When Does Hanukkah Start

Hanukkah begins on December 1st.

Basically, the tradition started more than 2,000 years ago in a temple in Jerusalem. Torah, the holy book, was kept in this temple along with some of Moses' writings and laws and traditions of the Hebrews. Over time, different rulers took over the temple and placed representations of their own pagan gods there. When the Jews were able to gain power over the temple again, it was not in a good condition. In their desire to keep the flame of faith burning, they worked to restore and rebuild the temple. Their oil was enough for two days, but it actually lasted for eight days and nights. This is the reason why Hanukkah is referred to as the Festival of Lights. The event is celebrated each year. At sundown, one family member lights a candle set on a Menorah. This is a candle holder that holds up to nine candles. The eight candles represent the eight days the oil was able to last and used by the Jews while the ninth one serves as the helping candle or a Shammes. The Shammes is lighted first and used to light the remaining eight candles.

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Usually, the entire household recites three blessings, plural Brachot and singular Brachah, on each of the eight nights. This is done either before or after the candle of the night is lit. All three prayers are said on the first night, but only the first two have to be said on the remaining nights. The candle on the rightmost side of the Menorah is the one lighted on the first night of the festival. On the following night, the candle to the left of the first lighted one is lighted. The progression from right to left is followed for the rest of the eight-day festival. During the festival, it is also a tradition to serve certain food like the latkas or potato pancakes. Some sources say that latkas are actually prepared by frying in oil, which is the same reminder of the oil that lasted for eight days during the rebuilding of the temple.

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There are gifts given every night. Presently, chocolate coins in gold wrapper serve as representations of the traditional Hanukkah gelt, which is actually Yiddish for money. For entertainment, games of chance are permitted by the rabbis during the Hanukkah. The Dreidel, which has been derived from an old gambling game, is actually allowed to be played during the festival. Learning about the traditions of the Jews is enjoying and actually fun. The pieces of information I am starting to uncover are helpful in my life as a writer and a Jew at heart.

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