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Onward and upward! something that you say in order to encourage someone to forget an unpleasant experience or failure and to think about the future instead and move forward.

My e-mail: jjmiller6213@comcast.net

Saturday, December 24, 2016

Happy Hanukkah



Happy Hanukkah, which started today at sundown.  Some people refer to this time as the “Festival of Light”—I like to call it the celebration of the “Miracle of the Oil”, because it truly was a miracle from God

Hanukkah is an eight day and night Jewish festival to celebrate the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, which took place in the 2nd century B.C. The Greek-Syrian ruler Antiochus IV had tried to force Greek culture on the Jews in Judea (Israel). 

This rededication of the Holy Temple took place after the Maccabees (Jewish religious rebels) reclaimed the temple. Hanukkah is the Hebrew word for dedication. 

Hanukkah begins on the 25th day of Kislev, which can occur any time from late November to late December, depending on the Hebrew calendar. To celebrate Hanukkah, a nine-branch candelabrum called a Menorah, is lit one candle each night until the eighth night--January 1st, this year. The additional branch and light (9th candle) is used to light the other candles.


The celebration lasts for eight days for historical reasons. When the Maccabees reclaimed the Holy Temple, there was enough purified oil to keep the temple lit for only one day. By some miracle, the light burned for eight days.

5 comments:

  1. Another lovely Celebration of Light, at this time of year...

    A very Happy Hanukkah, to all who celebrate this Feast of Light.

    And happy times, to all the Jewish children, who receive a present a day, during the Days of Hanukkah.

    Luna Crone

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  2. No matter your choice, have Happy Holidays with family and friends!

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  3. When my oldest son was in high school, for the last two years he dated a Jewish girl. LIFE WAS SWEET! :) We celebrated Hanukkah with her family and then they celebrated Christmas with us. It was so much fun to enjoy each others traditions and FOOD :)

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  4. My grand daughter and her hubs--had a Jewish name blessing ceremony for my GG baby Della, and she is also going to be baptised in the Catholic church. After all--at this time of year, we wouldn't have a baby Jesus without a Jewish mother.

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  5. Wonderful that we can all celebrate as we wish.

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