Chanukah

CHANUKAH GLEANINGS

1. The First Chanukah

"During the period of the Second Temple, the Syrian-Greek kings issued harsh decrees against Israel, outlawed their religion, forbade them to engage in the study of Torah and practice of mitzvos, laid hands upon their money and plundered their daughters, entered the Temple and ravaged it, and defied all that had been ritually pure. They caused Israel great anguish, till G-d granted them mercy and delivered them from the hands of their enemies. The Hasmonai kohanim gedolim prevailed, slew them, and delivered Israel from their hands. They designated a king from among the Kohanim and the Kingdom of Israel was restored for more than 200 years, till the destruction of the Second Temple.

"Israel prevailed against their enemies and vanquished them on the 25th day of the month of Kislev. They entered the Sanctuary and found only ne jar of ritually pure oil that was sufficient to burn only one day; but they lit the Menorah from it for eight days, until they pressed olives and extracted pure oil." (Rambam, Hilchos Chanukah, Chapter 3).

2. With What Are Chanukah Candles Lit

The preferred way to perform the mitzvah of candle lighting is to light the Chanukah menorah with pure olive oil and cotton wool picks, to recall the light of the original Menorah that was always lit with olive oil.

All other oils and wicks are also permissible if their light is pure and does not flicker. Candles made of wax or paraffin are also permitted and enjoy today the most widespread usage. Electric menorahs, according to almost all halachic authorities, do not fulfill the requirements of lighting Chanukah candles.

3. How The Candles Are To Be Lit

[3.1] On the first night, one light is lit, and every successive night, another light is added until the last night when eight lights are lit. The reason for this

procedure is that the additional light always recalls the "growth" of the miracle (ma'alim bakodesh).

[3.2] In the eight branched menorah, the first candle is placed to your extreme right as you face the menorah. On successive nights the candles are added from right to left. However, the kindling of the candles start with the candle closest to your left. Therefore:

ADD CANDLES - from right to left.

LIGHT THE CANDLES - from left to right.

[3.3] The candles are to be placed in a straight row; none higher or lower than the others, none receding or protruding, and none in a circle. There should also be sufficient space between candles so that the heat of one light might not melt the wax of another.

[3.4] Three b'rachot are said before the candles are kindled for the first time. On all subsequent nights only the first two b'rachot are said.

(A) "Baruch ata ... asher kidshanu b'mitzvosav v'tzivanu l'hadlik ner shel Chanukah."

(B) "Baruch ata ... she'asah nisim la-avosenu bayamim hahaym baz'man hazeh."

The candles are immediately lit after the b'racha.

[3.5] After the first light is kindled, Haneros Halalu is said while lighting the remaining candles. When the lighting is concluded, Chanukah hymns are sung in accordance with the local custom.

[3.6] THE SHAMASH - It is customary to light one extra candle in addition to the required number of candles for each night. The extra candle, called the shamash (servant), is used for kindling the other candles, and one may derive benefit from its light. The Chanukah lights themselves, however, may not be used for any purpose while they burn in fulfillment of the mitzvah. If the room in which the candles are lit will be used while the candles burn, it is proper to see to it that there should be yet another source of light in the room beyond that of the shamash.

It is customary not to utilize a Chanukah candle even for kindling another light in the same menorah. For that purpose, only the shamash or another light may be used.

[3.7] SAFETY CAUTIONS: Never leave Chanukah candles burning unattended. For instance, when going elsewhere to a Chanukah gahering, do not light candles at home and then leave them burning. When you light at your window sill, remove all drapes, shades and blinds from that area. Also, never allow small children to be unattended in the area of lit candles even for a moment. Fatal disasters are known to have happened in such cases. Here is one time we do not rely on miracles.

4. The Proper Time For Kindling

[4.1] The Chanukah candles are to be lit immediately upon the appearance of the stars which is approximately 45 minutes after sunset, tzays hakochavim. If one has not however done so, he/she may still perform the mitzvah through the remainder of the night as long as members of the household are still awake. If one is unable to light the Chanukah candles till an exceedingly late hour - when all at home are finally asleep - and pirsum hanes could no longer be accomplished, he/she kindles the light without a b'racha. If the night has passed and one failed to kindles the lights on can no longer do so the remainder of the day and can only resume performance of the mitzvah the following night.

[4.2] How Long Must The Candles Burn? - The lights should burn at least half an hour. At the time of lighting, therefore, there should be sufficient oil in the menorah or a large enough candle for the prescribed period of time. When kindling the lights at sunset or earlier, one is required to pour sufficient oil into the menorah for burning a minimum of 75 minutes, so that the lights might burn for the prescribed half hour period after the appearance of the stars.

[4.3] Erev Shabbat - The Chanukah lights are lit first and subsequently the Shabbat candles. One is therefore required to have adequate oil for the menorah to burn a half an hour after the appearance of the stars, or a total of 90 minutes. If candles are used, the only ones that will burn for 90 minutes are regular Shabbat candles or specially large Chanukah candles. The traditional Chanukah candles will burn for a maximum of 45-50 minutes and accordingly cannot be used on Erev Shabbat.

