Celebrating Hanukkah ~ December 12-20, 2017 Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, is an important December event. For Jewish people the Festival of Hanukkah remains a popular celebration. As with all other Jewish rituals, the Hanukkah candles are lit in a specific order and a blessing accompanies each lighting. Candles are lit on each of the eight nights of Hanukkah. On the first night, two candles are placed in the Hanukkah menorah (also known as a hanukkiah): the shammash, or server candle, which has its own designated spot (usually in the center), and another candle. Each night, another candle is added so that on the eighth and final night of Hanukkah, nine candles (the shammash plus eight others) are lit. The candles are positioned in the menorah from right to left (just as Hebrew is written from right to left), but are lit from left to right. The shammash candle is always the first one lit, and is used to light the others, starting with the left-most one. Source: Festival of Lights: A Home Hanukkah Celebration, by Rabbi Adam Chalom, pages 1, 3, and 6-9. Used with permission, http://bit.ly/2ztcuoy. Recommended Videos on Hannukah Ask a Rabbi: Hanukkah (3 minutes): http://bit.ly/2arbipw How to Light Hanukkah Candles (5:45 minutes): http://bit.ly/2aj89gp How to Light Hanukkah Menorah (2:40 minutes): http://bit.ly/2zqbdu6 1 / 9 Copyright 2017, Education for Justice, a project of Center of Concern.
First Night Light and Winter Reader 1: I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life (John 8:12). Leader lights the center candle designated as the shammash that will be used to light the first of the eight candles after the blessing is recited. Reader 2: We dedicate this candle to Life. Its light will shed its beauty upon all other lights, just as life makes possible all other values. The earth may exist without life, but existence will have no meaning. Life is the wellspring of value. Life is the fountain of light (Rabbi Daniel Friedman). Member of the community takes the shammash candle and lights the first candle on the far right of the menorah. Reader 3: In winter, the nights grow longer and colder. People all over the world light candles and lamps to mitigate the darkness. Every time we light Hanukkah candles, we remember how important fire is to our lives. The power of fire cooks our food, keeps us warm, and lights our paths. We need each other for warmth and inspiration. Fire is like our family, our community. Our family cooks our food, keeps us warm, and makes our lives better. And our family goes back a long way, part of a long tradition. The Festival of Lights is a festival of memory and tradition, too (Rabbi Adam Chalom). Leader invites the community to pause for a moment of silence and to reflect on how they honor the inherent dignity and life of the poor in today s world. 2 / 9 Copyright 2017, Education for Justice, a project of Center of Concern.
Second Night The Maccabees 3 / 9 Copyright 2017, Education for Justice, a project of Center of Concern. us to reach this happy season. We celebrate freedom won a long time ago. Reader 1: Come now, and let us reason together, says, YHWH, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool (Isaiah 1:18). Leader lights the candle designated as the shammash that will be used to light the first and second of the eight candles after the blessing is recited. Reader 2: This candle reminds us of the bright light of Reason, our unique glory. It is our power to think that sets us apart from all other creatures. When we choose to think, we become masters of all we survey: We build tall structures of steel and glass, we send our voices and images across the wide spaces, we transform ugliness into beauty, and erase the pain of disease. May reason be the guiding light in the lives of all people (Rabbi Daniel Friedman). Member of the community takes the shammash candle and lights the second and first candles from left to right. Reader 3: The story of Hanukkah goes back two thousand years to when the Jews had their own land, with their own temple in Jerusalem. A new people, the Greeks arrived, and the Greeks wanted everyone to be Hellenized to speak Greek, to eat Greek food, and to follow the Greek religion. Greek ideas were interesting, but the Greek king Antiochus tried to force all Jews to be Greek. There were only a few Jews compared to the Greeks, but the Jews wanted to decide for themselves what to believe and how to be Jewish. The Maccabee family stood up to the Greek king and took back the Jerusalem Temple. They entered the Temple, cleaned it up, and re-lit the Menorah with new oil. And they dedicated the Temple with an eight-day festival the Hebrew word for Dedication is Hanukkah. Today, the Jewish people continue to celebrate Hanukkah all over the world. Jews still decide for themselves what to believe and how to be Jewish. Jews still celebrate Hanukkah and still remember how good it is to be free (Rabbi Adam Chalom). Leader invites the community to pause for a moment of silence and to reflect on how they can transform the ugliness of hatred into beauty and alleviate the pain of racism and fear that exists worldwide.
