The History & Meaning of the Menorah

On each night of Hanukkah, we light a new candle on the Menorah. Where did the tradition of the Menorah begin?

After leaving slavery in Egypt for the Promised Land, as they trekked through the wilderness (Exodus: Chapter 25), God commanded the Israelites to make the original Menorah (seven-branched candelabrum). One interpretation of the meaning of the seven branches is that they represent the seven days of creation. After escaping from slavery in Egypt, the Israelites created a new community and a new way of life.

When the First Temple was built in Jerusalem, our ancestors erected a large Menorah. The priests lit the Menorah in the Temple every evening and cleaned it every morning, replacing the wicks and putting fresh olive oil into the cups. The light of the Menorah symbolizes an eternal flame. It has been said that the Menorah is a symbol of the nation of Israel and its mission to be “a light unto the nations” (Isaiah 42:6).

The Menorah is among the most widely produced articles of Jewish Ceremonial art. The seven-branched Menorah is a traditional symbol of Judaism, and is an emblem of the State of Israel.

judaicaOn a personal note, I am enormously proud and inspired by my mother, Myra Yellin Outwater, who wrote and compiled the photos in an incredible book called “Judaica.” I wanted to share her beautiful work with you. Here is a link to her Menorah Gallery.

The Hanukkah Menorah or Hanukkiah is a nine-branched candelabrum lit during the holiday. On each night of Hanukkah we light new candle or wick. The ninth one, called the Shamash (“helper” or “servant”), is used to light all the other candles or oil lamps. To be kosher, the Shamash must be placed on a different level than the eight other candles.

Since Hanukkah is a holiday celebrated in the home, lighting the Menorah gives each family the ability to bring the holiness of the holiday, and of the ancient Temple re-dedicated by the Maccabees, into their own home. We like to have each child participate in creating the miracle of Hanukkah by lighting his or her own Menorah, or by having the chance to light a candle. With each succeeding night, we magnify the blessings of the holiday. Lighting the Menorah is truly a re-dedication of one’s commitment to faith and family.

Further Reading:

The light of the Menorah can be seen to represent any and all of the following:

  • Light represents goodness in the story of Genesis as God separated Light and Darkness on the first day of creation (Genesis: 1-1).
  • Beginning with the ancient Israelites, the light of Torah has guided us throughout our history, including many dark times.
  • As in the story of the underdog victory of the Maccabees, a small ray of light can overcome vast darkness.
  • The Shamash: The light of the Shamash can be interpreted as God’s helping hand in partnership with human action.
  • The Menorah light is supposed to be enjoyed and not used for study or work of any manner. Gazing at the Menorah reminds us of the miracles of daily life, including light itself.

How Do You Light the Menorah?

How many Menorahs?

Every household needs at least one Menorah. However, the more candles we light, the better! In fact, the ancient rabbis teach us that we add to the mitzvah (commandment) by lighting multiple Menorahs. It is a wonderful tradition for each child to have his or her own Menorah, a family heirloom, a new purchase — or homemade.

Who lights the candles?

In some families, it is traditionally the father who lights the Menorah. In others, it is the mother or the children.

The Talmud actually teaches that the mitzvah (commandment) is enhanced when more members of a family participate in the mitzvah of lighting the Menorah (Shabbat 21:B). Hanukkah thus provides us with an opportunity for an inclusive celebration with the lighting of the Menorah.

How to light the Menorah?


The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left (as you face the menorah). When you light the candles, the Shamash is the first candle to be lit. It is used to light the other candles. The other candles should not be lit directly with the match. The other candles are then lit on each night, from left to right (as you face the Menorah).

On the first night, you place a candle on the far right of the menorah. You light the shamash and then use the shamash to light the remaining candle.

On the second night, you place a candle on the far right, and then you place a second candle to the left of the right-most candle. When you light the candles, you light the shamash and then use the shamash to light the left-most candle first and then the second one to the right.

On the third night, you place a candle on the far right, and then you place a second candle to the left of the right-most candle, you place a third candle to the left of the second candle.

