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Tonight is the first of the eight nights of Chanukah.
The season of the winter soldsticr has always been a time for lighting lights.
From 176-160BCE, my ancestors rebelled against the oppressive Syrian Greek Seleucid emperor Antiochus IV, who tried to homogenise his subjects. 1/8
The season of the winter soldsticr has always been a time for lighting lights.
From 176-160BCE, my ancestors rebelled against the oppressive Syrian Greek Seleucid emperor Antiochus IV, who tried to homogenise his subjects. 1/8
The Maccabees, under the direction of the priestly family of Hasmonean priests from Modi’in, won, and recaptured Jerusalem.
The Holy Temple there has been defiled do they set about cleansing and rededicating it. 2/8
The Holy Temple there has been defiled do they set about cleansing and rededicating it. 2/8
The festival of Sukkot (booths) had not been celebrated, so the Book of Maccabees (Apocrypha) tells us they celebrated it later at the rededication. Sukkot lasts for 8 days.
Chanukah lasts 8days too…
We say Hallel (psalms of praise) on both… 3/8
Chanukah lasts 8days too…
We say Hallel (psalms of praise) on both…
3/8
There is a tradition that Ezra re-kindled the altar fire of the Second Temple on 25th Kislev, the day Chanukah starts…4/8
4/8
Rabbinic literature of C1st CE (Megillat Ta’anit) speaks of Chanukah. The Mishna too, but not at great length. Only much later does the Talmud speak of the 8 day miracle of the oil for the menorah.
We light increasing numbers of candles as the miracle grew, increasing light. 5/8
We light increasing numbers of candles as the miracle grew, increasing light. 5/8
We eat oily food in honour of this story.
Chanukah is a minor festival, but children love the lights, presents, games n good cheer.
Latkes: potato pancakes. Doughnuts.
Fritters.
@shirabatya sometimes makes onion bhajis.
Chanukah is NOT the Jewish Christmas, antedates it… 6/8
Chanukah is a minor festival, but children love the lights, presents, games n good cheer.
Latkes: potato pancakes. Doughnuts.
Fritters.
@shirabatya sometimes makes onion bhajis.
Chanukah is NOT the Jewish Christmas, antedates it… 6/8
Next time someone tells you Chanukah is like Christmas or a major festival, put them right.
It is a fun pause in winter, but our main festivals are Pesach, Shavuot, Sukkot, Rosh Hashannah, and Yom Kippur.
Purim is also minor.
Which do you prefer, Latkes or hamentaschen?
7/8
It is a fun pause in winter, but our main festivals are Pesach, Shavuot, Sukkot, Rosh Hashannah, and Yom Kippur.
Purim is also minor.
Which do you prefer, Latkes or hamentaschen?
7/8
So:
Chanukah celebrates a historical event and a mystical oily fiery miracle, round the traditional winter solstice firelighting time.
It is a minor festival but we give presents, play games, eat special food, say special prayers, sing songs.
8/8 https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1337036279826018304.html
Chanukah celebrates a historical event and a mystical oily fiery miracle, round the traditional winter solstice firelighting time.
It is a minor festival but we give presents, play games, eat special food, say special prayers, sing songs.
8/8 https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1337036279826018304.html
@threadreaderapp unroll please
