Hanukkah, a holiday commemorating the miracles surrounding the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in the second century BCE
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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, ...
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votes
4answers
179 views
First time lighting Chanuka candles is on second night
If one didn't light Chanuka candles until the second night, how many candles should he light?
According to the reason that we add a candle a night is "Maalin Bakodesh" (we always add in holiness), ...
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2answers
172 views
Who is the composer of Haneiros Halolu?
When we light the Menora we say Haneiros Halolu. Who composed these words?
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3answers
344 views
Why aren't Purim and Channuka considered a violation of לֹא תֹסִפוּ?
It says in Devarim 4;2:
לֹא תֹסִפוּ עַל הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוֶּה אֶתְכֶם וְלֹא תִגְרְעוּ מִמֶּנּוּ לִשְׁמֹר אֶת מִצְוֹת יְ־הֹוָ־ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוֶּה אֶתְכֶם
...
12
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1answer
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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 ...
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 ...
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3answers
201 views
9 Days of Chanukah?
All Yomim Tovim we celebrate in Chutz Laretz an extra day because of A safek, why do we not do the same for Chanukah?
10
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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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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?
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votes
6answers
807 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 ...
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2answers
140 views
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December greeting responses
How do you respond when greeted, during the Winter "holiday season" by a non-Jewish acquaintance with each of the following?
Happy Chanuka (in proximity to Chanuka)
Happy Chanuka (not in proximity ...
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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 ...
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votes
3answers
346 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?
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votes
1answer
106 views
Making Bracha on Channukah Candles in Jail
Someone who is in jail and is able to light Channukah candles, can/should he make a bracha?
I don't know if being in Jail is considered to be like having a home that someone would have a chiyuv to ...
8
votes
1answer
87 views
Is there a minimum size for Chanuka flames?
Do the flames atop the chanukiya need to be a certain size to be valid? At the extreme, are tiny (but sustained) balls of blue flame sufficient?
7
votes
9answers
268 views
When do you say a beracha on a minhag?
When lighting Hanukkah candles in the synagogue, we say a beracha "asher kidshanu b'mitzvotav.." on a minhag. Unlike kiddush in shul, and early counting of the omer in shul, nobody would say that one ...
7
votes
2answers
76 views
Is there a requirement to stay around after lighting Chanuka candles?
When lighting the Chanuka candles, I understand that they generally need to burn for a minimum of 30 minutes. Is there any requirement for the person who lit the Menorah to stay around for a certain ...
7
votes
3answers
116 views
Does the Kohen Gadol place his seal on oil used for the Menorah?
The Gemara in Shabbat 21b says:
...For when the Greeks entered the Temple, they defiled all the oils
therein, and when the Hasmonean dynasty prevailed against and defeated
them, they made ...
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?
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 ...
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 ...
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votes
1answer
107 views
Who is “the blaspheming foe” of Maoz Tzur?
In the song Maoz Tzur it says
לְעֵת תָּכִין מַטְבֵּחַ מִצָּר הַמְנַבֵּחַ -
which the OU translates as -
When You will have prepared the slaughter for the blaspheming foe.
Who is this ...
6
votes
2answers
129 views
Proper bracha on Chanuka candles: lhadlik ner (shel) Chanukah
Why do some people have the custom to say, in the blessing on the Chanukah lights, the word "Shel" before "Chanukah" and some do not? And I have been told some people put the words together as ...
6
votes
5answers
309 views
Why are there eight days of Chanukah if there were only seven miracles?
There is a famous question asked by the Beis Yosef (R' Yosef Karo): Why do we celebrate eight days of Chanukah if the miracle lasted only seven? The jug of oil contained enough to be lit for one day, ...
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?
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3answers
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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 ...
6
votes
3answers
194 views
What is the appropriate use of the shamash on an oil menora?
It seems that with wax candle menoras, the shamash is generally lit first and used to light the other candles, but with an oil menora this is not possible. So should you light the shamash before the ...
6
votes
2answers
93 views
Sell the shirt off his back for Menorah, but not for anything else?
Halacha brings that one who has no money for Chanukah Lights must sell the shirt off his back to acquire them why is this the case versus almost all other Mitzvos which require up to a fifth of his ...
6
votes
1answer
356 views
Why isn't the book of the Maccabees part of the Jewish canon?
I believe they are in the Christian canon... why not Jewish?
6
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1answer
91 views
“Prepare your Menora before Shabbat!”
In this recent "Halocho a Day" blog post, Danny Schoemann leads off with
This week, Shabbat is also Erev Chanuka; prepare your Menora before Shabbat!
This sounds like a nice idea for reducing ...
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?
6
votes
2answers
462 views
What size hex nut will properly fit a standard chanukah candle?
I have many a childhood memory of "helping" to make a chanukiyah out of a block of wood and eight hex nuts glued down to it (often with 2 more stacked in the center for shamash); each hex nut was ...
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 ...
5
votes
6answers
345 views
Chanukah in the Mishnah
Why is the story of Chanukah not mentioned in the Mishnah at all, besides for to Passing references to Halachot which apply to them in the context of Damages an the laws of planting?
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 ...
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5answers
296 views
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6answers
179 views
Chanukah and Miketz
What is the connection between Chanukah and Miketz — as, in most years, Chanukah falls out in this Parsha?
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votes
1answer
188 views
We are Christian but have been invited to celebrate with friends tonight
We are invited to dinner tonight with some Jewish friends. I am excited that my six year old has such an opportunity to learn about another holiday, and the traditions taht accompany it. We've read ...
5
votes
2answers
66 views
Lighting at a Chanukah Party
If I am eating at A Chanukah Party in a different place then my home may I light the Menorah at the location of the Chanukah Party and be Yotzeh?
5
votes
4answers
74 views
Chanuka Candle Location
My whole family will be staying at a hotel over shabbos and the hotel management says that we are not allowed to light fires in our rooms. Nobody will be in our home. How can we fulfill the mitzvah ...
5
votes
3answers
116 views
What's the best way to make wick-and-oil work for Chanukah?
I've tried lots of fancy fluffy cotton wicks that just burn out. Some people have those little metal holder-thingies to keep the wick in place; some use bobby pins as holder thingies. If your oil ...
5
votes
1answer
66 views
How do you get oil residue off of a menora?
When you light olive oil in a metal menora, some of the oil invariably finds its way into the cracks between parts of the menora. How do you remove this residue?
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votes
1answer
66 views
What to look for in Chanuka flames
In determining the preferableness of fuel and wick types, the שולחן ערוך and רמ"א refer to light "hanging on wicks nicely" and the possibility of candle light being "clean" and "clear". What physical ...
5
votes
1answer
71 views
Lighting Chanuka candles on Erev Shabbat
Since it's not common sense to leave a fire unattended (or against an apartment building's guidelines to have unattended fires), what's the general minhag for lighting Chanuka candles on Erev Shabbat ...
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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 ...
4
votes
2answers
176 views
Which Yochanan Kohen Godol is in Al Hanissim?
In Al Hanissim we mention a Yochanan Kohen Gadol. Since there were several kohanim gedolim named Yochanan which one is this, historically?
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votes
1answer
111 views
Why did it take so long to make new oil?
The miracle of Chanukah that we commemorate was that the oil burned for 8 days, until they were able to replenish it. Why did it take 8 days to make new oil for the menorah? The normal process for ...