When you light the candles, you light the shamash and then use the shamash to light the left-most candle first and then the second one to the right, and finally the third candle to the far right. And so on for each of the eight nights.

The last night is most magical because you enjoy the illumination of all of the candles.

The reason for this order is because the House of Hillel believed that the splendor of the holiday should expand each night by lighting more candles until you ultimately light all eight night candles on the final night.

On the Friday night of Hanukkah, it is customary to light the Hanukkah candles before the Shabbat candles. This is because lighting the Shabbat candles signifies the beginning of the “Day of Rest” on which one does not traditionally kindle a fire.

Where to place the Menorah?

It is customary to place the Menorah in the window to proudly and publicly celebrate the miracle of Hanukkah.

There is an interesting discussion in the Talmud about displaying the lit Menorah just as the people are finished shopping in the marketplace (Shabbat 21b) in order to publicize the celebration of Hanukkah as fully as possible.

There is also a beautiful contemporary book called The Christmas Menorah, which tells the true story of the entire Town of Billings, Montana displaying Menorahs in their own windows, Jews and non-Jews alike, in a show of solidarity for a Jewish family whose house was attacked in a hate crime. This book is a wonderful story of love and community for younger children.

How to Recite the Hanukkah Blessings?

First Blessing
Baruch ata Adonai,
Eloheinu melech ha-olam,
Asher kidshanu
B’mitzvotav
V’tzivanu,
L’hadlik ner shel Hanukkah
Blessed are You Adonai,
Our God, Ruler of the World,
Who made us holy
Through your commandments
And commanded us
To light the Hanukkah Light.

Second Blessing
Baruch ata Adonai
Eloheinu melech ha-olam,
Sheh-asah nissim
La’avoteinu
Bayamim ha-heim
Ba-z’man ha-zeh
Blessed are You Adonai,
Our God, Ruler of the World,
Who made miracles possible
for our ancestors
in those days
at this same season.

Third Blessing – for the First Night Only
Baruch ata Adonai,
Eloheinu melech ha-olam,
She-heh-chi-yanu,
V’ki-y’manu,
V’higiyanu,
La-z’man ha-zeh

Blessed are You Adonai,
Our God, Ruler of the World,
Who has kept us alive
And enabled us
To reach
This season of life

Further reading:

“The Hanukkah Menorah or Hanukkiah is a nine-branched candelabrum lit during the holiday. On each night of Hanukkah we light new candle or wick. The ninth one, called the Shamash (“helper” or “servant”), is used to light all the other candles or oil lamps. To be kosher, the Shamash must be placed on a different level than the eight other candles.

Since Hanukkah is a holiday celebrated in the home, lighting the Menorah gives each family the ability to bring the holiness of the holiday, and of the ancient Temple re-dedicated by the Maccabees, into their own home. We like to have each child participate in creating the miracle of Hanukkah by lighting his or her own Menorah in the house (technically a Hanukkiah), or by having the chance to light a candle. With each succeeding night, we magnify the blessings of the holiday. Lighting the Menorah is truly a re-dedication of one’s commitment to faith and family.

Who Was Judah the Maccabee?

Judah the Maccabee is the central figure of the Hanukkah story. A rebel fighter who turned out to be a military genius, Judah took over leadership of the rebellion upon his father’s death, overthrowing the Syrian Greek army and restoring the Temple in Jerusalem.

Judah’s father, Mattathias, referred to in Hebrew as Mattityahu, was the high priest of the Hasmonean Family. He had five sons: Yohanan, Simon, Judah, Eliezer, and Jonathan.

The Syrian Greek regime was harsh, and tried to destroy the culture and tradition of the Jews who lived in their sphere of power. The Greeks forbade Jews to freely practice their religion, and as a final humiliation, their soldiers desecrated the Temple by slaughtering pigs, animals forbidden to Jews, on the Temple altar.

Mattathias moved his family out of Jerusalem and hid in the hills near the town of Modin. In 167 BCE, Greek soldiers came to the town and forced a Jew to slaughter a pig on an altar. This infuriated Mattathias. He killed both the Jew who slaughtered the animal and the Greek soldiers. According to the Book of Maccabee, this event sparked the Maccabean Revolt.

