Friday, December 15, 2006

HANUKKAH BEGINS TODAY


Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights or Festival of Rededication, is an eight-day Jewish holiday that starts on the 25th day of Kislev, which may be in December, late November, or, while very rare in occasion, early January (as was the case for the Hanukkah of 2005–2006).
The festival is observed in Jewish homes by the kindling of lights on each of the festival's eight nights,one on the first night, two on the second night and so on.
The holiday was called Hanukkah meaning "dedication" because it marks the re-dedication of the Temple after its desecration under Antiochus IV.
Spiritually, Hanukkah commemorates the Miracle of the Oil.
According to the Talmud, at the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem following the victory of the Maccabees over the Seleucid Empire, there was only enough consecrated olive oil to fuel the eternal flame in the Temple for one day. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days - which was the length of time it took to press, prepare and consecrate new oil.

In recognition, I wish my Jewish family and friends a very
HAPPY HANUKKAH !

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