The candle lights dance in the eyes of children around the world at the blessed Holiday of Hanukkah. But what is Hanukkah exactly?
Hanukkah is more well known than many other Jewish Holidays because it often falls at the same time of year as Christmas. Many people will wish their friends Happy Holidays, with Hanukkah well wishes, also in mind.
Growing up, Hanukkah was a festive time. As children, we would play a game called dreidel, which involved spinning a plastic or wooden top with the Hebrew letters of Nun, Gimel, Hei, and Shin printed upon it. If you were lucky enough to win the game, you would win gelt, the gold-covered chocolate coins that tasted as good as they looked.
The letters on your dreidel represent the saying, “a great miracle happened there!” The letters are slightly different if you play within Israel, where it represents “a great miracle happened here!”
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So many years ago, the Jews were not free to worship G-d in the way of the Torah. Foreign leaders tried to force them to worship idols, something abhorrent to the Jewish people. A brave group of people called the Maccabees fought back and rescued the Temple from enemy hands.
The Temple needed to be cleansed in a prescribed way, so the Jewish people could once more worship the G-d of Israel in His holy place. There was only enough oil to last for one night, not enough time to rededicate the Temple.
But, the L-rd did a miracle for His people! The oil lasted not one night, but eight nights, long enough for them to produce more oil! A great miracle had occurred, and Jewish children around the world celebrate this each year! Families gather happily around the hanukkiah, the menorah with eight branches, and ninth one set apart to serve to light the others. Often gifts are shared from Hanukkah gelt to toys, dolls, and clothing.
Hanukkah falls each year at a different time on the Gregorian calendar, either in November or December. When the date approaches this year, may all our faces smile brightly at this joyous festival of lights!
Esther Mandella is a Jewish wife and mother who lives in Dothan, Alabama. She enjoys encouraging others with her inspirational books.
You can find Esther's bestselling books online at https://amzn.to/2SjQ3hy
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