Third Night The Legend Reader 1: Jesus said to those who believed in him, If you live according to my teachings, you will really be my disciples; then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (John 8:30-32). Leader lights the candle designated as the shammash that will be used to light the first, second, and third of the eight candles after the blessing is recited. Reader 2: We dedicate this third candle to Truth, the splendid reward of reason. Truth sets us free, and freedom nourishes happiness. Without truth, we stumble about as if blind. Truth opens our eyes to the beauty of life and shows us the way to fulfillment (Rabbi Daniel Friedman). Member of the community takes the shammash candle and lights the third, second, and first candles from left to the right. Reader 3: The Rabbis who led the Jewish people after the Jerusalem Temple was destroyed did not like the Maccabees and believed that that they had betrayed Judaism by declaring themselves to be High Priests and Kings, even though they weren t from the family of King David. Throughout this conflict, the Jewish people kept lighting lights in the middle of winter. So the Rabbis told a story to take credit away from the Maccabees. The Rabbis claimed that the pure oil in the Temple was only enough to last for one day. Miraculously, it burned for eight days. We know today that human beings can do amazing things our ancestors would have considered miraculous. We celebrate the human power to tell stories, to imagine new possibilities, and to make the marvelous real (Rabbi Adam Chalom). Leader invites the community to pause for a moment of silence and to reflect on ways how they can bring light to today s world by speaking truth to power. 4 / 9 Copyright 2017, Education for Justice, a project of Center of Concern.
5 / 9 Copyright 2017, Education for Justice, a project of Center of Concern. Fourth Night The Menorah and the Hanukkiah Leader: Precious is the light in the world and in all people, which has kept us in life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this happy season. We celebrate freedom won a long time ago. Reader 1: Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything beautiful in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy (Psalm 16:12). Leader lights the candle designated as the shammash that will be used to light the first, second, third, and fourth of the eight candles after the blessing is recited. Reader 2: The universe, earth and humanity overflow with Beauty. The silent stretches of stars and planets, the lush abundance of field and wood, the birth of new life are beautiful. Yet, the beauty that we see is nothing in comparison to the beauty that fires the mind and inspires the heart. When the vast universe beckons to us to seek its truths, when we plant and harvest and build from the resources of the land, when we search out the secrets of life we discover a beauty that surpasses even the most brilliant sunset. May the glow of this candle inspire in us the spark of imagination, that we may find new beauty in life and in the world (Rabbi Daniel Friedman). Member of the community takes the shammash candle and lights the fourth, third, second, and first candles from left to the right. Reader 3: Ashkenazi Jews call it a Menorah, from the word ner (light). Sephardic Jews call it a Hanukkiah, from the word Hanukkah. The lights are traditionally in a row, but today there are as many ways to light Hanukkah lights. The Talmud records a debate of how to light the Menorah one side said you should light 8 lights the first night, 7 lights the second night, and count down; the other side said you should light one the first night, two the second, and so on. Why did the second practice one win? Because we should always promote the good (light) and not reduce it. We use the shammash to light the other candles on the Menorah. As we light more candles each night, the light grows brighter. From one light, we make a lot of light. From one person with hope, we create a world of hope. We need to be the candle that lights all the rest (Rabbi Adam Chalom). Leader invites the community to pause for a moment of silence and to reflect on ways that they can create beauty and hope in today s world through acts of kindness.
Fifth Night The Food: Latkes, Sufganiyot, and More Reader 1: The wise will shine like the bright heavens, the leaders of justice like the stars forever more (Daniel 12:3). Leader lights the candle designated as the shammash that will be used to light the first, second, third, fourth and fifth of the eight candles after the blessing is recited. Reader 2: The warmest light is that of Love. We love people, we love ideals, we love the principles that make life and beauty possible. Love is the feeling that we hold toward all that we value. And it is the warmth that we receive from those who value us. To earn another s love is to know the richest reward of life. To bestow our love is the highest tribute we can pay to those dear to us. May the light of love burn brightly in our lives (Rabbi Daniel Friedman). Member of the community takes the shammash candle and lights the fifth, fourth, third, second, and first candles from left to the right. Reader 3: The story of the oil may have taken credit away from the Maccabees, but it also led to some of the tastiest food of the Jewish year. In memory of the long-lasting oil at the rededication of the Temple, we now share foods cooked in oil as part of the holiday celebration. Potato latkes, with applesauce or sour cream, or a bit of both, became very popular among Ashkenazi Jews in Eastern Europe. And sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts fried in oil and filled with jelly or custard) are popular among Sephardic Jews in Middle Eastern countries, and in modern Israel as well. An old joke told every Jewish holiday: They tried to kill us, they failed, let s eat. It just wouldn t be Hanukkah without sharing these special foods with family and friends (Rabbi Adam Chalom). Leader invites the community to pause for a moment of silence and to reflect on two people who are shining stars of justice in today s world. 6 / 9 Copyright 2017, Education for Justice, a project of Center of Concern.
