Happy Chanukah (חֲנֻכָּה )

Snow Covered Chanukah Menorah*

Tonight (the 24th day of the month of Kislev in the Jewish calendar) at sunset starts Chanukah. This festival of lights celebrates the rededicated the temple in Jerusalem during the war with the Maccabees. As they rededicated the temple in Jerusalem they found a lamp with just enough oil to light for one night. But with a miracle the lamp stayed lit for 8 days and nights.
There is a special menorah for Chanukah with nine candles - one for the shamash (this one is lit and the others are lighted using the shamash) and 8 for all the days. There are no special colors for the candles. Most of the time the shamash is in the middle of the menorah but it can be at the beginning or set in front of it.
Last night President and Mrs. Obama, Vice President and Mrs. Biden started Chanukah early at the White house.


* image used with some rights reserved by Dominic's pics

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