LISTENING TO MY DVDs FROM PROFESSOR SHAI CHERRY ON "INTRODUCTION TO JUDAISM" PRODUCED BY THE TEACHING COMPANY IN THEIR "GREAT COURSES" SERIES, I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU MORE FACTS ABOUT HANUKAH.
WHY DOES THIS FESTIVAL NOT APPEAR IN THE BIBLE?
THE CANONIZATION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT HAD TAKEN PLACE AFTER THE JEWS RETURNED FROM THE BABYLON CAPTIVITY.
THE TIME AND EVENT CELEBRATED BY HANUKAH HAPPENED IN 168-165 B.C. HENCE NOT A PART OF THE OLD TESTAMENT BIBLE.
IT IS FOUND IN THE BOOKS OF MACCABEES; THOSE TWO BOOKS ARE IN THE SERIES OF BOOKS KNOWN AS THE APOCRYPHA WHICH SERIES OF BOOKS CAN BE FOUND IN THE ROMAN CATHOLIC BIBLE.
WHY 8 DAYS IN LENGTH
THE BOOKS OF MACCABEES TELLS YOU. THE JEWS FIGHTING THE GREEK ENEMIES WERE DOING WELL DURING THE SUMMER AND THEY THOUGHT THEY WOULD HAVE THE WAR ALL WON BY THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES TIME, AND ITS 8TH DAY [SEE LEVITICUS 23]. BUT WARS DO NOT ALWAYS GO AS PLANNED. THE JEWISH MACCABEE FAMILY LEADING THE BATTLE DID NOT WIN AGAINST THE GREEKS TILL DECEMBER IN THE ROMAN CALENDAR. THEY DECIDED TO HAVE THE RE-DEDICATION OF THE TEMPLE FOR 8 DAYS TO PARALLEL THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES WITH ITS 8TH DAY [MAKING 8 DAYS IN ALL].
WHY NOT MOTIONED IN THE JEWISH MISHNA?
THE MACCABEE FAMILY LED THE REVOLT AGAINST THE GREEKS AND THE INTERNAL JEWS WHO HAD BECOME SECULARISED. THEY TOOK OVER THE TEMPLE AND ALSO POLITICAL LIFE OF THE JEWS. THE MACCABEE FAMILY WAS NEITHER FROM AARON [TEMPLE PRIESTS] OR FROM DAVID [POLITICAL ISRAEL]. THEY, THE MACCABEES ALSO BECAME VERY CORRUPT AND BY 63 B.C. HAD INVITED THE ROMANS TO COME INTO THE HOLY LAND. HENCE THE RABBIS DID NOT WANT TO GIVE ANY PROMINENT DISTINCTION TO THE MACCABEE FAMILY, SO THE HANUKAH FEAST CANNOT BE FOUND IN THE JEWISH MISHNA.
WHY 9 CANDLES?
THE JEWISH CANDLE STICK FOR HANUKAH IS A CENTER CANDLE AND 4 OTHER CANDLES ON EACH SIDE. THE CENTER CANDLE IS CALLED THE "SERVANT CANDLE" - FROM ITS LIGHT THE OTHER CANDLES ARE LIT.
8 CANDLES FOR 8 DAYS OF HANUKAH.
THE MANORAH CANDLE STICK IS ONE CENTER CANDLE WITH 3 CANDLES ON EACH SIDE - A 7 CANDLE STICK IN TOTAL. THIS IS THE GENERAL CANDLE STICK TO REPRESENT THE JEWISH PEOPLE.
HANUKAH MEANS DEDICATION.
WHY LIGHT OF CANDLES?
LIGHTS ARE USED BY MANY NATIONS IN DIFFERENT WAYS OF THEIR RELIGIONS.
HANUKAH FALLS IN THE MONTH OF DECEMBER - A MONTH THAT LEADS INTO LESS SUNLIGHT, A DARKER MONTH FOR LIGHT. SO THE LIGHT OF THE CANDLES GIVES THE LIGHT THAT IN A DARK EMPIRE OF THE GREEKS SPIRITUALLY, AND A DARKER DAYLIGHT MONTH, THE JEWS BROUGHT THE LIGHT OF GOD BACK TO THE JEWISH PEOPLE AND THE JEWISH TEMPLE IN THE HOLY CITY OF GOD.
THE SMALL DAY'S OIL LASTING 8 DAYS?
THIS WAS ADDED BY THE JEWS HUNDREDS OF YEARS LATER. NO SUCH MIRACLE OIL IS MENTIONED IN THE ACTUAL HISTORY OF THE EVENT. BUT IT IS A MOTIF - THE FAITHFUL JEWS HELD STRONG DURING A LONG PERIOD OF DARKNESS FOR THEM UNDER THE GREEKS, SO THE MOTIF THAT ONE DAY'S OIL COULD LAST FOR 8 DAYS.
GIFT GIVING?
LIKE OTHER RELIGIONS THE JEWS HAVE OVER TIME ADOPTED FROM OTHER FESTIVALS GOING ON AT THE GENERAL SAME TIME. HENCE IN NORTH AMERICA GIFT GIVING DURING HANUKAH CAME FROM THE CHRISTIAN CHRISTMAS. ACCORDING TO PROFESSOR CHERRY THIS IS NOT THE CASE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.
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