Sixth Night The Dreidel Game Reader 1: Cease to do evil and learn to do good! Search for justice and help the oppressed! Protect those who are orphaned and plead the case of those who are widowed (Isaiah 1:17). Leader lights the candle designated as the shammash that will be used to light the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth of the eight candles after the blessing is recited. Reader 2: Justice, justice shall you pursue. These ancient words have carried their challenge to every age. The just society is the ideal society where a person can seek truth, discover beauty, feel love. But only when all people act with honesty and courage is there justice among them. Justice is truth in action (Rabbi Daniel Friedman). Member of the community takes the shammash candle and lights the sixth, fifth, fourth, third, second, and first candles from left to the right. Reader 3: When the dreidel game was invented in the Middle Ages, the letters on the dreidel were the Yiddish rules for the game n Nun for Nisht nothing, h Hay for Halb half, c Shin for Shtel ayn put in, and g Gimmel for Gantze the whole thing. These dreidel rules are still the rules by which we play today! We also have a new meaning for the letters Nes Gadol Haya Sham a great wonder happened there. In Israel, the dreidel [or s vivon] says Nes Gadol Haya Po a great wonder happened here. Whatever the letters mean to us, we know that the game is fun, and our holiday has well begun (Rabbi Adam Chalom). Leader invites the community to pause for a moment of silence and to reflect on ways that they can be a voice for justice in today s world. 7 / 9 Copyright 2017, Education for Justice, a project of Center of Concern.
Seventh Night Giving and Receiving us to reach this happy season. We celebrate freedom won a long time ago. Reader 1: The Spirit of the Exalted one is upon me, because YHWH has anointed me: God has sent me to bring glad tidings to those who are poor, to heal broken hearts, to proclaim release to those held in captive and liberation to those in prison and to comfort all who mourn (Isaiah 61:1). Leader lights the candle designated as the shammash that will be used to light the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh of the eight candles after the blessing is recited. Reader 2: Our world rests: on justice, truth, and Peace. A peaceful world, however, is not our primary goal. It is the reward for achieving our goals; it is the consequence when we live together in truth and justice. A Chinese proverb advises: If there is righteousness in the heart, there will be beauty in the character. If there be beauty in the character, there is harmony in the home. If there is harmony in the home, there will be order in the nation. When there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world. The lights of this holiday encourage us to hasten the day when every man and woman, boy and girl, will be lovers and pursuers of peace (Rabbi Daniel Friedman). Member of the community takes the shammash candle and lights the seventh, sixth, fifth, fourth, third, second, and first candles from left to the right. Reader 3: To make children happy during Hanukkah, parents would give them some coins (gelt) to play dreidl or to spend on themselves during the holiday. As Jews became more connected to the world around them, and as Christmas became more about giving lots of gifts and less about religion, Hanukkah also became a time to give and receive gifts. The trick is knowing how to do it. It s too easy to get caught up in getting and not spend enough time on giving. We should give not just to our families and friends, but also to people in the wider community who really need it. The poor don t need expensive gifts we must give them food, clothing, shelter, and hope. In fact, we don t need expensive gifts either we are grateful to be remembered and loved, and we are grateful to have the chance to show how much we love other people. It turns out that to give IS to receive! (Rabbi Adam Chalom) Leader invites the community to pause for a moment of silence and to reflect on ways that we can share the gift of peace with the least among us and how generosity encourages us to give even when we do not receive. 8 / 9 Copyright 2017, Education for Justice, a project of Center of Concern.
Eighth Night Heritage and Future Reader 1: They that hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagles wings. They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint (Isaiah 40:31). Leader lights the candle designated as the shammash that will be used to light the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth of the eight candles after the blessing is recited. Reader 2: This final candle we dedicate to the Future, with all its priceless possibilities. The flames of the Menorah will soon flicker and die; but the heroism of the Maccabees, the truth they defended, the freedom for which they fought these are lights that cannot be extinguished so long as we hold them dear. We have rededicated ourselves to Life and Reason, Truth and Beauty, Love, Justice, and Peace. May their precious light guide our way in all the days to come (Rabbi Daniel Friedman). Member of the community takes the shammash candle and lights the eighth, seventh, sixth, fifth, fourth, third, second, and first candles from left to the right. Reader 3: In the Jewish tradition, candles are lit for the past and for the future. Yahrtzeit (memorial) candles remind them of the life of people that they loved, and Shabbat candles on Friday night celebrate the time of rest and community that is just beginning. The warmth of the flame is the past, and the light of the flame leads one to journey forward. We are heirs to many traditions. We are human, and we celebrate the achievements of humanity throughout history. We celebrate the freedoms and opportunities that our ancestors achieved so that we might enjoy and to share with others. Although our faith tradition may differ, we are part of a golden chain of Jewish culture and custom and holidays and history and story and food and games and giving. The Jewish people share their traditions with us. For this, we rejoice (Rabbi Adam Chalom). Leader invites the community to pause for a moment of silence and to reflect on how religious rituals and holiday traditions can bring people of different faith backgrounds together and how working for the common good can lead to a vision of a better world. 9 / 9 Copyright 2017, Education for Justice, a project of Center of Concern.