B"H
Tuesday, Kislev 12, 5780 / December 10, 2019
In less than two weeks, Sunday night, December 22, Jews all over the world will light the first Chanukah candle, thus, beginning the eight day holiday of Chanukah – The Holiday of Lights.
Many times I get the following question: “Why do the Jewish holidays vary from year to year? Why do the dates for Passover, Rosh Hashana, Chanukah etc. change from year to year?”
The truth is that on the Hebrew calendar, the holidays are on the exact same day every year.
For example, Chanukah always begins on the twenty fifth day in the month of Kislev. On the Hebrew calendar the day begins not from midnight, as in the civil calendar, but from nightfall. Thus, on Sunday evening, which is the twenth fourth of Kislev, we will light the first Chanukah candle. The dates change only on the civil calendar!
One of the reasons for the name Chanukah is that it combines two words, Chanu (they rested) – Kah (has a numerical value of 25). Chanukah ia always on the 25th day of Kislev.
Q. Why can’t the Hebrew and civil calendar be synchronized?
A. The Hebrew calendar year has 354 days, while the civil calendar has 365 days. This is the reason why the Jewish holidays will differ from year to year on the secular calendar.
Q. Why do we light the Chanukah candles near a window, door or in public places?
A. The reason is to publicize the miracle of Chanukah for everyone to see.
Q. We don’t publicize the miracles of the Exodus or Purim by performing the Seder, or reading the megillah near a window. Why do we have to publicize the miracle of the Chanukah lights?
A. The miracles of the Exodus and Purim were witnessed by all Jews; it affected everyone and was celebrated by everyone as their personal miracle. But, the miracle of the oil, took place inside the Holy Temple.
Only the Kohanim (priests) were allowed to enter the Temple and as a result the miracle of the oil was not visible to the public. For this reason, the rabbis decreed that we should perform the lighting of the menorah in a way that the miracle will be publicized to everyone.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY