The big themes of Chanukah are Miracles and Light. What do the blessings and prayers we say tell us about these two BIG IDEAS. Let's look closely at them and share ideas about what these themes mean......
(ב) בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלֹקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
(ג) אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל חֲנֻכָּה.
(2) Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe
(3) Who has sanctified us with G-d's commandments and commanded us to light the Chanukah candles.
Think about this: Chanukah is a holiday which occurs well past the era of the Torah. How could there be a commandment to light the candles of Chanukah?
Micah- Menorah represents all of the Jewish people and the candles represent the souls of the Jewish people. It shows that we are commanded because without our contribution, the others in our past can not rise to the heavens.
Jackson- the Shamash is representative of G-d and the other candles represent the Jewish people. The Shamash lighting the other candles represent G-d restoring the souls of the Jewish people. That is why we are commanded to light the candle in this way.
What does this blessing mean? What does our prayer book say these miracles are? We say this same blessing on the holiday of Purim. What do Chanukah and Purim have in common?
(ד) בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלֹקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
(ה) שֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִּים לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה.
(4) Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe
(5) who made miracles for our ancestors in those days at this time
Jackson - The Jews were drastically outnumbered yet they managed to win. That's the miracle. This is true both for Purim and Chanukah.
Samantha- We were persecuted and we survived. On the Jewish calendar it happened at this same time of the year a great miracle happened to our ancestors. The Rabbis did not want us to forget the events that happened.
(ז) בלילה הראשון מוסיפים:
(ח) בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֱלֹקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
(ט) שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה.
(7) On the first night:
(8) Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe
(9) who has kept us alive, sustained us, and enabled us to be here at this time.
This blessing also has a message for us about זְּמַן הַזֶּה . How is the message of this blessing different than the previous one?
Micah - let me ask you, this: Why would G-d for hundreds of years want us to win battles to just have the Jews to be wiped out? The reason why we say this blessing is to acknowledge that we are able to say this blessing at this time and still know that if the Israelites did get wiped out we would not be able to be here right now.
(א) הַנֵּרוֹת הַלָּלוּ שֶׁאָנוּ מַדְלִיקִין, עַל הַנִּסִּים וְעַל הַנִּפְלָאוֹת וְעַל הַתְּשׁוּעוֹת וְעַל הַמִּלְחָמוֹת, שֶׁעָשִׂיתָ לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה, עַל יְדֵי כֹּהֲנֶיךָ הַקְּדוֹשִׁים. וְכָל שְׁמוֹנַת יְמֵי הַחֲנֻכָּה הַנֵּרוֹת הַלָּלוּ קֹדֶשׁ הֵם וְאֵין לָנוּ רְשׁוּת לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בָּהֶם, אֶלָּא לִרְאוֹתָם בִּלְבָד, כְּדֵי לְהוֹדוֹת וּלְהַלֵּל לְשִׁמְךָ הַגָּדוֹל עַל נִסֶּיךָ וְעַל נִפְלְאוֹתֶיךָ וְעַל יְשׁוּעָתֶךָ.
(1) We sanctify these candles which we light on account of the miracles, the deliverances and the wonders which G-d did work for our ancestors in those days at this time, by the hands of the holy priests. During all the eight days of Chanukah these candles are sacred, neither is it permitted us to make any routine use of them; but we are only to look at them, in order that we may give thanks to Your name for Your miracles, Your deliverances and Your wonders.
The light given off by the Chanukah candles is described here as "Sanctified" or holy. We are not permitted to use them for work or to perform routine activities. We are to simply look into their holy light and think about all that G-d has done for us. What are you grateful for at this time? Does the light you see in the candles inspire you to be more grateful?
Micah: I am grateful to be able to light the candles with a loved one.
