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Chanukah menorahs come in all shapes and sizes. With a little imagination, you can make your own Chanukah menorah - all you need is eight candle holders (one for each night) and an extra candle holder for the shamash (the candle used to light the others). The lights of the Chanukah menorah are more than simply a reminder of ancient miracles, they are meant to provide inspiration and illumination in our contemporary daily lives.
Silver Chanukah Menorah,"Tree of Life" motif, Classic German circa 1920.
Finely chased in unusual Neo Gothic style, silver Chanukah Lamp; Austria circa 1870 |
Jewish people around the world celebrate the holiday of Chanukah, the Festival of Lights. Chanukah begins this year on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev, but the starting date on the western calendars varies from year to year. The holiday celebrates the events which took place over 2,300 years ago in the land of Judea, which is now Israel.
During preparations for rededicating the Temple following the defeat of the Syrians by the Maccabee brothers and their followers 2,000 years ago, it was discovered that all but one day's supply of holy oil for lighting the Perpetual Light had been defiled. Nevertheless, this small supply of sanctified oil sufficed for the eight days needed to purify more. The lighting of the eight candle Chanukah lamp commemorates this miracle. The Chanukah lamp used during this holiday differs from the Menorah, the symbol of the TempIe and thus of Judaism, in that it bears 8 (or 9) instead of the seven lights of the Menorah. The eight lights represent the eight days it took for Judah Maccabee and his followers to prepare a new supply of sanctified oil. The ninth candle, called the Shamash (or servant), may be used to light each additional candle on the Chanukah Menorah. Source: Billie Ann Lopez
In Vienna, families celebrate Chanukah at home. On each night of Chanukah, it is traditional to give gifts to family and friends, decorate the house, entertain friends and family, eat special foods, and light the holiday menorah.
Because of the great significance of oil in the story of the Chanukah miracle, it is traditional to serve foods cooked in oil. Among the most popular Chanukah dishes are potato latkes (pancakes) and Krapfen (doughnuts). Fannie Engle and Gertrude Blair in their The Jewish Festival Cookbook provide a recipe for a Katowes Cake whose ingredients add up to the magic number of 44 (Katowes is an old riddle-puzzle game that must be answered in numbers totaling 44, the number of ingredients in the cake which is the total number of candles lighted during Chanukah). Another recipe they offer is the Glowing Menorah Cake.
Gift-giving is not a traditional part of the holiday, but has been influenced by the contact with Christians. Chanukah gifts are usually given to the children, but if you ask different families the tradition varies and may also be extended to other family members and friends. The only traditional gift of the holiday is "gelt," small amounts of money.
Jewish life in Austria is inseparably connected with the cultural life in this country. A small group of Iranian Jews and a large number of Jews from the former Soviet Union have in the past years enriched the cultural diversity enormously with their traditional affairs. Read More
OR CHADASCH, The Jewish Liberal Community of Vienna, is a Progressive Jewish congregation, founded in 1991 and affiliated with the World Union of Progressive Judaism. They emphasize worship, social action, tzedakah, and study, providing a basis upon which to make informed choices that are the hallmark of Progressive Judaism. They worship, seek God, and celebrate our Jewish heritage in an egalitarian and inclusive atmosphere. They are a diverse congregation, and invite members of the International Community to join them. All visitors are welcome at their events. Read More |
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