high priest, this was only enough to keep the eternal flame lit for one day. It was said to be a miracle that one flame continued to burn for eight nights giving the Jewish people enough time to find more oil. The Maccabees cleansed the Temple and re-dedicated it on the 25th of Kislev. (The Jewish calendar is based on both the solar and lunar calendars, and the dates of the holidays do not change in the Jewish calendar, but vary in the secular
calendar).
The meaning of Hanukah is “dedication” in Hebrew and both versions prove the dedication of the Jewish people.
This dedication is honored on the twenty fifth night of Kislev. The celebration begins by the lighting of candles or oil wicks on an eight branched candelabrum (also called menorah) with a ninth spot for the Shamash (the helper candle). The Shamash candle is lit on the first night of Hanukah and continues to be used to light the remaining candles or oil wicks. This is done after sundown every night. After the Shamash is lit and before lighting any other candles on the menorah there are two blessings recited: “Blessed art Thou, Lord our God, King of the universe who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the Hanukah light”. “Blessed art Thou, Lord our God, King of the universe who has performed miracles for our ancestors in those days, at this time”.
(Hayim)
On the first night one candle is lit, on the second two candles are lit and so on for eight nights. Hallel’s are special prayers and praise of gratitude to the Jewish “one God” that are adding to the prayer services before meals and to grace after meals during the eight days of Hanukah. Friday evening before night falls during Hanukah, the eve of Sabbath, the candles are lit before the Sabbath candles. Hanukah is primarily celebrated at home with singing, family programs and eating, Hanukah is also commonly celebrated with parties on any of the eight nights. This celebration consists of dinners, song festivals, concerts and the special time of year when gambling is allowed. Jewish gambling is not like we think of gambling in today’s society. Jewish people play cards or four-sided tops as a way of gambling, instead of money they use nuts, buttons, pennies or chocolate gold coins. Presents were once only given during Purim, with all the modern changes the giving of gelts became part of Hanukah. Gelt is a coin that symbolizes Jewish independence (Yiddish for money). The gold coin has also been given as a chocolate coin wrapped in gold foil. Around the ninetieth century and continuing to the present. Commercialization has raised people’s gift expectations of holidays so the giving of presents has become more modern within the Hanukah celebration.
The Temple of Jerusalem was a sacred place where the Jews worshiped their “one God”. This temple was taken from the Jewish people during the 2nd century (165 B.C.E). This triumph by the Greeks along with the Jewish people being made to practice beliefs not their own, was the beginning of a long battle to the victory that is celebrated as Hanaukah (the festival of lights).