Happy Holidays to all & to all a good night!

CHANUKAH: BEHIND THE TRADITIONS…

A pleasant children's song often sung at this time of year goes "Chanukah, Chanukah, come light the Menorah. Let's Have a Party, we'll all dance the Hora. Gather 'round the table, we'll give you a treat, Dreidel to play with and Latke to eat…"

THE DREIDEL:

Dreidels, that funny little four-sided spinning top is chock full of symbolism and tradition. It's more than just the simple little games we enjoy where we have contests to see who can spin it longest, or playing for Chanukah "gelt" or goodies by letting the Dreidel decide who gets and how much. The four letters on the sides of the Dreidel are "NUN" no one wins, "GIMMEL" winner takes the pot, "HEY" the spinner gets half the pot, and "SHIN" the spinner matches the pot, or puts all he has in. The lettering on the sides of the Dreidel also refer to the phrase "Nes Gadol Hayah Sham" (a great miracle happened there) to remind us of the miracle of the oil and the victory.

During the time of Greek oppression, Jews were not allowed to study Torah, one of the commandments the Jewish people were ordained to follow. Many students of Torah would take great risks by studying passages of the Talmud and discussing Jewish laws among their fellow scholars. When the Greek soldiers would come near, the students would replace their books with the innocent "toys" now known as Dreidels so that all that would be seen was a group of fun-loving men enjoying an innocent game. A deeper meaning to the Dreidel game is that in life, like the spinning top, no one truly knows how the top will land and what fates will be dealt.

THE MENORAH:

Every menorah, or Hanukiyah, is designed to hold eight flames (candles or oil) to symbolize the eight days that one day's worth of oil burned after the victory by the Maccabees. Many believe that the eight flames should be of an equal height so that no one "day" seems more important than another.

There is a ninth "flame", the Shamash. Since each of the eight flames is representative of a great miracle, their beauty and brightness is not supposed to be used for any other reason than meditation. The Shamash is the "worker" light; it is this ninth flame that can be used to light the other flames and that can illuminate the room in order to see your way around. The Shamash is set apart from the other flames, either at a different height or visibly off to the side of the Hanukiyah.

THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS:

The word "Chanukah" means initiation, consecration and dedication. In referring to the story of the Maccabee's triumphant victory, it was the re-dedication of the temple after the desecration. Most homes will add and light one candle at a time each night until all eight flames are burning; there are those who believe all eight candles should be burning the first night taking away one candle until there is only one left to fully experience the full impact of the miracle.

As Menorahs are lit in Jewish homes throughout the world, the flames seem to "dance" in joy and vibrant energy. Just as the energy of each flame is "alive", so too should our lives be stirring, whether in prayer or in our relationships. Chanukah is a time to appreciate, admire and embrace our surroundings.

The CORRECT spelling of Chanukah - Hanukkah - Hanuka - is:

pronounced khan-new-kuh

Chanukah 2009 begins the evening of December 11 (25th of Kislev, 5770) when we light the first candle and continues for 8 nights and days (Jewish holidays always begin the evening before [erev] so Saturday, Dec. 12 is the first day). Candles are lit one per night and added to each subsequent night with blessings (prayers) each night.

A BISSEL OF YIDDISH FOR HANUKAH

All through our region, the following scene may well be a common one:
Mishpucah will gather together before sunset on December 11 (which also begins the Shabbos). Eema will put some schmaltz in a pan and fry up a batch of her mouth-watering latkes. Abba will say a brocheh over the chanukiah as he raises the shamash to kindle the first Hanukah licht. Tanta will lead everyone in a rousing rendition of the Ma'ot Tzur. Zeyda will hand out gelt to all the kinder. While everyone enjoys a nosh of geshmak latkes, Feyda will suggest a friendly game of Draydel. And as yung un alt enjoy, Bubbe will be exclaiming, "Oy, such naches!"

Are you fartshadikt? Biteh, read on for a glossary…

• A bissel - A little
• A brocheh - A blessing
• Abba - Father
• Biteh - Please
• Bubbe - Grandmother
• Chanukiah - Menorah
• Draydel - Spinning top
• Eema - Mother
• Ess gezunterhait - Eat in good health
• Fartshadikt - Confused
• Feyda - Uncle
• Gelt - Money
• Geshmak - Tasty, delicious
• Holishkes - Stuffed Cabbage
• Kasha varnishkes - Cooked groats and noodles
• Kinder - Children
• Kishkeh - Stuffed derma
• K'naidel - Matzoh balls
• Kosher - Jewish dietary laws
• K'velen - Beam; be delighted
• Latkes - Fried pancakes
• Licht - Light (ie: candle flame)
• Lukshen - Noodles
• Ma'ot Tzur - (song) Rock of Ages
• Mazel Tov - Good Luck
• Mishpucah - Extended family
• Mitzvah - Good deed
• Naches - Joy
• Nosh - Snack
• Shabbos/Shabbot - Sabbath
  
• Shaineh punim - Pretty face
• Shammes - the "worker candle" used to light other candles on a menorah
• Schmaltz - Fat or grease
• Taiglech - Small pieces of baked dough dipped in honey
• Tanta - Aunt
• Tsimmes - Sweet carrot compote
• Yashir koach - May your strength continue
• Yung un alt - Young and old
• Zeyda - Grandfather