Jackson: I am grateful that I can just watch the candles burning. It is also around the time that we give presents
Maya: I am grateful for my family, and my house, and my friends and my blankets
(ו) עַל הַנִּסִּים וְעַל הַפֻּרְקָן וְעַל הַגְּ֒בוּרוֹת וְעַל הַתְּ֒שׁוּעוֹת וְעַל הַמִּלְחָמוֹת שֶׁעָשִֽׂיתָ לַאֲבוֹתֵֽינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בִּזְּ֒מַן הַזֶּה:
(ז) בחנוכה: בִּימֵי מַתִּתְיָֽהוּ בֶּן יוֹחָנָן כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל חַשְׁמוֹנָאִי וּבָנָיו כְּשֶׁעָמְ֒דָה מַלְכוּת יָוָן הָרְ֒שָׁעָה עַל־עַמְּ֒ךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל לְהַשְׁכִּיחָם תּוֹרָתֶֽךָ וּלְהַעֲבִירָם מֵחֻקֵּי רְצוֹנֶֽךָ, וְאַתָּה בְּרַחֲמֶֽיךָ הָרַבִּים עָמַֽדְתָּ לָהֶם בְּעֵת צָרָתָם רַֽבְתָּ אֶת־רִיבָם דַּֽנְתָּ אֶת־דִּינָם נָקַֽמְתָּ אֶת־נִקְמָתָם מָסַֽרְתָּ גִבּוֹרִים בְּיַד חַלָּשִׁים וְרַבִּים בְּיַד מְעַטִּים וּטְמֵאִים בְּיַד טְהוֹרִים וּרְשָׁעִים בְּיַד צַדִּיקִים וְזֵדִים בְּיַד עוֹסְ֒קֵי תוֹרָתֶֽךָ וּלְךָ עָשִֽׂיתָ שֵׁם גָּדוֹל וְקָדוֹשׁ בְּעוֹלָמֶֽךָ וּלְעַמְּ֒ךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל עָשִֽׂיתָ תְּשׁוּעָה גְדוֹלָה וּפֻרְקָן כְּהַיּוֹם הַזֶּה וְאַחַר־כֵּן בָּֽאוּ בָנֶֽיךָ לִדְבִיר בֵּיתֶֽךָ וּפִנּוּ אֶת־הֵיכָלֶֽךָ וְטִהֲרוּ אֶת־מִקְדָּשֶֽׁךָ וְהִדְלִֽיקוּ נֵרוֹת בְּחַצְרוֹת קָדְשֶֽׁךָ וְקָבְ֒עוּ שְׁמוֹנַת יְמֵי חֲנֻכָּה אֵֽלּוּ לְהוֹדוֹת וּלְהַלֵּל לְשִׁמְךָ הַגָּדוֹל:
(6) [We thank You] for the miracles, for the redemption, for the mighty deeds, for the deliverances and for the wars that You performed for our fathers in those days at this season.
(7) On Chanukah: In the days of Matisyahu, son of Yochanan the High Priest, the Hasmonean and his sons, when the evil Greek kingdom rose up against Your people Israel to make them forget Your Torah and to turn them away from the statutes of Your will— You, in Your abundant mercy, stood by them in their time of distress, You defended their cause, You judged their grievances, You avenged them. You delivered the mighty into the hands of the weak, many into the hands of the few, defiled people into the hands of the undefiled, the wicked into the hands of the righteous, and insolent [sinners] into the hands of diligent students of Your Torah. And You made Yourself a great and sanctified name in Your world. And for Your people, Israel, You performed a great deliverance and redemption unto this very day. Afterwards, Your sons entered the Holy of Holies of Your Abode, cleaned Your Temple, purified Your Sanctuary, and kindled lights in the Courtyards of Your Sanctuary, and designated these eight days of Chanukah to thank and praise Your great Name.
We all know the first verse of the poem turned into a song, Maoz Tzur. We are going to look at how this poem is written and its message. It was not written originally as a song for Chanukah. Can you figure out why the Rabbis selected it for the Chanukah candle lighting? Look closely at the first letters of each verse. Can you figure out the name of the person who wrote it? What is the Miracle message of Chanukah that the writer sees throughout our history?
(א) מָעוֹז צוּר יְשׁוּעָתִי לְךָ נָאֶה לְשַׁבֵּחַ.
(ב) תִּכּוֹן בֵּית תְּפִלָּתִי וְשָׁם תּוֹדָה נְזַבֵּחַ.
(ג) לְעֵת תָּכִין מַטְבֵּחַ מִצָּר הַמְנַבֵּחַ.
(ד) אָז אֶגְמוֹר בְּשִׁיר מִזְמוֹר חֲנֻכַּת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ.
(ו) רָעוֹת שָׂבְעָה נַפְשִׁי בְּיָגוֹן כֹּחִי כִּלָה.
(ז) חַיַּי מָרְרוּ בְּקוֹשִׁי בְּשִׁעְבּוּד מַלְכוּת עֶגְלָה.
(ח) וּבְיָדוֹ הַגְּדוֹלָה הוֹצִיא אֶת הַסְּגֻלָּה.
(ט) חֵיל פַּרְעֹה וְכָל זַרְעוֹ יָרְדוּ כְאֶבֶן בִּמְצוּלָה.
