Hanukkah, a holiday commemorating the miracles surrounding the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in the second century BCE
6
votes
2answers
101 views
Nice clothes for Hanukkah
Is there a reason to wear special nice clothing on Hanukkah?
I would guess not as since there is no festive meal, it doesn't seem like it is a festive day.
Ideas anyone?
8
votes
3answers
343 views
Were the Books of Maccabees found in the Dead Sea Scrolls?
Were there copies of any of the Books of Maccabees (and/or Megillas Antiochus) found amongst in the Dead Sea Scrolls?
4
votes
2answers
76 views
Which night of Chanuka should you give out Chanuka Gelt?
Is there a specific night of Chanuka that is better to give out Chanuka Gelt?
2
votes
0answers
43 views
בימי מתתיהו בן יוחנן כהן גדול - who was the Kohain Gadol? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Bmei Matisyahu ben Yochnan Kohen Godol
בימי מתתיהו בן יוחנן כהן גדול - In the days of Matisyahu ben Yochanan Kohain Gadol
--"Al Hanisim" prayer said on Chanuka
Who ...
4
votes
3answers
95 views
Pronunciation of חשמונאי
A friend today told me that the word חשמונאי traditionally pronounced "Chashmonai" should really be pronounced "Chashmunai" with the vav being read as a shuruk vowel instead of a cholom.
Is this ...
0
votes
0answers
70 views
Where's the eighth miracle? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Beis Yosef Question
Inspired by this question.
If the sealed jug of oil that they found had enough to light the Menorah for one day, then there were only seven ...
-1
votes
1answer
63 views
Sheasa Nisim ALL 8 nights? [closed]
Why do we say SheAsa Nisim all 8 nights? Shouldn't we only say it one night, the first?
4
votes
2answers
121 views
What is the story of Yehudit which takes place during the Chanukkah Story?
I have heard many varying and conflicting stories about Yehudit and her effect on the war with the Greeks at Chanukkah time and was wondering if anyone has sources for her story and what it truly is.
...
7
votes
2answers
62 views
Joseph and Chanukkah
The Parshiot about Joseph always fall right before or during Chanukkah. It their a relationship between the Joseph stories and the Chanukkah stories? It there something to be learned from the fact ...
5
votes
0answers
85 views
Eating out Friday night of Chanukkah
If one is lighting Chanukkah candles inside (for whatever reason) relying on the publicization to himself and his family, then what should he do on Friday night if he is eating out? Must he make the ...
1
vote
1answer
124 views
Origin of lighting the chanukiah [closed]
Why did people start to light oil lamps on chanukah?
How did the holiday come to be represented by lights? If in fact it was that the menorah was lit for eight days with oil, and that was considered ...
7
votes
1answer
246 views
Fighting Wars on Shabbat
As I mentioned in another question, I was reading the Book of Maccabees over Shabbat (I and II).
In the book of Maccabees, it mentions that early on in the struggle, there were a group of Jews hiding ...
8
votes
6answers
804 views
How are Spartans the son of Abraham?
I was reading the Book of Maccabbees (I and II) over shabbat and in it there is a letter written to Sparta to ask for peace, goodwill and friendship.
In the reply letter back from Sparta, they affirm ...
4
votes
2answers
142 views
Which Talmudic source for Ḥanukah is the real source?
What is the Talmudic source for Ḥanukah?
In discussing candles for Shabbath, the Talmud (Shab. 21b) goes into a discussion about candles generally, touching upon Ḥanukah candles, and ultimately asks, ...
4
votes
0answers
60 views
Glass boxes and Hadlaka Oseh Mitzvah [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Fish Tank Menorahs
I think this is a familiar question, but since I don't have an answer, I'll ask it here. Since the halacha is that Hadlaka Oseh Mitzva (the conditions ...
4
votes
2answers
161 views
Playing Draidel with your wife when she is a Nidah
May one play Draidel with his wife when she is a Nidah? (sources please)
11
votes
2answers
204 views
What are the sources for the stories of Chanukah?
