Hanukkah 2013 Dates Rituals History And How Tos For Celebrating The ...

Hanukkah the Jewish Festival of Lights is celebrated for eight days beginning at sundown on Wednesday Nov. 27 2013. On the Hebrew calendar the dates are 25 Kislev to 2 Tevet in the year 5774.

This year some are celebrating Thanksgivukkah as Thanksgiving is celebrated the day after the first Hanukkah calendars are lit on Wednesday night. The convergence of these two holidays won't happen again for another 77 798 years according to some calculations.

An eight day celebration Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in the second century B.C.E. during the Maccabean revolt against oppressive Greek rulers. It is one of the most widely observed Jewish holidays and is celebrated by lighting a nine branch candelabrum commonly called a menorah. (Technically the candelabrum for Hanukkah is called a hanukkiah to distinguish itself from the seven branch menorah used in the Temple and described in Exodus 25.)

The story of Hanukkah is one of revolution and miracles Greek influence over the Jews in the Land of Israel had become an affront to Jewish culture and ritual. Antiochus the Greek ruler forbade Jewish religious practice so a small group of Jews the Maccabees revolted. These Jews eventually prevailed and as a first order of business restored the Holy Temple which had been desecrated. The menorah in the Temple needed to be re lit because according to tradition it should burn continuously. The Temple liberators found one vial of olive oil enough for one day of light. Miraculously the oil lasted for eight days.

Today Jews everywhere light menorahs on each night of Hanukkah. Traditionally one candle or flame is lit for each night until the eighth night when all eight lights shine together. The menorah has a ninth helper flame known as the shamash used to light the other candles. This is necessary because in Jewish law the Hanukkah lights' only purpose is to visually proclaim the miracle of the holiday. Jews place the lit menorah in a prominent window in order to fulfill this commandment.

Gift giving is now a common practice on Hanukkah and it is therefore a beloved time for Jewish children. Fried potato pancakes (latkes) and doughnuts (sufganiyot) are traditional fare and a spinning top (dreidel) with four Hebrew letters has become synonymous with the holiday. The letters nun gimel hei shin form an acronym for the message of Hanukkah A great miracle happened there.

Click through for a collection of Hanukkah how tos

Loading Slideshow How to Celebrate

Learn how to celebrate Hanukkah the Jewish festival of lights.

How to Understand the Hanukkah Story

Learn the basic facts about an important Jewish holiday with a guide on how to understand the Hanukkah story.

How to Make the 'Ultimate Latkes' for Hanukkah

How to make the ultimate latke for Hanukkah a href http //www.tabletmag.com/jewish life and religion/118319/the ultimate latke via emTablet Magazine/em/a.

How to Keep the Candles From Falling

Use this trick to keep Hanukkah candles from tipping over.

How to Play Dreidel

How to Play Dreidel

How to Make a Hanukkah Brisket

We prepare a kosher beef brisket with a barbecue twist for Hanukkah.

How to Make a Festive Hanukkah Meal

A delicious dinner that incorporates festive Jewish traditions can be the best part of your Hanukkah celebration with family and friends.

How to Make Hanukkah Jelly Doughnuts

Jelly doughnuts also known as sufganiyot are a traditional Hanukkah dessert. You can enjoy making them as a treat anytime.

How to Make Potato Pancakes

The Working Class Foodies learn how to make potato pancakes from their Grandpa a latke master.

How to Make Hanukkah Chocolate Coin Cookies

Celebrate the Festival of Lights by making your own chocolate coin cookies with this recipe.

Edible Hanukkah Crafts Project for Kids

Celebrations.com Editor Melissa Klein provides an easy tutorial for how to make an edible Hanukkah crafts project with your kids this year. You can learn a href http //forward.com/articles/167136/how to guide to hanukkah gingerbread house/ how to make Hanukkah Gingerbread House/a seriously by visiting the emForward/em.

How to Play 'Maoz Tzur' on Guitar

Guitar Lesson/Tutorial for Maoz Tzur a traditional Hanukkah song Chords C x32010 G 320033 Am x02210 F 133211 or xx3211 Whole Song C G Am F Lyrics emMaoz tzur y'shuati l'cha naeh l'shabeach Tikon beit t'filati v'sham todah n'zabeach. L'eit tachin matbeach mitzar hamnabeach Az egmor b'shir mizmor chanukat hamizbeach. /em

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