festivals4

During the service the youngest child asks his father the "Four Questions" about the why and wherefore of the celebration of Passover. The Haggadah, in a quaint folklore style, describes four kinds of sons who might be asking these questions: the wise son, the wicked son, the fool and the child still unable to phrase the questions properly. To the last one especially the father must patiently and lovingly "explain the matter fully, as it is said. And thou shalt relate to thy son fully on that day". In this manner, not only the memory of the liberation but also an understanding of its significance would be forever preserved among all generations of Jews.

Hanukkah
Hanukkah, which means "Feast of Lights", is celebrated in
November-December just about the same time as Christmas.
The festival begins with the lighting of the first candle of the
eight branched Menorah. It is celebrated for eight days with
the kindling of an additional candle each successive night until
all are burning bright. Known also as the Days of Dedication,
hanukkah commemorates the Maccabean triumph for religious
freedom more than 2,000 years ago. As chronicled in the Book
of Maccabees, Judas Maccabeus and his forces triumphed
over the Syrian King Antiochus, who had attempted to force
paganism upon the Jews. When the Maccabees recaptured
Jerusalem and rededicated the Holy temple, they found oil
seemingly sufficient for only one day. But it burned for eight days. From this are derived the traditions and symbolism of Hanukkah. The holiday is basically a home festival and one that weaves a special magic for children. There are the gifts (one each night), and the Hanukkah "gelt" (money, mostly gold candy coins, from relatives); the spinning of the "dredil" (a square-sided top inscribed with the Hebrew translation for "A great miracle happened here"), and mother's "latkes" (potato pancakes fried in symbolic oil). There are the games, the dances and the songs. In Israel, there has recently been established a torch ceremony. The torch is lit on the first day of Hanukkah in Modin, the home of the Maccabees, and relayed by runners throughout the country until it finally reaches Mount Herzl near Jerusalem, which is the site of Herzl's tomb. To Jews in all ages, the story of Hanukkah dramatically demonstrates that there was no force in the world that could succeed in crushing the free and dedicated spirit in man.

The Sabbath
The Sabbath is a day of peace and joy for the Jew, not of
solemnity. During the later days of the Temple, the advent and
departure of the Sabbath was announced by priests blowing on
golden trumpets, and no mourning took place in the home. The
observance of the Sabbath is ushered in late on Friday after-
noon. Not later than eighteen minutes before the sun sets in
western sky, the mistress of the home (generally wife or
mother), lights the Sabbath candles and recites a benediction.
Ehen the father returns from the special synagogue services
after dark, he blesses the children and recites the kiddush
(sanctification) over a goblet of wine. This is the moment when,
no matter how poor, how downtrodden of how rejected a man
may be in the world, he achieves dignity and human stature. On the Sabbath, even the most lowly Jew is a king, his wife--a queen, his sons--princes royal. According to Jewish belief, the Lord blessed and hallowed the Sabbath day (the seventh), the day on which he rested after creating the world. It was to be designated as Sabbath, which in Hebrews means "rested". The hallowing of the day was ordered in the Ten Commandments, so that it might serve as part of the Covenant of Israel with the Lord.
There is an allegory in the Talmud concerning the Sabbath. The six days of the week stood joined together--only the Sabbath day was left standing solitary and apart. The Sabbath ends after the Marrib, or evening service, in the synagogue with the Habdalah or "Separation" ceremony, which is repeated later in the home. A candle is lit and then, filling a goblet to overflowing with wine, the worshiper intones a prayer. After reciting the benediction, he opens the spice box which is used in the Habdalah ceremony. The smelling of the spices, in which the entire family joins, is a symbolic act, a wishful prayer that the week which lies ahead my be free from care and grief, may be sweet-smelling as the spices and may delight the heart and sustain the spirit.