I was raised in the Christian tradition and pretty well know the tenets of that faith. Now, I have two sons in law who are of the Jewish faith and four grandchildren who are of that heritage. Two by faith and religious practice and two by heritage and religious tradition. I have come to know a little bit about Judaism, but not as much as I would like to know.
I'm told it all started in a Temple in Jerusalem over 2,000 years ago. The Temple held the holy book, the Torah, which contained some writings of Moses, as well as Hebrew laws and traditions. From what I've been told, there were many rulers who took over the Temple over the years and they pretty much desecrated it by putting in statues of their pagan gods. In time, the Jews were able to take back their Temple, after many battles, and it was not in good condition. They began to rebuild it, and to honor the Torah that was kept there, they wanted to keep a flame burning. The problem was, they only had enough oil for two days but they were blessed .and the oil lasted for eight days and nights. Because of this, Hanukkah is also known as The Festival of Lights.
In honor of the event, a celebration is commenced each evening at sundown when a family member lights one of the candles on a Menorah, which is a nine candle holder. Eight of the candles are for the eight days the oil lasted, and the ninth is what they call a Shammes, or helping candle. That's the first one to be lighted and then used to light the other candles.
"Typically three blessings (Brachot singular Brachah) are recited during this eight-day festival. On the first night of Hanukkah, Jews recite all three blessings; on all subsequent nights, they recite only the first two.[The blessings are said before or after the candles are lit depending on tradition. On the first night of Hanukkah one light (candle, lamp, or electric) is lit on the right side of the Menorah, on the following night a second light is placed to the left of the first candle and so on, proceeding from right to left over the eight nights. On each night, the leftmost candle is lit first, and lighting proceeds from left to right."
Being able to relate to my grandchildren who are of the Jewish faith is an honor. I hope to learn some of the prayers in Hebrew.
I'm told it all started in a Temple in Jerusalem over 2,000 years ago. The Temple held the holy book, the Torah, which contained some writings of Moses, as well as Hebrew laws and traditions. From what I've been told, there were many rulers who took over the Temple over the years and they pretty much desecrated it by putting in statues of their pagan gods. In time, the Jews were able to take back their Temple, after many battles, and it was not in good condition. They began to rebuild it, and to honor the Torah that was kept there, they wanted to keep a flame burning. The problem was, they only had enough oil for two days but they were blessed .and the oil lasted for eight days and nights. Because of this, Hanukkah is also known as The Festival of Lights.
In honor of the event, a celebration is commenced each evening at sundown when a family member lights one of the candles on a Menorah, which is a nine candle holder. Eight of the candles are for the eight days the oil lasted, and the ninth is what they call a Shammes, or helping candle. That's the first one to be lighted and then used to light the other candles.
"Typically three blessings (Brachot singular Brachah) are recited during this eight-day festival. On the first night of Hanukkah, Jews recite all three blessings; on all subsequent nights, they recite only the first two.[The blessings are said before or after the candles are lit depending on tradition. On the first night of Hanukkah one light (candle, lamp, or electric) is lit on the right side of the Menorah, on the following night a second light is placed to the left of the first candle and so on, proceeding from right to left over the eight nights. On each night, the leftmost candle is lit first, and lighting proceeds from left to right."
Being able to relate to my grandchildren who are of the Jewish faith is an honor. I hope to learn some of the prayers in Hebrew.
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