The Book of Maccabee tells us that many of the Jewish fighters were afraid as they faced the mighty Greek army.
1 Maccabees 16-23

“How can we, few as we are, fight against so great and so strong a multitude?”

In response, Judah is quoted as saying:
“It is not the size of the army that victory in battle depends, but strength comes from Heaven. They come against us in great insolence and lawlessness to destroy us… Do not be afraid of them.”

The odds were not in Judah’s favor. The Greek army, dressed in full battle gear, with superior weaponry and warrior elephants was a powerful foe for the small band of guerrilla fighters such as the Maccabees. But Judah the Maccabee (“The Hammer”) and his small army prevailed. Judah turned out to be a gifted military strategist and urged his fighters to fight for Jewish political independence even after the Greeks had conceded religious supporting the fighters.

It is important to note that it was not only the fighters who supported the Revolt. The entire Hasmonean family, all ages and all genders, engaged in the struggle for independence. Men, women and children each had a role to play.

Judah and his fellow Maccabean fighters returned to Jerusalem in victory, ready to re-dedicate the Temple in Jerusalem. They crafted a new Menorah out of iron covered in wood, because they did not have enough gold to recreate it as in earlier times. And according to the Talmud, the Maccabees only found enough oil to light the Menorah for one day, but it miraculously lasted for eight days.

In recognition of the bravery and skill of Judah and the Maccabees, the Maccabiah Games were created in 1932 as the Jewish Olympics. Five hundred Jewish athletes from twenty-three countries came to Israel to compete in the first Maccabiah Games. Held every four years in Israel, The Maccabiah has become the third largest international sporting event in the world. In the 2015 contest, over 9,000 athletes competed from 78 countries.

How to Make Your Own Menorah

Menorahs are meaningful to each and every Jewish family. Whether they have been passed down through generations or new to the family, they are treasured. Creating a one of a kind Menorah for your family is a wonderful gift that your family can cherish for years to come. And if you want to make the candles for your Menorah, it’s surprisingly very easy. To learn how, watch our Homemade Beeswax Candles video (scroll to bottom of that page).

It’s fun and easy to make your own Menorah. Menorahs can be made with items you may already have around the house. Watch the video and follow the steps below to learn how.

Here’s what you’ll need:

Materials:

  • one 12” 2 x 4 or scrap wood
  • nuts (hardware) for making candle holders
  • sandpaper
  • clear glue or glue gun
  • Sharpie pen
  • paint (acrylic) or spray paint
  • glass mosaic pieces or other creative décor pieces for your Menorah

How-to:

Step 1:
Sand and paint a 2×4 and use a ruler to make 9 equally spaced marks across wood to indicate where you will be gluing the nuts.

Menorah_1

Step 2:
Glue nuts to Menorah with clear glue or glue gun so you won’t see the glue. The middle candle holder (Shamash) should be raised, so stack two nuts on top of one another and glue together for this middle candle.

Menorah_2

Step 3:
Glue mosaic tiles (or your décor of choice) on top and sides of Menorah, fitting different sizes and shapes into place until the Menorah is completed covered.

Menorah_3

Step 4:
Light Menorah for 8 nights to celebrate Hanukkah!

Menorah_4

A Hanukkah Heroine: The Story of Judith

Judith was one of the great Jewish heroines. Judith single-handedly conceived of a daring and ingenious plan to save the Jews during an earlier time of Syrian Greek oppression.

The book of Judith (Yehudit in Hebrew), records that Holofernes, a Greek general, had surrounded the village of Bethulia as part of his campaign to conquer Judea.

The fighting was intense. The Greeks had cut off the Jews’ water supply. The situation became desperate and the Jews were ready to capitulate. But Judith, a pious widow, told the leaders that she had a plan to save the city.

Judith went to the Greek camp pretending to surrender. She met the general, Holofernes, who was taken by her beauty. Judith agreed to go to his tent with him, where she plied him with cheese and copious cups of wine.

