For our large selection of Hanukkah Menorahs see our
Menorah Store.
Welcome to our Hanukkah Judaica Store! The Hanukkah store at HHjudaica.com features all sorts of Hanukkah gifts and products. We have Hanukkah party supply, Hanukkah decoration, decoration for outdoor. Our store also features all sorts of Chanukah Candle. Having guest for your Hanukkah dinner or meal and need Hanukah gelt gifts or need some great Hanukkah gifts idea? Browse our online store and you will find all your Hanukkah gift giving needs. Whether you are looking for a Hanukkah Draidel, Hanukkah toys or just a Hanukkah decoration you will find it in our online Chanukah Store.
The Judaica market is full of Hanukkah products which can sometimes overwhelm the consumer. At our Hanukkah store we have hand picked a large collection of the best selling Hanukkah Gifts and products to ensure you with a pleasant and enjoyable shopping experience.
Want to know all about Chanukah tradition, Hanukkah story, when is Hanukkah or the Hanukkah history? See our information section on Chanukah below.
All about Hanukkah
When was the Hanukkah Festival first celebrated?
Hanukkah was first celebrated in the year of 165 BCE.
What was the story of Chanukah?
The miracle of Hanukkah is described in the Talmud. The Gemarah, in tractate Shabbat (21b) explains that after the occupiers had been driven from the Temple Mount, the Maccabees discovered that almost all of the ritual olive oil had been rendered un-clean. They found only a single container that was still sealed by the High Priest, with enough oil to keep the Menorah in the Temple burning for one day. They used this oil, and miraculously, that oil burned for eight days (eight days was the time it took to have new oil processed and made ready for use). Thus, to commemorate this miracle the Holiday of Chanukah was declared by the sages and is continued to be celebrated up until this very day
Who was the Occupiers of the Jewish Nation at that time?
Around 200 BCE the Jews lived as an autonomous people in the land of Israel, which at that time was controlled by the Seleucid king of Syria. The Jewish people paid their taxes to Syria and had accepted its legal authority. Although they were under the Syrian rule the Jews were free to follow their own faith, Study the Bible and Talmud and to go about with their own Jewish rituals.
By 175 BCE Antiochus IV Epiphanes ascended to the Seleucid throne. At the beginning of his monarchy little changed, but under his reign Jews were gradually forced to violate the precepts of their faith. They Jewish nation was forced to desecrate the Shabbat, Circumcision was outlawed and the Jews were banned from celebrating any Jewish Holiday. The Jews rebelled at all these decrees. Under the reign of Antiochus IV, the Temple in Jerusalem was looted, Jews were massacred, and Judaism was completely outlawed.
In 167 BCE Antiochus ordered that an altar be erected in the Temple in Jerusalem. Mattathias, a Jewish priest, and his five sons Jochanan, Simon, Eleazar, Jonathan, and Judah led a rebellion against Antiochus. Judah became known as Judah Maccabee. By 166 BCE Mattathias had died, and Judah took his place as leader. By 165 BCE the Jewish revolt against the Seleucid monarchy was successful. The Temple was liberated and rededicated. The festival of Hanukkah was instituted by Judah Maccabee and his brothers to celebrate this event. After recovering Jerusalem and the Temple, Judah ordered the Temple to be cleansed, a new altar to be built in place of the polluted one and new holy vessels to be made. It was then that the miracle of finding the clean vessel occurred and therefore the Holiday of Hanukkah was declared.
When should one light the Hanukkah Candles?
The Chanukah candles should be lit at the beginning of the night when it gets dark and should burn for at least one half hour after it gets dark. If for some reson one was not able to light the Chanukah Candles at the above mentioned time a local Rabbi should be consulted. There might be some Halachic (Jewish Code of Law) questions in regards to whether the blessings over the Hanukkah Candles can be recited.
On Friday night of Chanukah one is prohibited on lighting the candles after dark, therefor it should be lit before dusk using longer burning candles which will burn in to the night.
What Blessings are recited when lighting the Hanukkah Candles?
When lighting the Chanukah candles three blessings are recited. On the first night all three blessings are recited but on all other seven days of Chanukah only two blessings are recited omitting the blessing of thanking G-D for the arrival of the Hanukkah Holiday.
How many candles should one light each night of Chanukah?
On the first night of Hanukkah one should light only one candle plus the 'Shamash'(the candle used to ignite the other candles). On every night of Chanukah an additional Candle is lit. The reason for this is explained in the Talmud being that one should always go up hill and add to their performance and the duties of their Jewish customs and rituals.
Are there any special food that one should eat on Chanukah?
Unlike Passover when there is Matzah, on Hanukkah there is no special food. Over time many customs were introduced. In Israel and also in many communities, doughnuts are being served on Chanukah. The reason for this is to commemorate the miracle of the oil, and since doughnuts are fried in a lot of oil, this makes it a perfect Chanukah food. The more common custom is to eat cheese pancakes or potatoe pancakes on Hanukkah. The reason for this is also because it is fried in oil.
Are there any special Hanukkah songs?
There are many Chanukah songs. The most famous Hanukkah song is the 'Mo-az Tzur' which is chanted in all Jewish homes proceeding the lighting of the Chanukah Candles. There is also the famous song of 'Ha-nairot Halalu' which comes from the words one recites after the lighting of the candles.
Lighting the Chanukah Menorah with oil or candles vs. electric.
According to Jewish Code of Law one should light on Hanukkah the Menorah with oil or candles. Under certain circumstances were this is not possible, for example in hospitals etc., then an electric menorah can be lighted. A local rabbi should be consulted as to whether the blessings can be recited when lighting an Electric Menorah. Many people use the Electric Menorahs to light in their work places to give it a Hanukkah feeling, or they will use a Electric Menorah in conjunction with their Candle Menorah in order to be able to have a Menorah lit 24/7 on Chanukah.
How should the Hanukkah Holiday be celebrated over all?
Chanukkah is a time to get together with family and friends and connect to the past. It's a time for happiness and thanking G-D for all the miracles that he has bestowed upon the Jewish nation through out the generations.
This section of our Hanukkah Store has been compiled by one of our Hanukkah Store staff. We add this information for the benefit of our online Hanukkah Store visitors. We feel that this information on the Hanukkah story and Hanukkah history added to our Chanukah Store is a great addtion to our Store. This information adds meaning to the reason behind the Hanukkah food, the reason behind the Hanukkah songs, and the resond behind many Chanukah traditions. We find that many people visiting our store do not know the meaning of Hanukkah. We hope you enjoy the shopping experiance at our online Hanukkah Store. Happy with the Shopping experiance at our Chanukah Store? Pass on the information to your family and friends. Do you find that there is something that can be better at our store, maybe more Chanukah gifts, maybe a bigger selection of Hanukkah Decorations. We are ready to hear how we can make your experiance at our Hanukkah store better.
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