Hanukah in Israel

Hanukah begins on the twenty fifth day in the Jewish month of Kislev. It is basically an eight day festival, with the main festivity held on the eighth day. As the day is devoted to a cheerful celebration with feasts, blessings and lights, the eighth day of Hanukah is a time for rejoicing the military and religious feats of the ancient Jews. The story behind Hanukah dates back more than two thousand years when the Jews succeeded in overthrowing the Greek domination of Antiochus IV. The Talmud traces how the Greek ruler sought to curb the religious practices of the Jews, and was eventually defeated after a prolonged struggle. But as the victorious Jews tried to restore the destroyed temple and prepared it for being dedicated to God, they found a meager quantity of oil left for lighting the temple lamps. Miraculously however, the oil which was supposed to last barely a day kept the lamps burning for eight days. It is these eight days which are now celebrated as the Hanukah, which is now a festival of lights. Hanukah is also a festival of ‘dedication’, which the word literally means in Hebrew.

Hanukah has its own set of rituals, all of which are marked with a festive spirit. The most important ritual of Hanukah is the lighting of menorah as a symbol for the lamp which had burned during the past. One new candle is added to the menorah each day, thus making a row of eight candles on the eighth day. As the blessings are made and gifts exchanged, the Jewish community rejoices with sumptuous feasts and gatherings. Hanukah in Israel is a national holiday as the entire country enjoys the day with gusto. With potato pancakes, latkes, sufganiya and other typical Hanukah delicacies, the festival is a much awaited day for the Jews. But beneath the festivity, Hanukah bears a distinct religious flavor as the week marks a celebration of the divine power.