When Holofernes fell into a drunken sleep, Judith beheaded him. She escaped from the camp, secretly taking the general’s severed head with her. When Holofernes’ soldiers found his beheaded corpse, they were overcome with fear. The Jews, on the other hand, were emboldened, and launched a surprise and successful counterattack. The Syrian Greeks were defeated and the town was saved.

When Judith returned to the town of Bethulia, with Holofernes’ head wrapped in her belongings, Uzziah, the leader in Judaea said to her

“O daughter, you are blessed by the God most high above all other women on earth… Your praise will never depart from the hearts of those who remember the power of God.  May God grant this to be a perpetual honor to you, and may he reward you with blessings, because you risked your own life when our nation was brought low, and you averted our ruin, walking in the straight path before our God.”  And all of the people said, “Amen, Amen!”
– The Book of Judith 13: 15-20 

The Book of Judith is one of the most energetic stories in Judaism, and yet it is not in the Tanakh, the Hebrew bible. But it is one of the Apocryphal texts and is included in the New Testament. As a result, today the story of Judith is better known to many Christians than to most Jews. We find it wonderful that the story of Judith became an inspiration for some of the greatest of classical painters, like Caravaggio and Michelangelo, and is featured on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. And yet the story is a surprise to many modern Jews. In celebration of Judith’s heroics (her own Maccabean-like victory), we eat cheese dishes during Hanukkah!

See depictions of Judith’s beheading of Holofernes by the great classical artists Michelangelo and Caravaggio in this blog.

Judith beheading Holofernes. Artist: Carvaggio, c. 1598-1599

Judith beheading Holofernes. Artist: Carvaggio, c. 1598-1599

For those of you who would like to read the detailed text references, following are the key highlights from the Story of Judith.

The Jews were afraid of King Holofernes

“When the Israelites living in Judea heard of everything that Holofernes, the general of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of the Assyrians, had done to the nations, and how he had plundered and destroyed all their temples, they were therefore greatly terrified at his approach; they were alarmed both for Jerusalem and for the temple of the Lord their God.”
– Judith. Chapter 4 verses 1-2

Holofernes came to conquer the Israelites

The next day, Holofernes ordered his whole army, and all of the allies who had joined him, to break camp and move against Bethulia, and to seize the passes up into the hill country and make war on the Israelites.”
– Judith Chapter 7 verse 1

Judith made her plan to save the Israelites

Listen to me. I am about to do something that will go down through all generations of our descendants. Stand at the town gate tonight so that I may go out with my maid: and within the days after which you have promised to surrender the town to our enemies, the Lord will deliver Israel by my hand. Only do not try to find out what I am doing: for I will not tell you until I have finished what I am about to do” Uzziah and the rulers said to her, “Go in peace, and may the Lord God go before you, to take vengeance on our enemies”
– Book of Judith Verse 32-36

Judith prepared to visit Holofernes

She made herself very beautiful, to entice the eyes of all the men who might see her. She gave her maid a skin of wine and a flask of oil, and filled a bag with roasted grain, dried fig cakes, and fine bread, (and cheese).”
– Judith Chapter 10 verse 4-5

Judith entered the Army camp of Holofernes and convinced his troops to bring her to the General so she can “betray” the Israelites

“I am on my way to see Holofernes the commander of your army, to give him a true report; I will show him a way by which he can go and capture all the hill country without losing one of his men, captured or slain… they marveled at her beauty…and led her into (Holofernes) tent.”
– Judith Chapter 10 verses 13-20

After convincing Holofernes of her plan and going back and forth between the Israelite town of Bethulia and the Camp of Holofernes, Judith finally returned to execute her plan.

Judith returned to Holofernes’ tent and “then Judith came in and lay down. Holofernes’ heart was ravished with her and his passion was aroused, for he had been waiting for an opportunity to seduce her from the day he first saw her. So Holofernes said to her “Have a drink and be merry with us!” Judith said “I will gladly drink, my lord, because today is the greatest day in my whole life.” Then she took what her maid had prepared and ate and drank before him. Holofernes was greatly pleased with her, and drank a great quantity of wine, much more than he had ever drunk in any one day since he was born….”

