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Hanukkah is the most widely celebrated American Jewish holiday, possibly because it is a fun, child-centered occasion. It is celebrated with excellent food, an exchange of gifts, and the lighting of beautiful menorahs (special Hanukkah candelabras) filled with brightly colored candles. Unlike some of the other Jewish holidays, which require intense spiritual reflection or elaborate preparation, it is easy to celebrate.
Many Jewish holidays commemorate events invested with
historical and religious meaning, and Hanukkah is no exception. Hanukkah means "rededication," and it commemorates the rededication of the Temple in
Jerusalem after its desecration by foreign forces. The
celebration also reaffirms the continuing struggle to
live by God's commandments and to lead Jewish lives.
When all is said and done, perhaps the most important
message of Hanukkah may be found in the name of the
holiday itself: Dedication. When Jews have dedicated
themselves, through faith and action, to the pursuit
of high religious and human ideals, Judaism has been
strong. That imperative, to strengthen our religion
and our people, remains an important challenge at this
season, in every generation. Hanukkah begins every year on the 25th of the Hebrew month of "Kislev." This year, the 25th of Kislev corresponds to the evening of December 21st, 2008.
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