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Chanukah
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Chanukah means "dedication". The story of Chanukah is the story of the Jewish struggle for religious freedom.
The origins of Chanukah go back more than two thousand years ago. At that time Judea was ruled by Antiochus, a Syrian king.
He attempted to force the Jews to worship Greek gods and assimilate into Greek culture. Jews were forbidden
to keep the Sabbath or to observe Jewish customs. Many Jews were forcibly converted or killed for not
converting.
Jewish society was divided. Some changed their way of life, but the traditionalists refused to
give up their Jewish practices.
A Jewish priest, Mattathias, rebelled against Antiochus' rule. He gathered an army of supporters
and fled to the hills from where they raged a guerrilla war. After Mattathias' death a year later,
Judah, one of his sons, led the army of Jewish dissidents who became known as the Maccabees - the "hammers".
After three years of fighting, the Maccabees recaptured Jerusalem. They began to clean
the Temple and to remove Greek symbols and statues. It is said that a small bottle of oil was
found with the High Priest's seal still intact, but this oil was only enough to keep the Temple
lamp burning for one day. Miraculously, the lamp kept burning for eight days until fresh oil
had been prepared.
With God's help, the few had overcome the oppressors. To commemorate this the Rabbis decreed
that there should be an annual festival when oil lamps would be lit.
Chanukah traditions
Traditions of Chanukah include lighting candles on a 'Chanukiyah' (an eight-branched candlestick)
every night for eight nights, eating food cooked in oil (doughnuts, potato pancakes etc.),
giving presents, holding parties and celebrations.
A Chanukiyah has eight candle holders at the same height, and a ninth candle holder,
the Shamash ("servant"), separate from the others. The Shamash is used to light the
other candles. One candle is lit on the first night, two the second night, and so on,
until the eighth night when all eight candles are lit.
At NWSS we have a communal service. People bring their own Chanakiyot,
and we all light the candles together. There are games for the children (and adults)
and food, including doughnuts and mulled wine.
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Festival dates
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