Hanukkiah

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Hanukkah in Kazimierz (Krakow)
Chanukkia, Jewish Museum Vienna

The Hanukkia (Hebrew חַנֻכִּיָּה, stressed last syllable) or the Hanukkah candlestick is the eight or nine-armed candlestick whose candles are lit for the Jewish Hanukkah festival . Hemda Ben-Jehuda, the second wife of Elieser Ben-Jehuda , the innovator of Hebrew , first created the word “Hanukkia” in Jerusalem at the end of the 19th century in 1897 .

The seven-armed menorah , the candlestick generally known as a symbol of Judaism , is not identical to the Hanukkiah.

construction

The Hanukkah has eight or nine arms or light holders, with the ninth holder for the candle in the middle as a "servant" (Hebrew shamash ). With this (not counting) candle the other candles are lit after the necessary blessings (Hebrew Brachot ) have been said. In addition to candles, olive oil is often used, as is the case with the menorah in the former temple.

tradition

Pal-Bell Hanukkah 1948, Maurice Ascalon

The Hanukkah festival celebrates the rededication of the temple after the successful Maccabees uprising against the Hellenized Jews , supported by the Seleucids , who in the Jerusalem temple had equated YHWH with Zeus and accordingly worshiped them. According to the Talmud , the victorious Jews found only so much ritually pure olive oil that the menorah could only feed it for a day, but the fuel miraculously lasted eight days until enough new consecrated oil was available.

ritual

The Hanukkia is only lit in the evening, about 20 minutes after sunset ( earlier on the Sabbath ) and men and women are encouraged to do so. The Hanukkah is placed outside the front door, opposite the mezuzah , if possible . Otherwise, it is placed in the window that can be seen from the street to publicly spread the miracle of Hanukkah.

First the shamash is lit, then two (only three on the first day) brachot are said before all other candles are lit with the shamash: on the first evening the candle on the far right, on the second evening two candles on the far right (however, lighting starts from left) and so on, until all candles burn on the eighth evening.

literature

Web links

Commons : Hanukkiah  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files
Wiktionary: Hanukkiah  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations