Hanukkah, a holiday commemorating the miracles surrounding the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in the second century BCE
Questions tagged [chanuka]
401 questions
6
votes
2 answers
Why do we celebrate Chanukah?
The more I read about Chanukah, the less I understand why we celebrate the holiday. The victory, as I understand it, was costly and very short-lived. Yes, the Temple was restored, but only to be destroyed ~232 years later, perhaps as the result of…
Dmitry Minkovsky
- 171
- 6
5
votes
1 answer
Ner ish Ubeiso or One more candle
What is more important that one Person light the right amount of candles every night of Chanukah or that everyone in the house light (of course I am talking about Ashkenazim)?
SimchasTorah
- 33,218
- 1
- 52
- 184
4
votes
2 answers
Why don't we light the Menorah outside in Chutz Laaretz?
In Eretz Yisroel, many people light outdoors. Why in Chutz Laretz don't we not do the same, which is ideal? (besides of course if your Menorah will get stolen But I dont believe thats the reason) And why is it certain Chassidm light completely…
SimchasTorah
- 33,218
- 1
- 52
- 184
2
votes
0 answers
How do I light the other candles with the shamash if I use wick and oil rather than candles?
I'd like to change over from candles to wick and oil for lighting my Chanukah candles, but I can't figure out how you light the other candles from a wick and oil shamash. Todah.
B. Austin
- 21
- 1
2
votes
0 answers
Hanukkah candles should start from the right, but which right?
It is known that the first Hanukkah candle should be on the right, and every day another candle is added to its left.
My question is, which right? If I am lighting the candles in a window or suchlike facing outside, my right will be left from the…
Meni Rosenfeld
- 371
- 1
- 5
2
votes
0 answers
What happened to the jars of oil without a seal?
Are there any sources that say what happened to the jars of olive oil without the seal in the temple? Did they throw it out,sell it, eat it,etc...?
If not then would there be a reason why they couldn't use(sell,eat,burn the oil at home,etc) the oil?
David Warshawsky
- 137
- 4
2
votes
0 answers
Spelling of Hanukkah
The word Hanukkah in Hebrew is written חֲנֻכָּה or חֲנוּכָּה -- with or without a vav. Why two spellings? Do they entail different things?
(Delete the question if the answer is purely a grammatical matter and does not enhance our understanding of…
Maurice Mizrahi
- 21,770
- 3
- 15
- 57
1
vote
0 answers
Menorah lighting at work and saying shechechiyanu
According to European/Ashkenazi customs, if one is asked to light the menorah at work approximately 10 minutes after sunset, Is it a problem:
to say the blessings at work
to say the blessings again at home with ones wife and kids, including the…
jbustamovej
- 277
- 1
- 5
1
vote
1 answer
Which Way To Light Candles On Chanukah
If Hillel and Shammai (as individuals) disagreed on only a few cases (which way to light is NOT one of them), then they must have agreed on this issue.
One lights candles each year. How is possible that Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai disagreed on…
Lazer
- 11
- 1
1
vote
0 answers
Chanukah candles lit by a non-Jew
Is a Jew allowed to recite the Chanukah blessings if the candle in the menorah was lit by a non-Jew? (Specifically, the shamash was lit by a non-Jew, and then from that shamash, a Jew lit the Chanukah candle.)
Chana Hodl
- 11
- 1
1
vote
1 answer
What part of this Chanukah song is actually about Passover instead?
"Eight Candles Shine" is a 1963 song by Malvina Reynolds, published by Schroder Music Co. It is frequently used in [US] schools as a "Chanukah Song" at winter concerts. I am using it as well, for this purpose, at a public elementary school where a…
nuggethead
- 111
- 1
1
vote
1 answer
Origin of lighting the chanukiah
Why did people start to light oil lamps on chanukah?
How did the holiday come to be represented by lights? If in fact it was that the menorah was lit for eight days with oil, and that was considered the essence of the holiday, then why is there even…
soandos
- 1,894
- 12
- 21