Questions tagged [chanuka]
Hanukkah, a holiday commemorating the miracles surrounding the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in the second century BCE
376
questions
0
votes
0
answers
96
views
כל כבודה בת מלך פנימה
The Chasam sofer in his commentary to Maseches Shabbos, writes that although the Gemara clearly states that women are obligated to light נר חנוכה, but due to modesty concerns כל כבודה בת מלך פנימה (...
- 343
0
votes
1
answer
118
views
Hebrew source for a question in "Guidelines" chanukah edition by Rabbis Jaeger and Barclay
For someone who has the sefer "Guidelines" Chanukah Edition by Rabbis Jaeger and Barclay, can you tell me which sources they list in the back of the sefer for the question, "The ...
user31965
1
vote
0
answers
29
views
Midrash Pertaining to the Rekindling of the Menorah Commemorated by Chanukah
The predominant traditional explanation for the eight days of Chanukah is the miracle of the oil: there was only enough pure oil to keep the Menorah fueled for a single day but it miraculously lasted ...
- 13.2k
2
votes
1
answer
41
views
Is אעדיף כל שמונה online in an accessible format?
אעדיף כל שמונה is a set of piyutim by R' Elazar Hakalir for a weekday Shemoneh Esrei of Chanukah. It was apparently said in Ashkenaz into the Middle Ages, but didn't make it into printed siddurim.
I ...
- 9,125
0
votes
1
answer
48
views
Why is finding a Sealed Pach Hashemen a miracle?
This is one of the 3 miracles of Chanukah and the one memorialized by decreeing the holiday on the 25th of Kislev as opposed to the 24th when the miracle of the military victory happened or the 26th ...
1
vote
0
answers
25
views
Connection between chanukah and parshat mikeitz [duplicate]
Anyone know of any sefarim to look at that elaborates on connection between parshat mikeitz and chanukah?
- 155
1
vote
2
answers
71
views
Connection between Yosef and Chanukah
The Megaleh Amukos makes a connection between Yosef and Antiochus in regards to the gematria of the names that Yosef is one more then Antiochus. I was wondering if anyone could explain the connection ...
- 155
1
vote
0
answers
54
views
Where can I find this Ramban on Chanuka?
From the Chabad website:
There is a segula1 from the Ramban for after lighting the Chanukah lights to say the verse from Psalms: "May the graciousness of the L·rd our G·d be upon us," (...
- 839
0
votes
0
answers
66
views
Is it a bracha levatala to recite or sing the Hanukkah blessings communally?
In group Chanukah celebrations one often sees that the entire gathering recites the brachot for lighting the menorah in unison, despite the fact that only one person is actually lighting the candles.
...
- 962
1
vote
1
answer
51
views
Lighting the chanukah menorah and the shabbos candles in the same place
I seem to recall a halacha stating that the Chanukah menorah should not be lit in the same place as the Shabbos candles are lit. Is this indeed the halacha, and can someone point me to somewhere ...
user31965
1
vote
1
answer
168
views
Where in the history and/or rabbinical works does it say that the people of the Maccabean period fought off lions or were sawn in half or delimbed?
I heard a visiting rabbi talked about Hanukkah and mentioned that the people of the Maccabean period fought off lions and/or were sawn in half or delimbed, but he did not give any exact sourcess, ...
- 84
1
vote
0
answers
75
views
The oil and Chanukah: what comes it to teach us?
The basic story of what happened when the Hasmonean monarchy overcame the Greeks, and hence we celebrate Chanukah, can be found in the Gemara in Shabbos 21b:
When the Greeks entered the Sanctuary ...
- 6,844
2
votes
2
answers
197
views
Non-Jewish Sources about Chanukah [closed]
I was listening to a podcast about Channukah, he was interviewing an Israeli professor on the subject. The professor was very reluctant to give credence to the ‘Jewish sources’ about Chanukah. ...
- 2,141
5
votes
1
answer
468
views
When and by whom were the Piyutim of Channukah written?
There are communities that recite special prayers on Shabbos Channukah they begin with אודך כי אנפת ותשוב. Do we know who wrote these and when?
- 2,141
1
vote
1
answer
146
views
What part of this Chanukah song is actually about Passover instead?
"Eight Candles Shine" is a 1963 song by Malvina Reynolds, published by Schroder Music Co. It is frequently used in [US] schools as a "Chanukah Song" at winter concerts. I am ...
- 111
0
votes
1
answer
70
views
Why is channukah not mentioned in Medrash chazal?
In Medrash chazal, (including medrash raba, tanchuma, toras kohanim etc…) there is no mention of the Yom Tov of channukah. This took place 100-200 years before Medrash was written. Although it is ...
- 2,141
0
votes
1
answer
77
views
Igros Kodesh on Chanukah: advice for during exile
The Lubavitcher Rebbe in Igros Kodesh talks about why the chanukah candle has 8 candles, and the menorah 7. But then, the Rebbe says “from this it is clear that the chanukah candles have a general ...
