Hanukkah

“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.

“Blessed are you, lord our God, king of the universe, who performed miracles for our forefathers in those days, at this time.

“Blessed are you, lord our God, king of the universe, who has kept us alive, and has preserved us, and enabled us to reach this time.”

These are the prayers that are recited as a part of the ritual of the Jewish holiday, Hanukkah. The central part of the physical ceremony is the menorah, which is traditionally a standing silver candle holder with places for nine candles.

 On the first night of Hanukkah, the first candle, called the “Shamash,” or servant candle, is lit. In the eight nights that follow, the Shamash lights each of the other candles in the menorah in keeping with the sacred traditions of Hanukkah.

Hanukkah, or Chanukah, is a Hebrew word that means dedication or consecration. This Jewish celebration dates back to 165 B.C.

The temple in Jerusalem was rededicated by Judas Maccabee after it had been desecrated by foreign forces. At the time of the rededication, there remained only a tiny amount of oil that was pure and untainted.

Miraculously, the oil continued to burn brightly for eight whole days. On the eighth day, a celebration occurred as the people thanked God for providing for them.
Celebrating Hanukkah is a special time to remember God’s provision in the lives of his chosen people. Today, many people choose to observe this time to reflect on God’s gifts in their lives and to recommit themselves to his will and be light, shining in the darkness.

This year, Hanukkah begins at sundown on Dec. 11.