“…Judith was left alone in the tent, with Holofernes stretched out on his bed, for he was dead drunk…(Judith) went up to the bedpost near Holofernes’ head, and took down his sword that hung there. She came close to his bed, took hold of the hair of his head, and said “Give me strength today, O Lord God of Israel!” Then she struck his neck with all of her might, and cut off his head…(Judith) gave Holofernes’ head to her maid, who placed it in her food bag.”
Judith Chapter 12 Verse 16-20 and Chapter 13 Verse 2-10

Judith returned to the Town of Bethulia with Holofernes’ Head

“(Judith) pulled the head out of the bag and showed it to them and said “See here, the head of Holofernes, the commander of the Assyrian army…The Lord has struck him down by the hand of a woman.” “All the people were greatly astonished. They bowed down and worshiped God, and said with one accord, “Blessed are you our God, who have this day humiliated the enemies of your people.” Then Uzziah said to Judith “O Daughter, you are blessed by the Most High God above all other women on earth, and blessed be the Lord God…who guided you to cut off the head of the leader of our enemies. Your praise will never depart from the hearts of those who remember the power of God. May God grant this to be a perpetual honor to you, and may he reward you with blessings, because you risked your own life when our nation was brought low, and you averted our ruin, walking in the straight path before our God” “And all of the people said “Amen, Amen.”
– Judith Chapter 13 – Verses 15-20

Finally, when the Army of Holofernes found his decapitated body, they panicked and fled Israel

“So Bogaos went in and knocked at the entry of the tent, for he supposed that (Holofernes) was sleeping with Judith. But when no one answered, he opened it and went into the bedchamber and found him sprawled on the floor dead, with his head missing. He cried out with a loud voice and wept and groaned and shouted and tore his clothes. Then he went to the tent where Judith had stayed and when he did not find her, he rushed out to the people and shouted, “The slaves have tricked us! One Hebrew woman has brought disgrace on the house of King Nebuchadnezzar. Look, Holofernes is lying on the ground, and his head is missing!”

“When the leader of the Assyrian army heard this, they tore their tunics and were greatly dismayed.

When the men in the tents heard it, they were amazed at what had happened. Overcome with fear and trembling, they did not wait for one another, but with one impulse all rushed out and fled by every path across the plain and through the hill country.”
– Judith Chapter 14 verse 14-19 and Chapter 15 Verse 1-2

Homemade Beeswax Candles

It’s time to Light the Lights! Hanukkah is the Festival of Lights and what better way to light your Menorah for the eight nights of Hanukkah than with your own homemade Beeswax Candles.

Gather your family for this fun and simple activity.

Did you know you could make your own Hanukkah candles with beeswax sheets? Beeswax sheets come in every shape and size and color and can easily be purchased as part of a Candle Making Kit.

Watch the video and follow the steps below and you’ll be creating your own candles in minutes.

Materials:

  • beeswax candle sheets
  • candlewick, cut into 4-1/4” pieces
  • blow dryer
  • scissors
  • knife

How-to:

Step 1:
Measure out your sheets to 1-½” x 4” and cut with a scissors or plastic throwaway knife and a ruler to help guide you. Cut the wick around 4 -1/4″ long and lay the wick lengthwise across the beeswax so ¼” of the wick is sticking out of the wax.

Candles_1


Step 2:
Heat the wax with a blow dryer for 10 seconds so it is just pliable enough to roll the wax around the wick a few times. Medium heat setting is best.

Candles_2

Step 3:
Start rolling. Press the edges together as you roll.

Candles_3

Step 4:
Keep rolling and quickly blast the blow dryer to seal the last roll to seal the edges together. In order to make sure they are round, put candle on flat surface (like your counter top) and roll with both hands to get a perfectly rounded candle.

