Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an 8 days Jewish holiday celebrated each year on the 25th day of Kislev. It is a time of joy, celebration and reflection of the miracles that God has bestowed upon the Jewish people. During the holiday of Hanukkah, one of the most important traditions is the lighting of the Hanukkah candles. The significance of this ancient ritual is deeply embedded in the history and culture of the Jewish people.
The tradition of lighting candles on Hanukkah began more than 2,000 years ago during the time of the Maccabees. It is said that Judah Maccabee and his army of freedom fighters miraculously found a vial of pure oil to light the Menorah (7-branched candelabra) in the Holy Temple of Jerusalem. This small jar of oil was enough to light the Menorah for 8 days and 8 nights until additional oil could be procured. To commemorate this miracle, a Hanukkah Menorah is lit for the eight days and nights of the holiday with an extra candle added each night.Table of Contents
Liturgy of Candle Lighting
The traditional liturgy of lighting the Hanukkah candles is as follows: First, the candle in the middle is lit, representing the pure oil which burned in the Temple. This is followed by the candles in the right side of the candelabrum being lit from left to right. Then the candles on the left side of the candelabrum are lit from right to left.
The Significance of the Candles
Lighting the Hanukkah candles has several meanings. The lights symbolize the miracles that God performed both on our behalf and for our ancestors. The eight candles also represent the eight days during which the oil burned before more oil could be made. The lighting of the candles recalls the time when God lit up the darkness of the world with a miracle.
The Power of the Hanukkah Lights
For thousands of years, the light of the Hanukkah candles has been a source of illumination and hope. The Hanukkah light translates to “nes gadol haya sham”, which means “a great miracle happened there”. This light serves as a reminder that even in the darkest moments, God is always near to provide us with hope and the power to overcome any opposition.
The Blessing of the Lights
At the conclusion of lighting each night of Hanukkah, a blessing is recited. This blessing is typically the same throughout all Jewish traditions, and goes as follows:
- Baruch Attah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Haolam, asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav, v’tzivanu l’hadlik ner shel Hanukkah.
- Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with his commandments and commanded us to kindle the light of Hanukkah.
The tradition of lighting candles on Hanukkah is deeply embedded in the history and culture of the Jewish people. It symbolizes the miracles God bestowed upon the Jewish people in the form of a powerful light of faith and hope. The tradition of lighting the candles continues to burn bright in modern times as a powerful reminder that even when there is darkness amidst the chaos, God is light and He will shine a pure light of hope on those who follow Him.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.