Why do we spin dreidels on Hanukkah?
What is a dreidel? A dreidel is a spinning top with four sides, each inscribed with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The letters form an acronym for the Hebrew saying Nes Gadol Hayah Sham, which can be translated to “a great miracle happened there,” referring to the miracle which Hanukkah is centered around.
What was the maccabeats first song?
Shine
Original songs For Hanukkah 2012, the Maccabeats released their first original song, “Shine”.
Where are the maccabeats from?
New York, New York, United States
The Maccabeats/Origin
Is dreidel only for Hanukkah?
While not mandated (a mitzvah) for Hanukkah (the only traditional mitzvot are lighting candles and saying the full hallel), spinning the dreidel is a traditional game played during the holiday. Astronaut Jeffrey A. Hoffman spun a dreidel made by the renowned Israeli silversmith Gideon Hay for an hour in outer space.
Are all the maccabeats married?
The wildly popular Jewish a capella group, which originated at Yeshiva University, brought a personal touch to this year’s video, discussing their incredible 10-year journey. Eight members of the original group appear in “Candles on the Sill,” most of whom are now married and have children.
What are the maccabeats names?
Mordy Prus (from left), Julian Horowitz, Ari Lewis, Noah Jacobson and Emmanuel Shalev are some of the members of The Maccabeats, an Orthodox Jewish a cappella group.
Are the maccabeats married?
What’s the point of a dreidel?
The dreidel game is one of the most famous Hanukkah traditions. It was created as a way for Jews to study the Torah and learn Hebrew in secret after Greek King Antiochus IV had outlawed all Jewish religious worship in 175 BCE. Today we play as a way to celebrate a rich history and have fun with friends and family!
Do you receive presents on Hanukkah?
“It’s not historically part of Hanukkah at all.” In that, gift-giving on Hanukkah is not unlike gift-giving on Christmas — it has little, if anything, to do with the religious requirements of the celebration. This makes Hanukkah less important religiously than other holidays like Passover, Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah.
Why was Hanukkah important to the Maccabees?
At Hanukkah, shifting the focus from militarism to miracles. Pronounced: KHAH-nuh-kah, also ha-new-KAH, an eight-day festival commemorating the Maccabees’ victory over the Greeks and subsequent rededication of the temple. Falls in the Hebrew month of Kislev, which usually corresponds with December.
How did the Maccabees keep the menorah lit for one day?
The Talmud says that after the forces of Antiochus IV had been driven from the Temple, the Maccabees discovered that almost all of the ritual olive oil had been profaned. They found only a single container that was still sealed by the High Priest, with enough oil to keep the menorah in the Temple lit for a single day.
Is there a story similar to Hanukkah in the Bible?
A story similar in character, and older in date, is the one alluded to in 2 Maccabees 1:18–1:36 according to which the relighting of the altar fire by Nehemiah was due to a miracle which occurred on the 25th of Kislev, and which appears to be given as the reason for the selection of the same date for the rededication of the altar by Judah Maccabee.
What did the rabbis say about the eight days of Hanukkah?
The Rabbis taught: Pronounced: KISS-lev, Origin: Hebrew, Jewish month usually coinciding with November-December. begin the eight days of Hanukkah, on which lamentation for the dead and fasting are forbidden.