Chanukah begins this coming Friday night (11th December) and lasts eight days.
1. A highlight of our New London calendar is the annual Chanukah Party which will take place next Sunday, 13th December, from 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm. It will be a wonderful afternoon and is one of the few occasions in the year when the whole New London family, from babies to seniors, can come together for a truly trans-generational social event.
The programme will include Games, Candle Lighting, Singing and Crafts for all ages, and of course a truly scrumptious tea with latkes and doughnuts.
The children of the Cheder will be performing a play at 2.30 pm, and anyone who has been to one of the excellent productions by our Headteacher, Suzannah Alexander, know we are in for a treat.
We are grateful to Margot Schwartz and her helpers for once again working tirelessly to create the party and also to Jon Kay who is catering the tea.
Everyone is welcome and there is no charge for this event.
2. On Friday week, 18th December, there will be a Shabbat meal for the whole community, hosted by Minyan Chadash to celebrate the last night of Chanukah. The Kabbalat Shabbat service is at 6:30pm, followed by the dinner to which evryone at New London is invited.
Our communal Shabbat Dinners are always a delight and we are grateful to the Minyan Chadash for taking on the organisation of this event. If you came to the last dinner in October, you will know that you are in for a treat! This time we are having a traditional chicken dinner so the price will be a little more
The cost will be £18 (students/children £12, non-members £20) including wine. Please book soon by phoning the office no later than Wednesday 16th December. We cannot take bookings after this date as it is not possible at that point to order extra food from our caterers.
3. On Thursday 17th December at 5.00 pm, we are hosting the residents at Ellis Franklin House for tea and Chanukah Candle lighting in their lounge. It would be lovely if some members of NLS would join us. Just come along if you can.
4. A Guide to Chanukah In The Home
The Talmud describes Chanukah as a holiday of "praise and thanksgiving" in commemoration of the miraculous overthrow of the Syrian Greeks, the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem, and the single cruse of oil that lasted eight days. Chanukah's festive atmosphere derives almost entirely from home ritual and customs and is dominated by light as a metaphor for spiritual freedom. This is emphasized by special holiday songs, games, and foods.
The defining act of Chanukah is to kindle the lights of the Chanukiyah, the eight-branched candelabrum. One light is kindled on the first night; an additional light is added each succeeding night, so that eight lights are kindled on the eighth night. In general the lights should be kindled immediately after sundown. Three blessings are recited before the lighting on the first night and the first two are also recited on each of the seven subsequent nights. The Shehecheyanu blessing is recited on the first day only.
On Friday night the Chanukah lights are lit before the Sabbath candles (and before sundown). On Saturday night we light before Havdalah.
The first candle is placed on the right side of the Menorah as the person lighting the Menorah looks at it. The second candle (on the second night) is placed directly to the left of the place occupied by the first candle, and so on, always moving leftward, The kindling starts on the left and moves toward the right, Thus the first candle to be lit each day is the new candle for that day. haneirot halalu, is sung while kindling the lights, followed by maoz tzur. The Menorah should be placed where it is visible from outside the house in order to proclaim the miracle of Chanukah to all passers-by--l'farsumei nisah.
In addition to the candles that are lit for each day, there is an extra candle known as the shamash, necessary because the Chanukah lights themselves should not be used for kindling other lights, as we say in the passage Haneirot halalu, ‘These lights are holy and we are not permitted to use them in any way.’
The Chanukah service can be found on page 705 in the Singer's Siddur.
Transliteration of the Chanukah service.
1. Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech Ha-olam Asher Kid’shanu B’mitsvotv V’tsivanu Lehadlik Ner Shel Chanukah.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, Whose commandments sanctify us, and has commanded us to kindle the lights of Chanukah.
2. Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech Ha-olam She-asa Nisim La-avoteinu Ba-yamim Ha-heim Baz’man Ha-zeh.
Blessed are you, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who wrought miracles for our ancestors in days of old, at this time of year.
3. (first night only) Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech Ha-olam She-hecheyanu Ve-kiy’manu V’higi'anu La-z’man Ha-zeh.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who has kept us alive, and has preserved us, and enabled us to reach this time.
Haneirot halalu
Haneirot halalu anachnu madlikin, Al hanisim v'al hat’shu-ot val hanifla-ot. She-asita la'avoteinu al y'dei kohanecha hak’doshim. Vechol sh’monat y’mei Chanukah haneirot halalu kodesh, V'ein lanu r’shut lehishtameish bahem ela lirotam bilvad. K’dei l’hodot l’shimcha al nisecha v’al y’shu-atecha v’al nifl’otecha.
We light these lights for the miracles and the redemption and the wonders,that You made for our ancestors through Your holy priests. During all eight days of Chanukah these lights are sacred and we are not permitted to make ordinary use of them, but only to look at them; in order to express thanks and praise to Your great Name for Your miracles, Your wonders and Your salvations.
The First Verse of Ma’oz Tzur
Ma'oz tsur y'shu'ati l'cha na'eh l'shabei-ach.
Tikon beit t'filati v'sham todah n'zabei-ach.
L'eit tachin matbei-ach mitsar ham'nabei-ach,
Az egmor b'shir mizmor chanukat hamizbei-ach.
Fortress Rock of my Salvation it is pleasant to sing Your praises
Restore my House of Prayer and there we will offer you our thanks
When you have utterly silenced the blaspheming foe
Then I will celebrate with song and psalm the dedication of the altar
For sheet music and electronic files of Maoz Tzur, please see
http://www.chazzanut.com/chanukah.html |
