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What follows is a
brief, step-by-step guide to Chanukah observance.
How To Light The Menorah
We place candles in the Menorah from right to left, but we light the
candles from left to right. The shamash, servant candle (the candle we use
to light the Chanukah lights), is lit first each night and is used to
light all the other candles. This is because we're forbidden to actually
use the Chanukah lights for anything, even to light another candle.
Now that you know the basics, are you ready to light? Make sure an adult
is with you while you're lighting as fire can be dangerous. Get ready,
set....Go!!!
A. Light the Shamash.
B. Say the blessings. (On the first night of Chanukah say blessings, 1, 2
and 3; on all other nights recite blessings 1 and 2.
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1. Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified
us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the Chanukah light.
1. Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-he-nu Me-lech Ha-olam A-sher
Ki-de-sha-nu Be-mitz-vo-tav Ve-tzi-va-nu Le-had-lik Ner Cha-nu-kah.
2. Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who
performed miracles for our forefathers in those days, at this
time.
2. Bo-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-he-nu Me-lech Ha-olam She-a-sa Ni-sim La-avo-te-nu
Ba-ya-mim Ha-hem Bi-z'man Ha-zeh.
3. Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has granted us
life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.
3. Ba-ruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hea-nu Me-lech Ha-olam She-heche-ya-nu
Ve-ki-yi-ma-nu Ve-higi-a-nu Liz-man Ha-zeh. |
C. Light the candles. On the first night light the first candle, on the
second night, light the second candle first, starting from the left and
moving on to the right; and so on every night of Chanukah.
D. It is customary to sit by the Chanukah lights and sing traditional
Chanukah songs.
Chanukah Customs
FOOD:
It is a custom to eat foods fried in oil, to remind us of the miracle that
took place with the oil (the oil lasted for 8 days!), like potato latkes
(pancakes), or doughnuts. (Click on the links for recipes).
It is also customary to eat dairy foods to remind us of the heroism of
Yehudit.
Yehudit, the daughter of Yochanan the High Priest, is remembered on
Chanukah for her courage in driving the Greeks from her town. She won the
confidence of Holofernes, a Greek general and convinced him that the time
was right to capture her town.
When he invited her to celebrate with him, she gave him salty cheese she'd
prepared for the occasion, which he washed down with so much wine he
passed out drunk. Yehudit then beheaded the general and brought her
"prize" home, where it was openly displayed. When the Greeks saw that
their leader was dead, they fled in fear, and the Jews won a great
victory.
In remembrance of Yehudit's heroic act, it is a tradition to eat dairy
foods on Chanukah.
FUN:
Chanukah Gelt
It is customary to give Chanukah gelt (money) to children. It adds to the
festive spirit of the holiday and provides funds for children to give to
charity, so go ahead, give some of the money you receive to charity!
Dreidel
The Dreidel, also called sevivon, dates back to the time of the Chanukah
story. Because learning Torah was punishable by death, the Jews would hide
in caves to study.
If found by Greek soldiers, they would pull out their dreidels and pretend
they were just playing a game. We remind ourselves of their courage at
that time, by playing the game of Dreidel during the holiday of Chanukah
today.
You can play a game of Dreidel online by clicking here.
Happy Chanukah!
Chanukah Tidbit
The annual Menorah lighting on the first night of Chanukah at the Champs
Elysees in Paris attracts more than 20,000 Parisian Jews. |
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