(1.) By lighting חנוכה lights, one on the first evening, and adding one light each successive evening, so that on the eighth evening eight lights are kindled.
(2.) By giving expression to our feeling of gratitude in psalms (הלל) and prayers of thanks (על הנסים).
In the Morning Service a few verses from Num. vii., on the dedication of the Altar, are read. On Sabbath Chanuccah, Zechariah’s vision, Zech. ii. 10 to iii. 7, including the vision of the golden candlestick, is read as haphtarah; and if there happen to be a second Sabbath Chanuccah, 1 Kings vii. 40–50, a description of the various vessels and ornaments in the Temple of Solomon is read on that Sabbath.
Note 1.—The חנוכה lights remind us, in the first place, of the reopening of the Temple and the resumption of the regular Temple Service. But they are also intended to remind us of the light of our holy faith, which Antiochus Epiphanes attempted in vain to extinguish. For it shed forth its light again, and shone brighter and brighter every successive day. We thus learn that when our religion is imperilled, firmness against temptation or force is sure to lead to success and victory.
2. Before lighting the Chanuccah lights the following blessings are said: ברוך … אשר קדשנו … להדליק נר של חנוכה “Blessed art thou … who hast sanctified us by thy commandments and hast commanded us to kindle the lights of Chanuccah.” [[411]]ברוך … שעשה נסים לאבותינו בימים ההם בזמן הזה “Blessed art thou … who wroughtest miracles for our fathers in days of old at this season.” On the first night שהחינו is added.
פורים Purim.
פורים or “Feast of Lots,” is celebrated on the 14th and the 15th of Adar (second Adar in a leap-year), in commemoration of the defeat of Haman’s wicked plans. Haman was chief minister to Ahasuerus, king of Persia, and planned to kill all the Jews in the Persian Empire, but the Almighty frustrated his designs through the agency of Mordecai and his cousin Esther. The Feast is called Purim, that is, “lots,” because Haman had cast lots in order to discover the day most favourable to his plans.
We celebrate Purim—
(1.) By reading twice, once during the Evening Service and once during the Morning Service, the Book of Esther (מגלת אסתר), which contains the history of Haman’s plans and their frustration. The reading is preceded by the following blessing: ברוך … אשר קדשנו … על מקרא מגלה “Blessed art thou … who hast sanctified us by thy commandments and hast commanded us to read the Megillah.” ברוך … שעשה נסים לאבותינו בימים ההם בזמן הזה “Blessed art thou … who wroughtest miracles for our fathers in days of old at this season,” and שהחינו.
(2.) By giving presents to our friends (משלוח מנות) and gifts to the poor (מתנות לאביונים).