The Christmas Projects - Finally Published!

We may be a little tardy, but better late than never. Here are Addison and Michaella's research assignment. They were told to research Christmas traditions outside North America. Here is Addison's project.

Hanukkah - a Jewish Celebration

Hanukkah which can be written, Hannuka or Chanukah means, Feast of light or Feast of Dedication. Hanukkah begins on the eve of the 25^th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev (approximately December). Gifts are exchanged and contributions to the poor are made. On the first evening of Hanukkah one candle is lit in an eight branch candelabra, called a menorah or hanukkiyah. Candles are lit for eight nights by using a separate candle called Shamash (shamus).

The story of Hanukkah was written in two books of the Apocrypha (a number of books from the Old Testament). For thousands of years, Jewish leaders or rabbis studied the Torah, which are the first five and most important books of the Hebrew Bible. The Jews believed God first revealed the Torah to Moses. Torah, which means “guidance” and “teaching”, was also translated as “law.” As well as history, the Torah contained 613 commandments on which Jewish life was based. The rabbis wrote the results of their work in commentaries that motivated further scholarly writings. The most important of all these works was the Talmud, which contained guidance on Jewish Law and Biblical descriptions.

Hanukkah began in 161 B.C.E. (before current era) when the Greek king Antiochus planned to make every one into a Greek. Most countries agreed, but the people from Judea, a small province bordering Egypt did not. The Judeans or Jews didn’t reject everything the Greeks did. They liked the way the Greek cities were governing themselves and they admired the wisdom of the Greek philosophers. They liked only one language being spoken all over the world. However the Jews refused to replace their own God, who had delivered them from slavery and was the one true God, the God of Israel.

Antiochus was afraid that other groups in lands that he was trying to conform, would rebel against his wishes. Antiochus tried to use brutal force to conform the Jews. He sent an army to invade Jerusalem and take over the Temple. The Jews were chased by the Greek army but by using surprise tactics were able to fight. When Mattathias, who was a Jewish priest and had lead the rebellion died, his son Judah was made commander. They called Judah “Maccabee”, which was thought to mean, “Hammerer,” because they hammered the armies of the Greeks. Antiochus gathered an enormous army with war elephants to crush the Maccabees. The Maccabees shot the elephant trainers and the elephants without trainers panicked. The panicked elephants broke up the army and the Maccabees were able to win the battle. After a three year struggle lead by Judah Maccabee, the Jews in Judea defeated the Syrian tyrant Antiochus IV.

According to the Talmud, written many centuries after the event, the Maccabees entered Jerusalem in November of 164 B. C. E. They led the soldiers to the Temple, which was empty and polluted. The Jews destroyed the Syrian idols that were in the Temple. The Maccabee and the people of Jerusalem cleaned the Temple and found only one small flask of oil that had not been spoiled by the Greeks. On the 25^th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev they rededicated the Temple to God. They used the oil to light their holy lamps. The small amount of oil was only enough for one day; however it lasted for 8 days. This was long enough for more oil to be brought to Jerusalem. The ceremony lasted for 8 days. This was the first Hanukkah or dedication.

As Jews light the menorah, they remember the miracle of the oil and how a tiny band of heroic men and women defeated a mighty empire and won the right to worship God in their own way. Other sources tell of a torch light parade in the Temple, which may have contributed to the tradition of lighting candles on Hanukkah.

An important traditional image of Hanukkah is the dreidel or sivivon as it is known in Hebrew. The dreidel is a four sided top that was used by children to play games. The tradition of the dreidel may have originated as a result of the Bar Kokhba revolution against the Romans in 135C.E. After putting down the revolution the Roman emperor Hadrian banned the Jewish religion. The Jews were forbidden to study the Torah which is the first five books of the Hebrew bible. The Jews believed God first revealed them to Moses. Torah means “guidance” and “teaching” but it also translates as “law.” As well as History the Torah contains 613 commandments on which Jewish life is based. If the Jews were caught studying the Torah by the Romans they were put to death.

Hadrian’s ban failed. Jews continued to worship and study in attics, cellars and caves. A lookout that kept watch would warn the worshipers if the Romans were coming and the Jews would hide the scrolls. When the Romans found a group of suspected worshippers they found them playing a gambling game with a child’s top. They knew that religious Jews would never gamble so the Jews were safe. The Romans thought they could not be studying the Torah. The letters on the sides remind Jews that God freed their ancestors and would do so again.

The four Hebrew letters on the side of the dreidel stand for the words nes, gadol, haya, and sham, which mean “A great miracle happened there.” Dreidel used in Israel substitute the letter peh, for the letter shin. The letters Nun, gimel, hey, peh stand for the words nes, gadol, haya, poh, which means “A great miracle happened here.” This is because the miracle of Hanukkah happened in Israel. The miracle was the small jar of oil that burned for 8 days.

You play dreidel with pennies, nuts, candy, or anything on hand. You divide the pennies equally among the number of players. Everyone puts a penny into the pot. The first player spins. You must put in what ever the letter on the side of the dreidel says. The letters mean, nun – nothing, shin – put, hey – half, gimel – all.

If the dreidel falls on nun, then nothing happens and everyone puts in another penny. Then the second player spins. If it falls on shin then the player puts in a penny. Everyone, including the second player puts in another penny. The third player spins, if it falls on hey then the player takes all the pennies in the pot. Then everyone puts in a penny. The fourth player spins and if it falls on gimel then the player takes the whole pot. Everyone puts in a penny and the game goes on. The game goes on till one person wins all the pennies.

Hanukkah has many other traditions associated with it. Like some of our holidays there are special songs and foods that are enjoyed during this festival of Lights.

World Book 2000 ed. Vol. H - Written by B Barry Levy

Chanukah – Greenfeld, Howard.

Illustrated Dictionary of Religions – Wilkinson, Philip