Happy Chanukah

[wolf bite]

 Starts today.

*Lights a candle*


Wolf Bite

[Gen. Volkov]

 So put on your yamaca its time for Chanukah. Have a happy happy happy happy Chanukah!

[Kilkenne]

 *Gets/gives a few presents after coming home from school...*

woot Chanukah!

*Excited, though he'll be home around 12 tonight...that doesnt matter...Still Chanuka!*

[wolf bite]

 I have always felt that both Jews and Christians should celebrate Chanukah. After all, Jesus celebrated it I believe, so those that are ?Christ believers? should at least take note of the yearly occurrence.

Almost all people in the world know what the meaning of Christmas is, but few non-Jews know the meaning of Chanukah. Most seem to think of it as 8 days when Jews spin tops and eat chocolate shaped like coins. I know the story, but some of my facts may be a bit off like the year, name of the town, etc. So I invite someone to post an upbeat story.

*Puts pillows on the floor for everyone to sit on and wait for a story teller*


Wolf Bite

[wolf bite]

 This topic almost got lost as no one seemed to know the story, I found a good one on the web. This story is 2,300 years old:

Long ago in the land of Judea there was a Syrian king, Antiochus. The king ordered the Jewish people to reject their G-d, their religion, their customs and their beliefs and to worship the Greek gods. There were some who did as they were told, but many refused. One who refused was Judah Maccabee

Judah and his four brothers formed an army and chose as their name the word "Maccabee", which means hammer. After three years of fighting, the Maccabees were finally successful in driving the Syrians out of Israel and reclaimed the Temple in Jerusalem. The Maccabees wanted to clean the building and to remove the hated Greek symbols and statues. On the 25th day of the month of Kislev, the job was finished and the temple was rededicated

When Judah and his followers finished cleaning the temple, they wanted to light the eternal light, known as the N'er Tamid, which is present in every Jewish house of worship. Once lit, the oil lamp should never be extinguished

Only a tiny jug of oil was found with only enough for a single day. The oil lamp was filled and lit. Then a miracle occurred as the tiny amount of oil stayed lit not for one day, but for eight days

Jews celebrate Chanukah to mark the victory over the Syrians and the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple. The Festival of the Lights, Chanukah, lasts for eight days to commemorate the miracle of the oil. The word Chanukah means "rededication"

(Thanks to http://www.holidays.net/chanukah/)


Wolf Bite