Happy Hannukkah

[DrDalek6]

Hey guys don't know whether this is the right place for this but, since the Jewish calendar is Lunar it means that we are currently midway through Hannukkah the Jewish Festival of Lights. We celebrate it as a remembrance of the Jews 3 year fight to win back Jerusalem from the men of Greek King Antiochus who forbid them from practising their religion and executed anyone found who hadn't converted, it also celebrates how they restored the Temple whch was defiled and when they came to light the sveen branched candlestick kown as the Menorah  they foudn they only had enough oil to keep it lit for one day so they prayed that it would stay lit until they could find more oil. The oil did last for 8 nights until they found more oil which is why we celebrate by lighting a version of the Menorah with 8 candles and the Shamash which is used to light the other candles, we do this for 8 nights starting in most hoseholds by lighting one candle on the first night and adding an extra candle each night, it's for this reason why we're also encouraged to eat latkes (fried potatoe pancakes), doughnuts and other foods cooked in oil to remind us of the miracle



As you can see everyone's excited most of them have never seen a Menorah before





It's not easy getting the candles up there if you're a Klicky not to mention the matches

[DrDalek6]

The main reason I wanted to share these photos with folks is because I really enjoy this Festival lsitening to my old cassette of kids Hannukkah songs even though the recording on my MP3 plus Hannukkah Gelt player is really quiet and terrible quality plus I know very little Hebrew so it sounds terrible when I sing along  but, it's great getting dounghnuts and 8 nights of smaller presents as well as Hannukkah Gelt (money) both real still £10 from my Grandma and chocolate coins from my Mum  for my part I encourage multiculturalism in the best way by buying doughnuts and chocolaate coins for the guys at work amkes a change from biscuits and mince pies and they're cheap.



Oh yes and there is this a Dreidel called Sevivon in Hebrew, according to tradition it was used when Jews were studying th Torah (Jewish Holy Book) in secret and when Greek Guards were spotted they hid the Torah and pretended to play a gambling game so they wouldn't be caught and punished. The letters on each side are the Hebrew letters Nes Gaddol Haya Sham which mean A Great Miracle Happened There. You can also play a game with the Dreidel by using some form of tokens or coins and distributing an equal amount to each player and leaving some in the centre/pot in which case the letters on each side correspond with a intstruction to take some of the coins or put some back in the pot, there's even a nice Dreidel song. My Dreidel is one I finished making just a few weeks ago out of a piece of Sycamore wood I found in the wood bag at BTCV I always wanted to make a Dreidle since getting the idea to start wood carving and this looked such a good shape and size I couldn't resist trying it the letters aren't as clear as I hoped but, for a first attempt I'm really pleased.

 

Anyway hope you all like the photos sorry if I bored you going over the top with information, Happy Hannukkah from me and the gang 

[playmovictorian]

Happy Hannukkah dear Friend 

Thank you so much for the information 

Karim

[basilsdad]

Happy Hannukkah!  Looks like you are in very good company tonight.     It is important to keep traditions learned and loved in our childhood going.  Thanks so much for sharing your memories with us. 

Joe

[playmofire]

Happy Hannukkah, Scott, and thank you for the background information and enjoy the rest of Hannukkah. 

[tahra]

Thanks for the informative post   Those coins look tasty!

Love the "dreidel" (guess you're really good at carving/sculpting and such) - had no idea you called it that. I remember a similar game with a spin just like that.

And.... details on the bald guy please?

[sunflower]

Nice pictures and beautiful Menorah!

Happy Hannukkah 

[DrDalek6]

Happy Hannukkah dear Friend 

Thank you so much for the information 

Karim

Thank you very much mate 

Happy Hannukkah!  Looks like you are in very good company tonight.     It is important to keep traditions learned and loved in our childhood going.  Thanks so much for sharing your memories with us. 

Joe

Thanks mate with these guys I will always be in good company one of these days I must test out some ideas to make some of my little guys a Kippah/Yamicah which is the little skullcap worn by orthodox Jews and making it sit right on the back of their heads. I think it's very important to keep the things we associate with our childhood and our memories alive and going and also religous traditions going alive and well and pass it on to the next generation.                                                                               

Happy Hannukkah, Scott, and thank you for the background information and enjoy the rest of Hannukkah. 

Thanks you mate everyone at BTCV enjoyed the chocolate doughnuts and coins I brought in yesterday all the doughnuts were gone and there were only 2 coins left so a definite hit 

Thanks for the informative post   Those coins look tasty!

Love the "dreidel" (guess you're really good at carving/sculpting and such) - had no idea you called it that. I remember a similar game with a spin just like that.

And.... details on the bald guy please?

Thanks I don't know about being skilled at carving I only started in October and my first attempt at a letter opener well let's just say it went well until I got a bit over excited at the last stages  the last one's considerably better as I left it middway through to do my Dreidel and went back to it with a clearer calmer head and hand but, I'm still definately a beginner, I just wanted so much to do it right that I toook my time taking a bit of each of the sloping sides each evening until they met in the middle but, I'm quite pleased with the result when I get suitable sixed wood I think I'll make some more. Below is the link to the English part of the Dreidel song I'm not keen on the guy singing it he sounds a bit monotone to me but, it gives you the idea of the song and the lyrics

http://www.chabad.org/multimedia/media_cdo/aid/797123/jewish/Dreidel-Song.htm

As for the bald fella I made him pretty much entirely out of the parts you sent me I'm going to introduce him in a few days time but, I haven't done it sooner as he's a custom figure to look like one of the guys at BTCV and I'm hoping to show him to the guy he represents in real life and post a comparison shot so keep a look out for more coming soon 

Nice pictures and beautiful Menorah!

Happy Hannukkah 

Thank you the Menorah is indeed a beautiful piece and something which has been in our family and part of Hannukkah for as long as I can remember it looks even more beatuiful when lit up with multi coloured candles all lit and burning except possibly when one decides to go all lopsided and melt into a glob       

   

[playmofire]

Love the "dreidel" (guess you're really good at carving/sculpting and such) - had no idea you called it that. I remember a similar game with a spin just like that.

It's a sort of spinning top.