I'd like to find the sources for the stories associated with Chanukah. When I was younger, I was taught stories like:
Eliezer Maccabee being crushed by an elephant.
The rebellion staring in Mode'in ...
6
votes
1answer
82 views
Chanuka lighting: BeZman (at the best time) or Pirsumei Nissa (publicization of the miracle)?
Is it better to light candles at bezman, or later when there will be more pirsumei nissa? I find 4:30 (approx candlelighting time in NYC this year) to be too early to catch the regular "rush hour." Is ...
10
votes
2answers
174 views
What can a Menorah be made of?
Are there any halachic limitations on materials that can be used (l'chatchila) to make a Menorah?
For example, can one fulfil the mitzva on a Menorah of ice? How about one of cans, potatoes, or ...
15
votes
2answers
684 views
Can one throw out a Menorah?
Is it an issue to discard a menorah that has been used for the mitzvah of Neros Chanuka?
What if the menorah is made from something not usually used for a menorah? For example,bottles, cans, ...
12
votes
1answer
125 views
How straight do the chanukah lights have to be?
The Mechaber says (Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 671:4) that the Chanukah lights may not look like a bonfire. The Remah therefore says that the Chanukah lights must be in a straight line, to make sure it ...
10
votes
3answers
253 views
Why not two days for all holidays?
For those outside of Israel the requirement is for two days of yom tov (and sometimes Rosh Chodesh), originally due to uncertainty and now due to tradition. But we don't do this for all holidays even ...
3
votes
2answers
183 views
Why is it called “Zos Chanukah”
Why is the eighth, and last, day of Chanukah called "Zos Chanukah" and what is it significance?
1
vote
2answers
116 views
Women lighting Chanukah
Even thought Chanukah is one of the Yom Toivim where we say
"Af Hen Hayu B'oso Hanes" (women were included in the miracle)
women still do not light their own candles even according to the way of ...
8
votes
4answers
113 views
Possessions on a tree where Hung
In Maoz Tzur we say:
רֹב בָּנָיו וְקִנְיָנָיו עַל הָעֵץ תָּלִיתָ
Did we really hang his (Haman's) possessions on a tree?
1
vote
1answer
25 views
ChatzrOS Kodshecha
In Al Hanissim we say:
Vhidliku Neiros Bchatzros Kodshecha
Why in do we use the Plural form, was there more than one Chatzer?
8
votes
1answer
122 views
“m'nora” on Chanuka
My kid came home from school one day insisting that the thing we light on Chanuka is not a m'nora but a chanukiya. I replied that that's the word most Israelis use now but that m'nora is a perfectly ...
3
votes
2answers
57 views
Electric Menorah
Are electric menorahs good for lighting on Chanukah?
To remove some of the more obvious issues, let's assume that:
It runs on batteries
It's an incadescent bulb
There are separate physical switches ...
3
votes
2answers
84 views
Preferable time to light Chanukah Menorah
What is the preferable time to light before Marriv or after and after dark or before?
5
votes
4answers
113 views
On the horn of an ox
What is the significance of the horn of an Ox that the Greeks made the Jews write (Midrash Rabbah 2:5 and other places) We have no Part in the God of Israel on it (even thought in his Epistle to Yemen ...
2
votes
2answers
153 views
Fish Tank Menorahs
There are people who light in a Fish Tank Menorah among then Reb Eliyashiv and Reb Kanievsky arguably the two most prominent Halachic authorities in the world.
There is an inherent problem in that ...
6
votes
3answers
112 views
Is Dreidel gezeilah?
The Beit Yosef (Shuchan Aruch Choshen Mishpat 370:2) forbids gabling as gezeilah derabanan. (The Rema permits gambling under certain circumstances.) With this in mind, is it permissible for Sepharadim ...
4
votes
1answer
52 views
Acher Kain Versus Acher Kach
It seems there are two Versions of Al Hanissim one says Kain one says Kach which one is right and what is the underlying logic for each?