- 6,844
3
votes
1
answer
105
views
Until when did the Yeshivos of Beis Hillel and Shamai exist?
We know that Hillel and Shamai themselves lived during the time of the Second Beis Hamikdash. Do we know how long their yeshivos lasted?
More specifically, how late in history could the argument ...
- 1,129
2
votes
1
answer
208
views
Yaavetz regarding the story with Yehudis not happening on Chanuka
Rabbi Yaakov Emden writes in his מור וקציעה seen here, in last paragraph of the second column, that the story of Yehudis had nothing to do with Chanuka and actually happened during the first exile.
...
- 33.2k
3
votes
3
answers
149
views
The fall of Yehudah the Maccabee
Yehudah the Maccabee died in the Battle of Elasa, a mere four years after the victory at Beit Tzur and the subsequent purification and rededication of the Temple.
Are there any rabbinic sources that ...
- 24.1k
2
votes
1
answer
102
views
How can I understand the idea that “Pirsumei nisa is as much to oneself as it is to others.”
The THE BENJAMIN AND ROSE BERGER TORAH TO-GO Chanukah 5782 p 14 contains an article from Rabbi Ezra Schwartz entitled “ Al Hanisim in Birkat Hamazon”.
It says
Tosafot, Shabbat 24a, s.v. Mahu, offer a ...
- 46.9k
2
votes
0
answers
58
views
Why not הקם לנו נסיכי שמונה?
The last four words of Maoz Tzur end with the words הקם לנו רועים שבעה. This is a clear reference to the verse (Micha 5:4):
וַהֲקֵמֹנוּ עָלָיו שִׁבְעָה רֹעִים וּשְׁמֹנָה נְסִיכֵי אָדָם
But as I was ...
- 2,669
4
votes
1
answer
76
views
Doing the mehadrin level differently -- does it invalidate the mitzvah?
On Channukah, the mitzvah is for a light to be lit in each household, as the Rambam (Hil Purim/Channukah, 4:1) writes, "מצותה שיהיה כל בית ובית מדליק נר אחד."
If one wants to perform a "...
- 37.6k
2
votes
0
answers
45
views
What happened to the jars of oil without a seal?
Are there any sources that say what happened to the jars of olive oil without the seal in the temple? Did they throw it out,sell it, eat it,etc...?
If not then would there be a reason why they couldn'...
- 137
7
votes
2
answers
217
views
What's the source that Yavan/Greece is keneged choshech?
I heard that Greece is connected to the term 'choshech' in the line "Tohu VaBohu Vechoshech al benei tehom..." (Bereishis 1:2), and I heard the idea used in multiple shiurs. Just wondering ...
- 89
0
votes
2
answers
123
views
What is meant by "pure" oil for Hanukka?
The concept of "pure" oil is central to the holiday of Hanukka (see, for example,
https://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/article_cdo/aid/221817/jewish/Pure-Oil.htm and
https://www.aish.com/...
- 7,850
0
votes
1
answer
215
views
Maoz Tzur: Last stanza
I have been to various Shuls over Chanukah and they say Maoz Tzur but they don’t say the last stanza. I asked and they say we don’t say it. What would be a reason not to say it? Don’t we want revenge ...
- 1,931
4
votes
1
answer
106
views
What were לביבות made of before potatoes?
Who doesn't love a nice stack of potato latkes for Hanukkah? Tradition, right? But as I was frying up my seasonal potato pancakes, I started thinking... potatoes didn't exist in the Old World until ...
- 149
3
votes
0
answers
49
views
Does it matter where the flames came from in the Beit ha Mikdash?
In the Greek book commonly known as Second Maccabees (not generally recognized among Jews as being authoritative), there is a detail given about the rededication of the Second Temple where the relit ...
- 5,175
2
votes
0
answers
64
views
Hanukkah Glass Menorah Drip Tray with Brachos on it
Would it be mutar to place the menorah on a Hanukkah Glass Menorah Drip Tray https://www.amazon.com/Rite-Lite-Tempered-Glass-Menorah/dp/B00PBFBUOO even if the drip tray has brachos on it, or would ...
user24484
-2
votes
4
answers
279
views
Did the Rabbis err when they stipulated an eight branch menorah for the celebration of Hanukkah?
I fully understand the rationale for an eight branched menorah. Considering the Nes, etc. And I am aware that the Talmud states that it is prohibited to use a seven-lamp menorah outside of the Temple. ...
- 157
2
votes
1
answer
102
views
Meaning of phrase in Hannukah song
I'm having trouble understanding the concluding phrase in the famous Hannukah song O Hannukah, which is על הנפלאות אשר חללו המכבים. What root is חללו and what is its meaning here? How to translate ...
- 187
4
votes
0
answers
96
views
Gambling on Chanukah
There already exists on this site, discussions about gambling in halacha - see here, here and here etc. I would like to focus specifically within the context of Chanukah and an apparent minhag (custom)...