Candles_4


Step 5:

Place candles in your Menorah. Or tie a group of candles together and bring your homemade candles as gifts to friends and family to light in their Menorah each night of Hanukkah. Hanukkah uses 44 candles so you’ll need to make quite a few but it’s fun. Don’t worry if your Menorah has a large or small candle base. You can easily mold and squeeze beeswax right into the base of your candle holder so that each candle fits well and stands up straight.
Candles_beauty_shot2_step5

EXTRA FUN: You can also cut Hanukkah shapes out of the beeswax with a cookie cutter and affix the shapes to wider candles with a blow dryer as pictured below.
Candles_beauty_shot3

Why does the Jewish calendar overlap with Christmas this year? How does the Jewish calendar work?

In 2016, Hanukkah will overlap with Christmas and New Year’s! For some families, that means Chrismukkah! In 2013, Hanukkah overlapped with Thanksgiving and many families had Thanksgivukkah!

Why does the Jewish Calendar move so much? The simple answer is that the Jewish Calendar is partially based on the lunar calendar, but with seasonal adjustments for the sun. The Israelites were an agrarian society and thus had their lives based on the moon and the change of seasons. Jewish Festivals are associated with the seasons. For example, Passover celebrates the arrival of spring. Succot celebrates the bountiful fall harvest. Hanukkah falls close to the winter solstice.

Please read this post written by Andy’s uncle Rabbi Daniel Goldfarb (pictured above with Andy and Rabbi Daniel’s wife Dr. Ada Goldfarb), The Conservative Yeshiva, Jerusalem which explains the origin and mechanics of the Jewish Calendar.

The Jewish Calendar (in four parts)
Rabbi Daniel Goldfarb, The Conservative Yeshiva, Jerusalem

I – An Introduction to Calendars

Calendars are almost as old as peoples. On the one hand they help order the life of the community, but they can also express deeper values. The first Commandment given to the Jewish people, while still in Egypt, was the Jewish calendar (Ex 12:2), a step on the path to independence from Egyptian bondage upon which the Children of Israel were about to embark.

Over history nations have introduced or revised calendars following major events, e.g., the French Revolutionary Calendar [1793, 30-day months of three 10-day weeks] and the Bolshevik Calendar [Russia 1929 – six 5-day weeks each month], though this has become more difficult to do in recent times because of international relations and the global nature of commerce. Today it is important for nations of the world to be “on the same day,” even if not “on the same page.”

The Gregorian calendar used most widely today is solar – its year averages 365.25 days, the time it takes the earth to circle the sun. Days reflect the 24 hours it takes the earth to rotate on its axis vis-à-vis the sun. But neither weeks nor months in the Gregorian calendar are related to the astronomic system around us.

The Muslim calendar is lunar, based on the month. It takes the moon about 29.5 days to circle the earth, and the Muslim year has 12 lunar months (354 days), 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year. This means that holidays do not have fixed dates by the Gregorian calendar and indeed come roughly 11 days earlier each year. Ramadan began on June 6 this year (2016); it will begin on May 27 in 2017 and May 16 in 2018. It takes 33-34 years to complete the circle (June 10 in 2050).

II – Is the Jewish Calendar Solar or Lunar?

The Jewish Calendar has an important lunar component – Exodus 12:2 says: “This month/new moon shall be the beginning of the months for you.” For convenience we round off the 29.5-day average of the lunar orbit by making one month 30 days long and the next 29.

The Jewish Months and the Number of Days in Each (29 = chaser [short], 30 = malei [full])

1 Tishrei               תשרי 30 days 5 Shevat          שבט 30 8 Iyar               אייר     29
2 Marchesvhan מרחשון           29 (or 30) 6 Adar              אדר 29 9 Sivan           סיון 30
3 Kislev               כסלו 30 (or 29) *6A Adar Alef א אדר   30 10 Tamuz     תמוז   29
4 Tevet                 טבת 29 6B Adar Bet אדר ב 29 11 Av                אב 30
  7 Nisan               ניסן   30 12 Elul           אלול 29

*6A Adar Alef is the 13th month, added in years 3, 6, 8, 11, 14, 17, and 19 of the 19-year cycle.