(יא) דְּבִיר קָדְשׁוֹ הֱבִיאַנִי וְגַם שָׁם לֹא שָׁקַטְתִּי.
(יב) וּבָא נוֹגֵשׂ וְהִגְלַנִי. כִּי זָרִים עָבַדְתִּי.
(יג) וְיֵין רַעַל מָסַכְתִּי כִּמְעַט שֶׁעָבַרְתִּי.
(יד) קֵץ בָּבֶל, זְרֻבָּבֶל, לְקֵץ שִׁבְעִים נוֹשָׁעְתִּי.
(טז) כְּרוֹת קוֹמַת בְּרוֹשׁ, בִּקֵּשׁ אֲגָגִי בֶּן הַמְּדָתָא.
(יז) וְנִהְיָתָה לוֹ לְפַח וּלְמוֹקֵשׁ וְגַאֲוָתוֹ נִשְׁבָּתָה.
(יח) רֹאשׁ יְמִינִי נִשֵּׂאתָ וְאוֹיֵב שְׁמוֹ מָחִיתָ.
(יט) רֹב בָּנָיו וְקִנְיָנָיו עַל הָעֵץ תָּלִיתָ.
(כא) יְוָנִים נִקְבְּצוּ עָלַי אֲזַי בִּימֵי חַשְׁמַנִּים.
(כב) וּפָרְצוּ חוֹמוֹת מִגְדָּלַי וְטִמְּאוּ כָּל הַשְּׁמָנִים.
(כג) וּמִנּוֹתַר קַנְקַנִּים נַעֲשָׂה נֵס לַשּׁוֹשַׁנִּים.
(כד) בְּנֵי בִינָה יְמֵי שְׁמוֹנָה קָבְעוּ שִׁיר וּרְנָנִים.
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(כו) חֲשׂוֹף זְרוֹעַ קָדְשֶׁךָ וְקָרֵב קֵץ הַיְשׁוּעָה.
(כז) נְקֹם נִקְמַת דַּם עֲבָדֶיךָ מֵאֻמָּה הָרְשָׁעָה.
(כח) כִּי אָרְכָה לָנוּ הַשָּׁעָה וְאֵין קֵץ לִימֵי הָרָעָה.
(כט) דְּחֵה אַדְמוֹן בְּצֵל צַלְמוֹן, הָקֵם לָנוּ רוֹעֶה שִׁבְעָה.
(1) Source of strength, Rock of my salvation, to You it is becoming to give praise:
(2) let my house of prayer be restored, and I will there offer You thanksgivings on the altar
(3) When You shall have prepared a slaughter of the blaspheming foe,
(4) I will complete with song and psalm the dedication of the altar.
(6) Full sated was my soul with ills, my strength was spent with sorrow;
(7) they embittered my life by hardship during my subjection to the dominion of Egypt,
(8) but G-d with G-d's great power brought forth the chosen race,
(9) while the host of Pharaoh and all his seed sank like a stone into the deep.
(11) To G-d's holy oracle he brought me, yet there also I found no peace,
(12) for the oppressor came and led me captive, because I had served strange gods:
(13) I had to drink the wine of bewilderment; I had come near to being destroyed,
(14) when Babylon's end drew near; through Zerubbabel I was saved after seventy years.
(16) The Agagite (Haman), the son of Hammedatha, sought to cut down the lofty fir tree (Mordecai);
(17) but his design became a snare to himself, and his pride was brought to an end.
(18) The head of the Benjamite thou didst exalt, but the enemy's name You did blot out:
(19) his many sons that he had You did hang upon the gallows.
(21) The Grecians were gathered against me in the days of the Hasmoneans;
(22) they broke down the walls of my towers, and defiled all the oils;
(23) but from one of the last remaining flasks a miracle was made for Your beloved,
(24) and their men of understanding appointed these eight days for song and praises.
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(26) Bare Your holy arm and hasten the End of salvation –
(27) Avenge the vengeance of Your servants’ blood from the wicked nation.
(28) For the time has delayed and there is no end to the days of evil,
(29) Push away the Red One in the lowest shadow and establish for us the seven shepherds.
Maya: I thought it was really cool how the Jews have been through so much- fighting and slavery and yet we are still here today
Jackson: I find this poem's last section is very sad. It explains how G-d helped the Jews in times before, and why they needed G-d to help need them now.
Micah: The last paragraph shows that where there is good there is always evil, and that the battle between those two will never end.