Kindling New the Holy Lamps

As I began writing this I was reminded of a joke my neighbour Sandy told me last week.

WASP Gentleman:  Rabbi, when is Hanukkah this year?

Rabbi:  25 Kislev - same as every year!

Nambe Illume Menorah

And indeed today is the 25 Kislev in the year 5774 on the Jewish calendar and as the second sunset of Hanukkah approaches it is time to wish my friends *Chag Urim Sameach!.   

In a few past postings celebrating the Feast of Light I have included pictures of  antique menorahs from various cultures and times.  This year I thought I'd include a few photos of modern Hanukkah candelabrum.

Olive Branch Menorah by Michael Aram

The menorah is central to the celebration of Hanukkah as a symbol of the eight days that the miracle of the oil lasted at the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem in 2 BCE.  The law required that the lamps be lit at all times during the rededication but only one small flask of sacred oil was found.  Only enough to last a day.  But miraculously the oil burned and lit the temple for the eight days it took to consecrate new oils.

The traditional Temple menorah has only seven branches as does the symbol on the coat of arms of Israel.   The nine branches on the Hanukkah menorah give a place for a light for each day of the miracle and a shamash or "attendant" light.  It is always placed above the others and serves for illumination and in most households is used to light the other candles.  

Two of the rabbinical schools disagreed over the proper order for lighting the candles.  The House of Shammai decreed that all the candles should be lit the first day and then one less candle each day.  Their justification was that the miracle was at its greatest the first day.  The House of Hillel believed that one candle should be lit the first day and one more each succeeding day as the greatness and wonder of the miracle increased.  The later was chosen as the lawful and proper way of commemorating the miracle and is what is observed today.

The Sabra Menorah by Judaica Designs USA

Customs vary from sect to sect:  some Ashkenazi families have a menorah for each member or if only one then each member of the family takes a turn lighting a candle.  In Sephardi households there is one menorah and the head of the household lights the candles.  These customs do vary from household to household and are based more on tradition than any hard and fast rule.

As with all ritual objects the form and design has changed with the times and trends.   Clay and pottery gave way to brass and metal; simple tribal patterns became the elaborate curves and esses of the Barqoue; Art Nouveau tendrils crept around Lions of Judah; and today young artists use metal, ceramic, wood and even plastic in their menorahs.  What was once Mooresque has become Henry-Mooresque.  And, as with their predecessors, sometimes there is a touch of humour in their designs - I can't imagine what sort of household would have Jonathan Adler's dignified hound at the Hanukkah table but you can never tell with people.

Dachshund Menorah by Jonathan Adler

What ever type of menorah you light tonight, where ever you may gather to sing Ma'oz Tzur I wish to all my friends celebrating the Festival of Light all the joy of these days of celebration.

* Wishing you a Hanukkah filled with light

November 28 - 1925:  The Grand Ole Opry begins broadcasting in Nashville, Tennessee, as the WSM Barn Dance.

Kindle the Light of Hanukkah

~ מעוז צור ma'oz tzur*

A beautiful antique silver menorah from Palestine.

In many households tonight as the first candle on the menorah is lit Ma'oz Tzur will be sung.  A hymn recounting the fights against ancient enemies it is said to have been composed in the 13th century.  The history of this song is fascinating and filled with meanings both hidden and historical. 

This is a lovely version of the piyyut that many of my friends will be singing tonight as the Feast of Lights begins.  Its sung by Blackmore's Night and the English words Candice Night sings in the second verse are only one set of many translations that have come down through the centuries.

This English version of the old canticle is based on a German version by Rabbi Leopold Stein (1810–1882) translated by two renowned rabbis who immigrated to the United States, Marcus Jastrow and Gustav Gottheil.

Rock of Ages, let our song, praise Thy saving power;
Thou, amidst the raging foes, wast our sheltering tower.
Furious they assailed us, but Thine arm availed us,
And Thy Word broke their sword, when our own strength failed us.
And Thy Word broke their sword, when our own strength failed us.

An 18th century oil menorah from Poland.

Kindling new the holy lamps, priests, approved in suffering,
Purified the nation's shrine, brought to God their offering.
And His courts surrounding, hear, in joy abounding,
Happy throngs, singing songs with a mighty sounding.
Happy throngs, singing songs with a mighty sounding.

Small bronze hanging oil Menorah, c. 1900 based on 14th Century French Menorah

Children of the martyr race, whether free or fettered,
Wake the echoes of the songs where ye may be scattered.
Yours the message cheering that the time is nearing
Which will see, all men free, tyrants disappearing.
Which will see, all men free, tyrants disappearing.

Though a minor feast in the Jewish calendar Hanukkah has gained in significance as a feast to celebrate and share with family and friends - and in many home an extra place is set should a stranger come to the door in need of food and companionship.  

To my friends, who with their families, friends and perhaps that hungry wayfarer, begin this celebration of light as the darkest nights of the year approach: hahg same'akh (חג שמח)

My blog buddy Debra has one of the loveliest Hanukkah images on her blog - do take a look!

And two previous posts I've done on Hanukkah:

And Call It Lights

Happy Hanukkah - חג שמח

*Stronghold of Rock

08 December - 1660: A woman (either Margaret Hughes or Anne Marshall) appears on an English public stage for the first time, in the role of Desdemona in Shakespeare's Othello.

Tizku leshanim rabbot*

Ne'imot ve-tovot**

To all my friends, not just those celebrating this feast day: may your year be filled with the tartness of apples and the sweetness of honey; may your blessings be as numerous as the seeds of the pomegranate and the fish of the sea; may your happiness be as intoxicating as a flagon of good wine; may your laughter be as joyful as a sounding trumpet; and may there always be a candle to ban the darkness from your life.


The traditional Sephardic greeting for Rosh Hashanah:

*May you merit many years!

and the response:

**Pleasant and good one!

16 September - 1966: The Metropolitan Opera House opens at Lincoln Center in New York City with the world premiere of Samuel Barber's opera, Antony and Cleopatra.

And Call It Lights

*

"Now Judas celebrated the festival of the restoration of the sacrifices of the temple for eight days, and omitted no sort of pleasures thereon; but he feasted them upon very rich and splendid sacrifices; and he honored God, and delighted them by hymns and psalms. Nay, they were so very glad at the revival of their customs, when, after a long time of intermission, they unexpectedly had regained the freedom of their worship, that they made it a law for their posterity, that they should keep a festival, on account of the restoration of their temple worship, for eight days. And from that time to this we celebrate this festival, and call it Lights. I suppose the reason was, because this liberty beyond our hopes appeared to us; and that thence was the name given to that festival. Judas also rebuilt the walls round about the city, and reared towers of great height against the incursions of enemies, and set guards therein. He also fortified the city Bethsura, that it might serve as a citadel against any distresses that might come from our enemies."

Flavius Josephus

Jewish Antiquities XII

*Blessed are you, Lord our G-d, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us by his commandments, and has commanded us to kindle the lights of Hanukah.

20 dicembre/December - La primera noche de Chanukkà