When the Jews were sovereign in the land of Israel and the Temple was standing, Rosh Hodesh (the First Day of the New Month) was a major festival. It was declared by the Court in Jerusalem on the basis of testimony from witnesses who had seen the moon’s new (“waxing”) crescent. The dates of holidays like Rosh Hashanah and Pesach were known only after the Court had designated the start of the month in which each holiday falls. Once decreed, messengers would go out to notify the Jewish communities, as far as Babylonia; later bonfires were lit, with word of the new month travelling from one hilltop to the next. But when sovereignty was lost (after 70 Common Era) the system of the Court in Jerusalem declaring the New Month became impractical. Since the fourth century Jews have used a calculated calendar, which reduced the importance of the New Moon declaration.

But the Torah is also cognizant of the Solar calendar – Pesach (Passover) is connected to Spring (Deuteronomy 16:1), and Sukkot (Tabernacles) to the Fall Harvest (Exodus 23:16), so in the end the Jewish Calendar is a blend, luni-solar. The starting point is the lunar month, but something must be done to keep Passover in the spring and Sukkot in the fall. 

III – Reconciling Lunar and Solar in the Jewish Calendar

The way we “have our cake and eat it too” – or in this case, maintain a calendar with both lunar and solar elements – is by intercalating (“inserting, adding”). Remember, in the Gregorian system, we “intercalate” a day every fourth year, to accommodate for the fractions of days which accumulate. The Jewish calendar adds a whole month (Adar 1) seven times in 19 years, “roughly” one year in three – actually Years 3, 6, 8, 11, 14, 17, and 19.

A little math coming up, don’t get scared. The Bottom Line – at the end of 19 years the lunar and solar calendars will meet again, which is why your Gregorian and Hebrew birthdates will coincide when you reach age 19, 38, 57, 76, etc., subject to a one-day (or very rarely two-day) “statistical deviation.”

For simplicity’s sake let’s say Regular years (R – 12 months) have 354 days, 11 less than the secular year; Leap years (L – 13 months, including Adar A) have 384 days, 19 more.  In fact, each model year can have one day more or less, so the number of days in a Jewish year can be 353, 354, 355, 383, 384 or 385. Here’s the math:

19 solar years x 365.256 days = 6940 days AND, guess what –
19 solar years = 235 lunar months = 12 R years of 12 lunar months (144)+ 7 L years of 13 lunar months (91), so 235 lunar months x 29.531 days = 6940 days.

This past October 2 (29 Elul) the Jewish calendar completed Year 5776, the 304th 19-year cycle since Creation, according to tradition.  The New Year that started on Rosh Hashanah (Oct 3), 5777, is Year 1 of the new (305th) 19-year cycle.

Interestingly enough, this calendar-adjust system is not unique to the Jews. It is exactly the system used for the Chinese Calendar, and is first attributed to Meton, a Greek mathematician-astronomer, who figured out the math, without computers or smartphones, about 2500 years ago, though there is no certainty that either the Jews or the Chinese knew of Meton.   Pretty amazing!!!

IV – So Why does Hanukkah Run from Christmas to New Year this Year?

As mentioned, we intercalate (add) a month “roughly” once in three years, and therein lies the rub and, indeed, the explanation for the dates this year.   The 19-year cycle, including 7 leap years, yields 5 groups of 3 years, RRL, and two groups of 2 years, RL (years 7-8 and 18-19). Where the “leap” year is one in three (RRL) – we lose three days vis-à-vis the Gregorian calendar: -11, -11, + 19 = -3. But twice in the 19 year cycle (RL), there is only one Regular year between Leap Years (year 7 and year 18), when we gain eight. This distorts the distribution and can be best understood by breaking the 19-year cycle into two segments – 11 years from year #17 – #8, and 8 years from year #9 to #16.  Note:

  1. From Year 17 Year 8 – 5 leap years in 11 years (1 every 2.2 years), which means:

6 Regular years (- 11 days/yr) = 66 days less than the solar years
PLUS 5 Leap years (+ 19 days/yr) = 95 days more =  Net Total – plus 29 days +/-

  1. From Year 9 Year 16 – 2 leap years in 8 years (1 every 4 years), which means:

6 Regular years (- 11 days/yr) = 66 days less than the solar years
PLUS 2 Leap years (+ 19 days/yr) = 38 days more =  Net Total – minus 28 days +/-

Segment 1, years 17 – 8, loaded with Leap Years, adds a month vis-à-vis the secular calendar (making holidays late – maxing after Adar 2 in year 8), whereas Segment 2, with only two leap years in the 8 year period, leave us a month short (early).  Voila, year 16, which was three years ago, is the LOW TIDE of the 19 year cycle, and thus the earliest holidays (Rosh Hashana was Sept 5 in 2013). The individual years are like waves on the beach, each shorter or longer; the groups of years are like the tides.

