Test Review Notes Now Posted for You

Hanukkah Unit Review Notes

Lighting the Hanukkiyah
1) Set up the candles – R to L
2) Light the Shamash
3) Recite the blessings (incl. Sheheheyanu on first night)
4) Light the candles – L to R (begin with newest candle)
5) Sing Hanukkah songs
6) RULES FOR SHABBAT
a. NO FIRE IS PERMITTED TO BE LIT ON SHABBAT, SO…
i. Hanukkiyah lit first on Friday night, then Shabbat candles
ii. Havdalah recited first on Saturday night, then Hanukkiyah

Menorah vs. Hanukkiyah
7 branches vs. 8 plus the separated shamash
Mishkan/Beit HaMikdash ONLY vs. Anywhere
Everyday vs. Hanukkah ONLY

FROM THE TALMUD TEXT:

Section A. The mitzvah/requirement for lighting lights on Hanukkah according to the Rabbis of the Mishna:
Basic: Light one light per household each night

Elaborate: Light one per person in the household each night

Really Elaborate:
A) School of Shammai: Light eight lights on the first night and reduce
each night by one from then on
B) School of Hillel: Light one light on the first night and increase by one
each night from then on

The Reasons for the Lighting Systems of the Schools of Shammai and Hillel
Q. What did the Talmud determine as the School of Shammai’s reason for its system?

A. To correspond to the pattern of the sacrifices for the festival of Sukkot (reducing each day)

Q. What did the Talmud determine as the School of Hillel’s reason for its system?

A. Ma’alin b’kodesh v’ein moridin/We increase in holy matters and we do not reduce


Section B. Rules Related to the Hanukkah Lights
Q. Where should you place your Hanukkah lights if you live in a house?

A. Outside, near the main entrance to the house

Q. Where should you place your Hanukkah lights if you live in an apartment on a high floor?

A. By a window which faces out to the public domain.

Q. What do you do about lighting in an “hour of danger?”

A. You may light your lights on a table and that is enough.

Q. What are the two possible explanations for the Rabbinic term sakanah that we discussed in class? Which one is the “classical” understanding?

A. Sakanah could refer to a time or place of anti-Semitism, when it would be dangerous for a Jewish person to be public about his or her practices of Judaism, making it unsafe to light the Hanukkah lights in public view. Sakanah could also refer to it not being safe to light the lights by the front door or window for fire safety reasons. The classical understanding, found even in Rashi’s commentary, is the danger created by anti-Semitism.

Q. What is the purpose of the Hanukkah lights?

A. Pirsumei Nisa/Publicizing the Miracles of Hanukkah

Q. Why do we have a shamash candle?

A. Because we are not permitted to use the light of the Hanukkah lights for anything at all.

Q. What did Jewish communities do for light if they were not allowed to use the light of the Hanukkah lights? For whom was such an arrangement not permitted?

A. Public bonfires. Public figures and wealthy individuals had to have their own separate lights.


Section C. The Two Tellings of the Hanukkah Story

Q. What Rules and Customs of Hanukkah are enacted by the Rabbis of the Talmud besides the lighting of lights?

A. 25 Kislev for eight days, Hallel & Thanksgiving (Al HaNisim) Prayers; no eulogies or fasting

Q. What are the TWO reasons that Hanukkah is 8 days long?

A. The miracle of the oil
Recelebration of Sukkot and Sh’mini Atzeret, which was missed a few months previous.