on this first night...
Dec. 15th, 2006 04:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lagilmanAlthough I observe the high holy days and a scattering of other holidays, I am at best a cultural Jew. I maintain my connection to the past as much for the historical aspect of it -- I like knowing where I've been, for a cultural and genetic "I." I suppose, in my own way, that's my faith -- in history and connectivity; in tradition.
And so Chanukkah has always had a special place in my heart, not only because it gave us wee Jewish children facing the monolith of Ho Ho Ho something to cling to, but because it is, at heart, such a simple distillation of Judaism:
They tried to make us disown our beliefs and play by their rules. We said no. They're gone. We are still here.
'They' varies over the generations (in this story's case, it was the post-Alexanderian Greeks, as ruled by Antiochus), but the theme remains, and echoes in our daily life.
The candles -- and the length of the holiday -- come about because in battle the Temple was despoiled, and the oil used to maintin the eternal lamp was ruined. There was, at the time of the rededication, only enough for a few days, and it would take eight for more to be delivered. And yet, somehow, by some miracle (or slight of hand by the priests, if you prefer), the oil lasted for eight days.
and so, the prayer said over the menorah, on the first night (tonight) of Chanukkah...
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu, meleh ha'olam shehecheyanu v'kiyimanu v'higi'anu laz'man hazeh. Amein.
Blessed are you, Lord, our God, sovereign of the universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season. Amen.
And so Chanukkah has always had a special place in my heart, not only because it gave us wee Jewish children facing the monolith of Ho Ho Ho something to cling to, but because it is, at heart, such a simple distillation of Judaism:
They tried to make us disown our beliefs and play by their rules. We said no. They're gone. We are still here.
'They' varies over the generations (in this story's case, it was the post-Alexanderian Greeks, as ruled by Antiochus), but the theme remains, and echoes in our daily life.
The candles -- and the length of the holiday -- come about because in battle the Temple was despoiled, and the oil used to maintin the eternal lamp was ruined. There was, at the time of the rededication, only enough for a few days, and it would take eight for more to be delivered. And yet, somehow, by some miracle (or slight of hand by the priests, if you prefer), the oil lasted for eight days.
and so, the prayer said over the menorah, on the first night (tonight) of Chanukkah...
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu, meleh ha'olam shehecheyanu v'kiyimanu v'higi'anu laz'man hazeh. Amein.
Blessed are you, Lord, our God, sovereign of the universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season. Amen.