So why are we at High Tide, almost, only three years later?  Because two of the three years since year #16, years 17 and 19, were Leap Years, which means that in the three years from Rosh Hashana 2013 (Sept 5) we have had added 27 days (+ 19 – 11 + 19) to the Jewish Calendar, which brings Rosh Hashanah to Oct 2, 2016 (one day off, due to other calendar factors).  Within three years the Jewish holidays have “moved” a month. Or maybe they haven’t moved at all; Rosh Hashana is always 1 Tishre. Maybe the Gregorian calendar has moved!!!

Lightning Fast Hanukkah for Young Kids

Hanukkah is a magical and meaningful holiday to celebrate with even the youngest members of your family. The basics still make it special — lighting the Menorah, saying the blessings, making latkes, playing the dreidel, and yes, the gifts!

We have had so much fun enjoying the holiday with our kids over the years. Each year as our children have grown, we’ve found new ways to celebrate with meaning and joy.

We’ve thought about how we’ve evolved our Hanukkah celebration over time to make it appeal to the youngest members of our family, and we want to share it with you.

Here’s our bare bones Lightning Fast Guide to Hanukkah:


Light the Menorah

  • Light the Menorah each night and say the blessings. Then pick the candles and set them in the candleholders in the Menorah. Clearly you light the match, and perhaps the Shamash.


Play the Dreidel

  • Gather everyone around the table to play dreidel.
  • Teach the basic rules, and keep playing until everyone’s a winner. Need a refresher course? Watch our How to Play Dreidel video (scroll to the bottom of that page).
  • Make your own chocolate gelt, or you can buy it in your local candy store.


Make Hanukkah Food

  • Latkes – Have the kids help mix the latkes. Older children can flip the latkes in the pan, or arrange the finished ones on the platter. Time saver: Make lots of latkes in advance. You can even freeze them!
  • Sufganyot – Buy or make a Hanukkah sweet like the jelly donuts


Decorate Your House for Hanukkah

  • Have the kids help you set the table for our guests or family! Buy a handful of tiny dreidels, some glue and glitter and let the kids make the table extra special!
  • One night in the holiday, have a manageable sized Hanukkah party at your home. It can be just the family or invite your friends!


Give Gifts

  • Each member of the family gives one special gift to each other.
  • Have kids give gifts to the grownups. Kids can make their own gifts.
  • On other nights, each member can prepare a gift of time (a special  favor, a good behavior coupon, breakfast in bed, etc.) to give to each other or make Wish Stars.

Acorn Dreidels

Get ready for Hanukkah with a scavenger hunt for acorns so you can create these adorable Acorn Dreidels. Start collecting acorns from your yard now. The more acorns the better. You will only need the shell so leave the nuts for the squirrels.

There are just a few quick steps to assemble your Acorn Dreidels then you can let the fun begin. Go ahead…sing and spin. The last one to fall wins! Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel, I made it out of clay (and acorns) and when it’s dry and ready oh Dreidel I will play.

Materials:

How-to:

Step 1:
Break off a 3/4 “ piece of clay.

Acorn Dreidel_1


Step 2:

Roll the piece into a ball.

Acorn Dreidel_2

 

Step 3:
Add glue inside of acorn shell and glue in ball of clay.

Acorn Dreidel_3

 

Step 4:
Put strike end of match in middle of clay and push in until it touches the shell. Use your hands to mold clay to give it the shape of an acorn.

Acorn Dreidel_4

 

Step 5:
Spin, spin, spin!

Acorn_Dreidel_Beauty_Shot