The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-02
OBSERVE HANUKKAH
GREAT JEWISH FEAST WAS
OPENED SATURDAY.
Will Continue with Solemn Services for
Eight Days-Commemorates Macca-
bees Victory Over Syrian Hosts.

The feast Of Hanukkah among the
Jewish residents in this city opened Sat
urday at sunset and will continue for eight
days.
The feast day was ushered in by light
ing a special candle called the Eight of
Hanukkah." The word means "dedica-
tion." and the feast is to commemorate
the victories of the Maccabees over the
hosts of Syria, the trlumphal reentry into
the holy city of Jerusalem, and the cleans
ing Of the temple from the idols that had
been set up In the sacred precincts of the
great city. which is the cherished centre
of every true Israellte's religion.
The occasion was one that aroused the
residents of the Holy City at the time,
and they drove the hateful Antiochus far
from the boarders of the holy land and
opened up a new era for the Jews in
Palestine.
Hanukksh is also called Feast of
Lights" because on the evening before the
first day of the feast. one light is kindled
alike in synagogue and home, and every
following night the number of lights IS in
creased by one, until on the eighth night
every house and synagogue has its eight
lights all burning. The kindling of the
lights is in memory of the following Incl
dent at the time of the Maccabees. in the
second century before Christ:
When the priests entered the temple to
purify the holy places profaned by the
Syrians, hey could not find any ritually
prepared oil with which to light the "Ner
Tamid," or Perpetual" At last, by diut
of much searching, they found a small
cruise of consecrated and unpolluted oil
which had been sealed and hidden for some
such occasion as this. Through n miracle
this cruise lasted for IN entire week.
On the Hanukkah evenings 1t has
long been the custom to indulge in
games and other pastimes. The most pop
ular game in Germany, Austria and Poland
was, and is yet in some parts. the "Tren-
del" Qrom the German ''drehen'D. 1t Is
played with a revolving die, on the four
sides of which are the Hebrew letters cor
responding with G, II. N and S. In He
brew, these are the initial letters of the
sentence Mes Godol Hoyo Shumr "a great
miracle happened there. Each player puts
a certain amount into n pool and then
spins the die, which is pierced with a pivot.
When the die falls showing the letter G ON
the top, the person who played takes the
whole stakes. the letter indicating gam. -
In the eight days of the feast, the Hallel,
or service of praise, is included in the
prayers.
At the Temple B'nai Jeshurun special
services will be held next Friday even
ing at s o'clock and Saturday morn
ing at 10. There will be sermons appro-
pirate to the occasion The Hanukkah
hymn, I'VE viii Praise. o Lord. Thy
Grace will be sung. 1t is a translation
from an ancient Hebrew source. On Sun
day, December s, at 2;s0 p. M, there will
be a Hanukknh service for tn children Of
the religious school.
At the Synagogue B'nai Abraham, on
Friday evening, December G, the Hanuk-
kah lights will be kindled. Seven of the
eight candles in the candelabra will be
lighted, that, being the seventh day of the
festival. On December s. the last day of
the festival. there will be a children's cele-
bration of Hanukkah at 2;30 p. III. All the
lights will be kindled by the children. who
will conduct the entire service. At its
close each child will receive a box Of
candy, according to yearly custom.
AT 8 o'clock yesterday afternoon q
Hanukkah festival service for children was
held at the Synagogue Oheb Sholom. The
Hanukkah prayers and psalms will also be
recited at the regular services next Friday
at s p. m. and Saturday morning at 9:45.
At the Synagogue Anshe Russia there
will DO no additional services. The
prayers and psalms will be recited
at the services next Friday evening and
Saturday morning. At this synagogue
there are daily gatherings for prayer
throughout the year between 8 and 10 a. IN.
Az the Synagogue Mishnayes there is
daily morning and evening service, the
services at this season being at $50 a. m
and 5 D. m. Special prayers and psalms
will be recited each day during the festi-
val