The Chanukah holiday begins tomorrow night, with the lighting of one Chanukah candle in every home in addition to the Sabbath candles. An additional candle is lit each night thereafter, culminating with eight on the last night. The holiday commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, in 164 BCE, after its desecration by King Antiochus of the ruling Seleucid (Syrian-Greek) Kingdom; the re-establishment of religious freedom for the Jewish people after a period of harsh repression; and the supremacy of Jewish tradition over Hellenist assimilationism.
Two Divine miracles in particular are remembered on Chanukah: the burning of the lone flask of kosher oil for eight full days in the Temple, and the victory of the "few against the many" in the Maccabees' revolt against the Syrian-Greeks.
Syrians and Greeks are also "celebrating" Chanukah, it appears. Arutz-7's Nissan Ratzlav-Katz reports that Syrian-Greek relations are gaining new strength, as Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad paid a visit to the Greek parliament this week. Greek President Konstandinos Stephanopoulos told reporters, "Today we receive President Bashar Al-Assad with warmest wishes and sincere feelings. Greece's relations with all the Arab states are good and firm, particularly with Syria with which we are bound by our traditional relations."
The Gesher organization, which works on behalf of religious-secular dialogue and understanding, has found that fully 92% of Israelis polled say they will or are likely to light Chanukah candles this year. "Even more amazing to us," Gesher Chairman Rabbi Dr. Daniel Tropper told Arutz-7 today, "was that 90% of those who are secular said that they are likely to light. This puts Chanukah at the top of the list in terms of Jewish identification with holidays, even more than Passover or Yom Kippur." Rabbi Tropper said he understands from this finding that "the secular public is looking for a bond with tradition... In light of the impression that we all have of widening social gaps, this is important news."
In honor of Chanukah, Gesher (Bridge) has initiated a campaign to collect toys for distribution to under-privileged families. Co-sponsoring the drive to help thousands of children who are not likely to receive traditional "Chanukah gelt" (money or gifts) are the Koach Latet (Strength to Give) and Acharai (Follow Me) organizations. Religious and non-religious youth from some 90 schools and youth movements have begun collecting the toys.
Two Divine miracles in particular are remembered on Chanukah: the burning of the lone flask of kosher oil for eight full days in the Temple, and the victory of the "few against the many" in the Maccabees' revolt against the Syrian-Greeks.
Syrians and Greeks are also "celebrating" Chanukah, it appears. Arutz-7's Nissan Ratzlav-Katz reports that Syrian-Greek relations are gaining new strength, as Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad paid a visit to the Greek parliament this week. Greek President Konstandinos Stephanopoulos told reporters, "Today we receive President Bashar Al-Assad with warmest wishes and sincere feelings. Greece's relations with all the Arab states are good and firm, particularly with Syria with which we are bound by our traditional relations."
The Gesher organization, which works on behalf of religious-secular dialogue and understanding, has found that fully 92% of Israelis polled say they will or are likely to light Chanukah candles this year. "Even more amazing to us," Gesher Chairman Rabbi Dr. Daniel Tropper told Arutz-7 today, "was that 90% of those who are secular said that they are likely to light. This puts Chanukah at the top of the list in terms of Jewish identification with holidays, even more than Passover or Yom Kippur." Rabbi Tropper said he understands from this finding that "the secular public is looking for a bond with tradition... In light of the impression that we all have of widening social gaps, this is important news."
In honor of Chanukah, Gesher (Bridge) has initiated a campaign to collect toys for distribution to under-privileged families. Co-sponsoring the drive to help thousands of children who are not likely to receive traditional "Chanukah gelt" (money or gifts) are the Koach Latet (Strength to Give) and Acharai (Follow Me) organizations. Religious and non-religious youth from some 90 schools and youth movements have begun collecting the toys.