Chanukah and Jewish Holidays – Why do we celebrate it?
Something bothers me about Chanukah, which is not really specific to Chanukah but to all the holidays, (just being December I have Chanukah on my mind at the moment). I understand that winning against the Greeks back then was probably a very big deal to the Jews of that time, and I’m sure they were pretty amazed that the oil burned longer than it was supposed to. But that was a very long time ago and the Syrian Greeks mean nothing to us now; they are long gone; I don’t really get why we need to celebrate an isolated incident that happened so long ago and has nothing to do with us today. More so, it’s hard to see how someone like me should really be “happy” about those ancient occurrences that make no difference any more. I’m rambling now, but this has bothered me for a long time and I finally have the chutzpah to express it.
Chanukah – Oil vs. Candles
Why are some people particular to light Chanukah lights with oil? If someone lights with oil, how long does it need to stay lit?
Chanukah Is Celebrated Without a Feast – Why?
I’ve always wondered why Chanukah doesn’t have festive meals like the other holidays. I know we eat foods fried in oil to remember the miracle with the oil and the candles, but why not meals with Kiddush, challah and the like? Someone said it’s because Chanukah is not in the Torah, but neither is Purim, and there’s a big meal on Purim. Thanks for your time,
Dreidels – Why Are They Central to Chanukah?
The dreidel signifies a very important aspect of the Chanukah holiday. In fact, it is as old as the menorah lighting itself. If you take a look at the dreidel, which is Yiddish for “spinner” or “top,” you’ll notice a letter imprinted on each of its sides: nun, gimmel, hey and shin which stand for […]
The Three Weeks and Mourning The Temple
With regards to the three-week mourning period we’re now observing, I’m struggling a bit to find a way to make this meaningful in my life. How does one gain inspiration by mourning for Temples that were destroyed thousands of years ago?