by David Perry on December 8, 2012 at 6:24 pm
Hannuka and the festival of lights…the other Christmas trap and abomination.
Original article by Alan Geisdorf on Wednesday, December 5, 2012 at 4:37am with comments by David Perry
History
"The [Hanukkieah] , or candelabrum, is used during the Jewish holiday of Hanukah. The eight days of Hanukah are celebrated every year on the 25th of the Hebrew month Kislev. The holiday commemorates the military victory of the Jews of Palestine over the Syrian – Greeks in the 2nd century BCE. The Maccabees, the Jewish revolutionaries, restored order to Jerusalem and found the Temple contaminated. To restore the Temple, ritual oil was needed, but only enough pure oil to last one day was found. The miracle of Hanukah occurred when the modest amount of oil in the Temple lamps burned for eight days, allowing it to be rededicated. FACT : Nowhere in the book of Maccabees is it recorded that the OIL lasted for days. This is a made up story by the Rabbinical pharisees.
Following the destruction of the Temple, the menorah became a very important symbol in Jewish history. It became a reminder, of the sovereignty of the Temple. In order to preserve the holiness of the original menorah, the Rabbis forbade the use of an exact replica of the seven branched menorah. Why ? because we have a commandment not to make an image of anything found in the earth or in heaven.
Today, candles are lit in an nine branched menorah called a "Hanukiyah" in Israel to differentiate it from the seven-branched Menorah of the Temple. On the first night of Hanukah one candle is lit. On the second night, two candles are lit and so on. The candles are added from right to left and are lit left to right with the newest candle lit first. There is a separate place for the shamash, the candle used light the other candles. The candles are kindled after dark. The Rabbis teach that the menorah should be placed in the window, in order to "publicize the miracle."
The blessings for the candles:
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