2
votes
1answer
95 views
Bonim Talmidei Chachamim
The Gemara is Shabbos(Chuf gimel amud beis) says:
Haragil Bner Havin Lei Bonim Talmiday Chachamim
(very loosely translated) A person who is studious with the mitzvah of lighting will have children ...
3
votes
9answers
114 views
Chanukah Remazim
What are some intresting Remazim like Acronyms and Numerical equivalents (Gematrias) with the word Chanukah for some fillers for a Chanukah Party speech?
2
votes
1answer
65 views
2
votes
3answers
338 views
Why do we say the complete Hallel on Chanuka?
On Rosh Chodesh and after the first days of Pesach we say Chatzi Hallel. Why on Chanuka do we say Hallel Shaleim?
10
votes
1answer
109 views
Babylonian Jewry and Chanukah
For many years I have been bothered by the following.
There was a large Jewish population living in Babylonia during the time that the events of Chanukah played out. Yet, I have never seen any ...
2
votes
2answers
81 views
Is there a way to make Shehechiyanu when lighting the second night of Chanuka? [closed]
How is it possible that someone lit the Menora on the first night of Chanuka, said Shehechiyanu, yet when he lights the Menora on the second night he would have to say Shehechiyanu again?
2
votes
2answers
60 views
When can we daven for a neis? [closed]
Riddle version of the question: When can we daven for a neis
Hashkafic version of the question: Why does it seem that we can daven for a neis, when this is explicitly forbidden in masechet Brachot?
4
votes
3answers
211 views
Donut and its deeper significance
What is the significance for eating Donuts on Chanukah Beyond the Oil connection?
3
votes
1answer
40 views
Shir Urinanim- Whats the diffrence?
In Ma'oz Tzur, it says:
וּמִנּוֹתַר קַנְקַנִּים נַעֲשָׂה נֵס לַשּׁוֹשַׁנִּים
בְּנֵי בִינָה יְמֵי שְׁמוֹנָה קָבְעוּ שִׁיר וּרְנָנִים
What is the Difference between Shirim and Rinanim?
3
votes
2answers
56 views
Torah versus Chukei Ritzonecha
In Al Hannisim we say:
לְהַשְׁכִּיחָם תּורָתֶךָ וּלְהַעֲבִירָם מֵחֻקֵּי רְצונֶךָ
"To make them forget Your Torah and violate the decrees of Your will"
In this context what is the meaning of ...
7
votes
3answers
185 views
Bimei Matisyahu ben Yochanan Kohen Godol
In "Al Hanisim" we say "Bimei Matisyahu ben Yochanan Kohen Godol", "in the days of Matisyahu the son of Yochanan the Kohen Gadol (=high priest)".
Who was the Kohen Godol: Matisyahu or Yochnan?
6
votes
2answers
129 views
Why doesn't Al Hanisim Mention the Miracle of the Oil?
Why is there no mention of the miracle of the candles burning for eight nights in Al Hanisim?
1
vote
1answer
53 views
Gemarah Shabbos -Chanukah Connection
Why is the Sugyah (discussion) of Chanukah in the Gemarah Shabbos?
4
votes
1answer
97 views
Sefardic Boy Dorming on Chanukah
A boy of Sefardic descent who is in the Dorm of a Yeshiva, does he light himself or does he rely on his parents lighting?
Is there a machlokes among the Sefardic Poskim themselves of what to do?
...
5
votes
6answers
179 views
Chanukah and Miketz
What is the connection between Chanukah and Miketz — as, in most years, Chanukah falls out in this Parsha?
2
votes
2answers
42 views
Just one b'racha on Chanuka lights?
There is a possible scenario in which one recites only the b'racha of she'Asa nisim on neros Chanuka without the b'racha of l'hadlik ner. Does the opposite scenario exist, in which one says only ...
1
vote
1answer
57 views
Burden of proof for birkas “she'Asa nisim”?
The הלכה is brought down in Shulchan Aruch et al. that one who sees lit Chanuka lights and has not lit his own should say the ברכה of שעשה נסים לאבותנו. Could he say this ברכה on a נר that was lit ...
