• Hanukkah kaleidoscope: spiritual jewels of the holiday

    Hanukkah is celebrated on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev. According to tradition, the Jews had a holiday the day after the end of the war when all the soldiers had time to relax a bit. Tradition tells us that when there is a military victory, at the same time your opponent is defeated, and you cannot enjoy other ones’ grief, allowed to rejoice only that good that this victory gave you. The Jews were glad not about the fact that they struck the Hellenes, but the fact that they regained the freedom of the spirit and freedom of following their own tradition. The word Hanukkah is translated as "refreshment" or "new home". To commemorate the resumption of the temple service and restoring order in the Temple.

    There are several Hanukkah miracles: first, the "obvious" one, is a miracle of burning oil. After all, if it is clear that such a pitcher is usually enough for burning lamp for only one day, when it burned for 8 days – even a child will understand that it is a miracle. It cannot be explained by the laws of physics. Second, less "obvious" miracle is a miracle of victory of a small family of the Maccabees over the large Greek army. The family of Maccabees and their allies fought for the spiritual independence of their people and simply could not lose the battle, because otherwise, the Jewish culture would have been destroyed. And this is also a miracle. The miracle, when the spiritual strengths convert into physical, because along with the physical defeat would follow a spiritual annihilation.

     

    Hanukkah is celebrated for a week. All Jewish holidays begin the night before. Each Chanukah night a large candle holder Hanukkia is lit, which has 8 candles (and one auxiliary, which lits all others). The first night we light one candle, the second night two, and so it continues until the eighth day comes when the lights are lit on all 8 candles. Our sages say that we should increase light in the world and with it all the good and wonderful, so every next day of the holiday we light one more candle.

    Hanukkah is very childish and is probably the most favorite children's holiday. Firstly, because it's a holiday of miracle and the children are told a lot about miracles and given gifts and sweets. Secondly, the lighting of candles, fireworks and other fire-light entertainments are loved by kids and bring home an atmosphere of holiday and wonders throughout the week. One of the major "children's" holiday traditions is the game in sevivon (Hebrew) or dreidel (Yiddish). Sevivon is a four-sided top, on the sides of which are written the first letters of the Hebrew phrase "Great Miracle happened THERE (in Israel)", if the children play the dreidel in Israel, the expression sounds like "Great Miracle happened HERE."

     

    Sevivon game is a little casino where everyone playing bets (candies, chocolate or real coins) and depending on which letter abbreviation drops to each of the participants, he either takes the entire pot, or its half, or transfers the turn to the next plyer, or puts a coin in the bank. An important pedagogical aspect of Hanukkah is that each day of the holiday it is customary to give children some money in order to they learn how to use money. A part they can spend on playing dreidel, a part - keep to them, and some part should be given as TZEDAKAH (Jewish charity for the needs of wider community). I think this is a very important aspect of the holiday, because it is important that parents taught children not only the spiritual guides in life, but also how to interact with the material aspect of existence. It is characteristic for Judaism to keep close connection between the spiritual and the material, because it is impossible to exist in this world in only one of these dimensions.

    We think this is extremely important because tzedakah is spent on the needs of those in dire need. We at ICF "Jewish Hesed "Bnei Azriel" know this from our experience. Therefore, we wish every Jew that everything in your life went with a swing, and your good deeds multiplied in the lives of others like a light! Hag Hanukkah sameah!

     

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