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Kislev
Rosh Chodesh Kislev What is Kislev?
Kislev is the third month of the Jewish year. It was at the beginning of this month that Noah saw the first rainbow after the flood, which signified a covenant between God and Noah, and for the generations that followed Noah. During Kislev, we also celebrate Chanukah. Chanukah
From the twenty-fifth of Kislev and continuing for eight days (into the month of Tevet), we celebrate the holiday of Chanukah, also known as the "Festival of Lights". Traditionally, Chanukah commemorates the rededication of the Temple alter (the name "Chanukah" means "rededication") after the Jews, led by the Hasmonean Judah Maccabee, successfully defeated the armies of the Greek ruler Antiochus Epiphanes. Legend states that when the Hasmoneans entered the Temple and wanted to relight the candelabrum, they found only enough oil to keep the candelabrum burning for one day. However, a miracle occurred and the oil burned for eight days. In memory of this miracle, we celebrate Chanukah for eight days and light candles on each of these nights. This miracle has become the most well known symbol of Chanukah. However, the festival also marks the military victory of the Maccabees against the Greeks, and thus of the Jewish people against Hellenisation and assimilation. How do we celebrate Chanukah?
Apart from lighting candles every evening (one extra on each succeeding day), it is also customary to:
Give money to children (Chanukah gelt), as an encouragement for them to study Torah. Spin the dreidl; a spinning top with the letters נ "nun", ג "gimmel", ה"hey" and ש "shin" are inscribed on each of its sides (an abbreviation for the words " נס גדול היה שם"a great miracle happened there"). In Israel the ש "shin" is replaced by a פ "peh" for the word "poh" פה. Meaning that a great miracle happened here.
Eat fried foods, such as latkes and sufganiot (literally, doughnuts), in memory of the miracle of the oil.
During medieval times, in some communities, women and men customarily stopped working while the candles burned. In some instances, women even stopped working during the whole holiday.
Back to Index of Jewish Months Also on the WUJS site:
Rosh Chodesh Ceremony - Kislev
Suggested Activities for Kislev: Domestic Violence Awareness Activity (International Day for the Eliminations of Violence Against Women falls during Kislev)
and Chanukah and Heroines Chanuka Activities.
More Jewish Activities on various topics.
Chanukah Sources : Historical, traditional, and contemporary.
Jewish Festivals: Historical, traditional, and contemporary sources. |
