Tonight is the eighth and final night of Chanukah, our annual festival of lights and our annual retelling of ancient miracles that took place more than 2000 years ago. Candles are lit, blessings are said, dreidels (a four-sided top) are spun, traditional (reflecting the significance of the holiday) foods (fried potato latkes or pancakes, generally served with applesauce and/or sour cream and sufganiyot or deep-fried jelly doughnuts) are consumed and for some in our contemporary celebrations, gifts are exchanged. On this night our menorahs (traditional candle holder with nine spaces for candles) shine the brightest, as eight candles are lit (one for each of the eight days) along with the shamosh or helper candle. By tradition, we place the daily candles in the holder from right to left and we light them using the shamosh (the candle that lights all of the daily candles that sits apart and a bit higher up on the menorah) from left to right, so that the newest days candle is always lit first. It is a joyous holiday celebrating both our victory over our oppressors despite what would seem to be insurmountable odds and that a one day supply of lamp oil lasted for eight days. Chag Chanukah Sameach
Posted on: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 22:09:43 +0000
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