Hanukkah
t w e l v e  o b j e c t s

The month of Heshvan passes on to Kislev and with it the preparation for Hanukkah. It is the time to remember the historic victory of the Jews over the army of Antiochus IV, the Seleucid ruler of Syria who sought to prohibit Jews from performing circumcision along with other biblical commandments and who further desecrated the Temple of Jerusalem by introducing idolatry. The struggle led by Mattathias the Priest and his sons (the Maccabee family) was waged for three years. At its conclusion, the victorious Maccabees desired to purify and rededicate the Temple. According to the legend, there was only enough pure oil to light the Eternal Light (ner tamid) for less time than it would take to get a new supply. It was considered a miracle that the oil lasted eight days, and because of it Jews light an eight-branched menorah called a hanukkiah. The candles are placed from right to left (as Hebrew is written). They are lit by a ninth candle called the shamash, or servant, which is also part of the hanukkiah, though placed on a level different from that of the other lights. Beginning from the left, one candle is lit the first night, a second candle is added the next night, and so on through the eight days of the festival. This hanukkiah light is special and its use for any utilitarian purpose is forbidden. The earliest hanukkiahs were bench-shaped, designed to hold oil, and often were made of clay or stone. By the nineteenth century, the prevailing type in Europe resembled the Temple candelabrum. Some still used oil, some were made for wax candles, and some were cleverly designed for either light. In North Africa and the Middle East, the hanukkiahs had loops or hooks because it was the custom to hang the menorah on the outside of the home. As Jews moved into northern climes, and in reaction to anti-Semitism, it was safer to move this Jewish symbol indoors. The style of the artifact changed into a free-standing metal device with a back plate and, often, an accompanying oil pitcher.
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            The long cold nights of the Hanukkah season in Northern and Central Europe were marked with blessings and special hymns. To engage the children, it became customary to copy the popular German gambling game played with a five-sided spinning top called a dreidl. When cast of tin or other very soft metal, it would wear down quickly. As a result, there are very few remaining examples. Today, four-sided Jewish dreidls are fashioned of every conceivable material, from gold to plastic, and have become a collector’s delight. All tops must have four sides with the Hebrew letters nun, gimel, hay, shin. Although these represent various gambling terms, they have been interpreted to mean ness gadol hayah sham, “a great miracle happened there,” or ness gadol hayah poh, “a great miracle happened here,” as used in Israel.