Hanukkah is one of the most famous religious holidays in the world. Not only Jews know about him, but also representatives of other faiths. However, there are people who cannot answer the question: “Hanukkah? What is it?"
Celebration date
Jewish Holidays in December completely composed of Hanukkah. In total, eight days are celebrated (why exactly - next). However, the main thing is still considered the first day. In this holiday is similar to Christian Easter. It is also celebrated, starting from the day of the resurrection of Christ, plus another week adhere to the traditions of the resurrection.
According to our calendar, the numbers to which Hanukkah is assigned are changing. Date for 2015: December 7th.
History
To the question: "Hanukkah - what is it?" any Jew will answer that it is a holiday of light. It was on this day in their main sacred place, the Great Temple of Jerusalem, that candles were again lit. This became a symbol of the liberation of the Jews from Syrian oppression.
The fact is that at that time the Jews lived under the rule of Antiochus IV Epiphanes. Many of them abandoned their faith and adopted Hellenic customs. The very top of the Jewish aristocracy - and that changed its cultural orientation.
There were very few faithful to the precepts of the Torah, and the Maccabee clan became one of such people. They organized a guerrilla struggle, until, finally, the head of the uprising called on everyone to liberate Jerusalem and, most importantly, the Temple.
Having driven the Syrians out of the holy city, the partisans first decided to begin the service. They have not been in the Temple for three years, and all three years the menorah have not been lit, which means that the temple stood in darkness. The lighting of the first candle and the lighting of the main Jewish shrine began to bear the name "Hanukkah Day."
Title
Hanukkah - what does this word mean? Where did this name come from for the Jewish holiday? There are two possible answers to these questions.
The first one says that the name comes from the expression "Hanukkat ha-mizbeah", which means "renewal of the altar." In the context of the holiday, this means that for three years the light fell on the shrines for the first time, and they were cleansed by prayer and sacrifice.
Supporters of the second version convince us that the etymology lies in another: the word "Hanukkah" should be deciphered as "on the twenty-fifth day we rested from the enemies." The fact is that the liberation of Jerusalem took almost a month. On the twenty-fifth day, the rebels made their way to the center - that is, they occupied the Temple, thereby freeing the entire city. There were no more enemies around, and the Jews were able to give themselves a break. And most importantly - to hold the first religious ceremony in three years .
Menorah
All people saw this seven-barreled candlestick, which is in every house of a Jew and even on the coat of arms of independent Israel. These coasters are copies of the real Menorah, which the Syrian king once removed from Jerusalem. The most important element of Hanukkah is menorah. She got on almost all national Jewish holidays.
Before that, she appeared among the Jews during her wanderings with Moses, and since then she had to symbolize the memory of those times.
It is with the lighting of the menorah, more precisely, of its subspecies, that Hanukkah begins. Candlesticks come in various sizes and designs. Unites their form.
Hanukkah
Hanukkah is one of the subspecies of the menorah, a candlestick with nine trunks of the same shape. The tradition of its use is complex and interesting.
The point is the so-called "miracle of Hanukkah." When the Jews entered the Temple, they did not have sacred oil with them to light candles. It was also absent from the shrine itself. Break everything, they found only one jar, which should have been enough for only one day of burning menorah.
However, the incredible happened - the fire continued to hold on for another eight days while the Jews made new oil. In honor of this miracle, Hanukkah is lit, and in a special way.
On the first day of the holiday, light a candle in the middle, which is the ninth. They do the same with the first. The ninth will now be used as a "gift of fire." With it, they will light new candles. Every day they are added until the turn reaches all the candles. This happens eight days of Hanukkah. Such a tradition is a symbol of the miracle that happened in the Jerusalem Temple.
Traditions and rituals
Hanukkah - what is this holiday? It has many traditions. National holidays are always filled with customs and rituals inherited by previous generations. The first of these is the laborious and ritual process of lighting menorah. Every Jew should have it, and each of them must follow the tradition. Chanukah is also ignited in any public place - this shows that today is a great week and remind the rest of the world about it.
In addition, you should sit near the lights for half an hour, praying and reflecting on your place in the world, contemplating and plunging into the essence of the holiday - liberation.
Unlike many religious Jewish holidays, Hanukkah allows you to work. But most Jews still prefer to leave work for the sake of an in-depth study of the Torah. It is believed that these days her understanding and reading is becoming deeper.
In addition, rabbis are supposed to go to remote villages and villages to bring Jewish wisdom there too. Thus, residents of even the most remote settlements have the opportunity to communicate with prominent Jewish theologians.
On a holiday it is necessary to introduce children to the Torah. Especially for this, a game was even invented in which they roll dice with capital letters from scripture sentences. It is believed that in this way children subconsciously introduce themselves to the study of the sacred book.
Optional, but it is advisable to gather the whole family for a great family dinner. For him, it is important to discuss not secular matters, but various religious topics, to recall passages from the scripture. Since the Torah has many interpretations, this is a great way to find time for discussion and discussion. At such a dinner, all disputes should go away. Those who are in a quarrel must make peace.
In general, it is on these days that a Jew is obliged to try to present his faith to other people. It is believed that it is on this holy holiday that a Jew has the opportunity to explain to others the advantages of his religion.
Conclusion
So, Hanukkah is one of the main holidays in the Jewish calendar. One can hardly imagine modern Judaism without it. Indeed, in different parts of the Earth Hanukkah is celebrated: in Moscow, Jerusalem, New York or Berlin.
However, the most interesting thing about these days is their, if I may say so, religiosity. After all, this is probably the biggest Jewish holiday, remote from sacred meanings and having true historical value.
Throughout its entire existence, people from the Promised Land were oppressed and had no freedom. Many had power over him. Therefore, it is very important for Jews to know that they are capable of fighting against this injustice.
Hanukkah can be perceived in isolation from Judaism, even if you are simply Jewish by nationality. After all, this is, first of all, a holiday of liberation, a holiday of freedom and light in darkness.