- 27.2k
0
votes
1
answer
96
views
What is maftir for Shabbat Channukah?
Hopefully someone knows this, since I see conflicting info online. What is the maftir for first shabbos of channuka (this coming shabbos, second day channuka, parshat Vayeshev). Is it (a) Bamidbar 7:...
- 35
1
vote
2
answers
99
views
Over how many years did the Chanukah story take?
In Megilas Antiyochus, it speaks at length how there were 3 separate times Antiyochus's army came to Jerusalem (each time getting royally defeated), so I'm wondering over how many years did this story ...
- 457
1
vote
2
answers
81
views
Does one need to light Chanukah lights at both entrances nowadays in Israel?
Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 671:8 rules that if one has a courtyard with two entrances on different sides, one lights Chanukah lights at both entrances, to prevent passersby from suspecting that the ...
- 41.2k
1
vote
3
answers
132
views
Kislev and the letter Samech
I have seen somewhere that Kislev and the letter Samech are connected to each other. The sefer I saw it in, quoted the Likkutei Shas of the Arizal. Does anyone know what it says? And is there any ...
- 692
5
votes
2
answers
280
views
Which of the *Zugos* were in charge during the Chanukah story?
Pirkei Avos tells us of a chain of Torah leadership from Shimon HaTzadik (who lived in the times of Alexander the Great), to Antignos Ish Socho, to the pairs of leaders after that.
On whose watch did ...
- 130k
1
vote
1
answer
135
views
Order of Chanukah lights and havdalah
When I was leading the conclusion of the Shabbat service yesterday, I asked someone to light the Chanukkah candles, who asked me if we rather did havdalah first. I know that in a synagogue setting we ...
- 7,414
1
vote
1
answer
82
views
Are the eight nights of lighting Menorah one Mitzvah or eight?
By Sefiras HaOmer, there is a dispute whether it’s a single Mitzvah to count fifty days, or whether one fulfills the Mitzvah of counting each day independently (Rosh, Pesachim 10:41, et. al.). As a ...
- 34k
0
votes
2
answers
91
views
Is Menorah an obligation on the person or on the object?
Is the obligation of lighting a Menorah an obligation that the person should light (chovas gavra), or that there should be a Menorah burning at his front door (chovas cheftza)?
- 34k
3
votes
2
answers
259
views
Is it a problem to use the lights of the Chanuka candles as the sole source of light in a photograph?
A common setup get a beautiful "lighting Chanuka candles" picture is to use only the light of the menorah to illuminate the photograph, including the menorah and the hands and face of the person ...
- 313
1
vote
0
answers
43
views
Lighting after maariv in shul
At my shul, the first maariv minyan on Chanukah is after teitz hachocavim (5:15, in Eretz Yisroel). It takes a couple minutes until there are ten people, and when ten people arrived some members ...
- 3,455
3
votes
1
answer
293
views
Minhag of eating jelly doughnuts on chanukah
Many yiden have the custom to eat potato latkes or jelly doughnuts on chanukah.
Who started this custom??
- 359
11
votes
1
answer
874
views
Is "Festival of Lights" our traditional term or borrowed from other cultures?
I keep seeing Chanukah being referred to as "the festival of lights". However I don't recall encountering this term in any of the classic religious texts (Talmud, Midrash, Maimonides, Shulchan Aruch, ...
- 6,427
1
vote
2
answers
137
views
In Maoz Tsur should it say תִכּוֹן בֵּית זביחתי instead of תִכּוֹן בֵּית תְּפִלָּתִי
The word תְּפִלָּתִי in the poem Maoz Tsur seems out of context:
תִכּוֹן בֵּית תְּפִלָּתִי וְשָׁם תּוֹדָה נְזַבֵּחַ
לְעֵת תָּכִין מַטְבֵּחַ מִצָּר הַמְנַבֵּחַ
אָז אֶגְמוֹר בְּשִׁיר מִזְמוֹר ...
- 46.9k
-3
votes
1
answer
131
views
Why is Chanukah "happier" than Pesach?
Following up on this answer.
The answer seems to conclude that one way that we measure happiness is by the saying of Hallel and it lists the days on which we say the whole of hallel. But we do not ...
- 37.6k
1
vote
2
answers
187
views
Is the greeting "Happy Hanukka" kosher?
Someone told me that 'Happy Hanukka' is not a kosher greeting since it is following the laws of the non-Jews... (and there is no mitzvah to have a meal on Hanukka as on Purim (some say because many ...
- 7,456
4
votes
0
answers
95
views
A woman saying Shehechyanu on Channukah
I have been reviewing some discussions of a married woman's obligation to light Channukah candles. It appears that according to some, a married woman, whose husband is lighting at home does not light. ...
- 37.6k
3
votes
1
answer
169
views
Switching residences at night during Chanukah
The answers to this question explain that if one is not eating at home during Chanukah, he nevertheless needs to light at his house, where he will be sleeping that night.
What happens if someone ...
- 41.2k