[4.4] Motza'ay Shabbat - On Motza'ay Shabbat (Saturday night), Chanukah candles are kindled after Havdalah. (There are those who always recite Havdalah last. Both procedures are noted in solid halachic rationale.) In the synagogue, however, the menorah is kindled before Havdalah.

5. Upon Whom Does The Obligation Rest?

[5.1] All are obligated to light Chanukah candles - men and women alike. A minor who has reached the age of nine is also obligated to light Chanukah candles unless others do it on his behalf.

[5.2] As for a son residing in his father's home, if he has a separate room, he is required to kindle Chanukah candles himself. If not, his father may fulfill the obligation in his behalf.

[5.3] A guest in someone's home, who has a special place within the home, lights for him/herself. If not, he/she shares the cost of the lights with the head of the house, and then fulfills his/her obligation through the lighting of the candles by the host.

[5.4] At the time of kindling, the entire household should gather so that "the miracle might be publicized."

6. Chanukah Customs

[6.1] Every Jew should recount the miraculous occurrences that our ancestors saw in days of yore when the first Chanukah was celebrated.

[6.2] Tzedakah is dispensed liberally particularly to poor Torah scholars and institutions of Torah learning.

[6.3] Though all forms of work and labor are permitted on Chanukah, it is customary for the women not to engage in any work while the candles are burning. The reason for women having assumed this restraint is that they, more than others, were plundered and oppressed by the Syrian armies.

[6.4] It is customary to eat food containing milk and cheese commemorating the bravery of Yehudis, the daughter of Yochanan, Kohen Gadol. She was a beautiful woman upon whom the military leader of the Syrian forces cast his eyes. He ordered that she be brought to him. According to his request, she dined him with spicy cheeses which made him drink an unusual amount of wine and intoxicating beverages to quench his thirst. Upon falling asleep, Yehudis cut his head off and brought it to Jerusalem. Finding that their leader was dead, the Syrian armies panicked and fled the area. This gave rise to a full scale revolution ultimately ending in Chanukah's victory.

[6.5] Chanukah today is often the occasion for elaborate exchange of gifts. The resulting aura of shopping for these gifts and presenting them to the little ones at candle lighting time is sufficiently reminiscent of non-Jewish seasonal gift exchanges. We would urge that in addition to the regular gifts you have in mind that a second gift of a Jewish book or ritual item be added. Emphasize on Chanukah that the spirit in which Chanukah is to be commemorated is the spirit of Torah and eternal Jewish values.

7. Why Dreidel is Played

"In view of the attitude adopted by our Talmudic sages toward games of chance such as card-playing or dice-throwing, disqualifying those who habitually indulge in them from acting as witnesses in Jewish Courts of Law, it may seem surprising that card-playing on Chanukah has become almost traditional. The following explanation may be conjectural, yet one not devoid of plausibility:

"Owing to the decree of Antiochus which forbade the study of Torah enforcing this harsh measure by the dispatch of inspectors to homes suspected of disobedience, recourse was to subterfuge. While engaging in the study of the Holy Books, alone or with friends, they had at hand a pack of cards, dealt out before each student, ready to play them when the need arose.

"The dreidel also served as an alibi. In the event of being caught studying they could plead that they were enjoying a friendly game of chance."

(Quoted from S.M. Lehman, GUIDE TO HANNUKAH AND PURIM)

8. Chanuka Tefilot

[8.1] Al hanisim is recited in the Sh'moneh Esray and in Birkat HaMazon. If one is reminded that Al HaNisim was inadvertently omitted, and is still within that b'racha, he is to return and recite Al hanisim. If, however, the b'racha or the entire Sh'moneh Esray was concluded, there is no need to repeat the Sh'moneh Esray.

[8.2] The complete Hallel is recited throughout all of Chanukah.

[8.3] The Torah is read daily. The portion dealing with the completion of the Mishkan in the desert (Parshat Naso) is selected, since this festive event also occurred during the month of Kislev.

[8.4] The following t'fillot are omitted: Tachanun, Kayl Erech Apayim, LaMenatzayach, Av HoRachamim, and Tzidkoscho Tzedek.

[8.5] In the synagogue, the candles are lit without reciting a b'racha, each morning before Shacharit.

9. The Avel (mourner) on Chanukah

[9.1] Chanukah does not interrupt the sitting of Shivah.

[9.2] Customs vary as to whether an avel serves as a chazzan during Shacharit on Chanukah. Most opinions allow for the avel to serve as chazzan during Mincha and Ma'ariv where Hallel is not said.

[9.3] During Shivah, the avel leaves the room where the minyan is assembled for the recitation of Hallel and returns (after having said Hallel alone) for the conclusion of Shacharit (R. Moshe Feinstein). Other authorities disagree, and an halachic authority ought to be consulted as to the local practice.

[9.4] During Shivah, an avel lights Chanukah candles at home reciting all b'rachot as usual.

[9.5] Chanukah parties are not attended by an avel during sh'loshim and the rest of the twelve months for parents.