Judaica Specialties || Discounted Ritual & Jewish Gifts

Chanukah! Hanukah! Hanukkah! No matter how you spell it, Chanukah is a holiday of renewed faith, hope and spiritual rejuvenation. “Chanukah” is the Hebrew term for rededication, and its holiday is a time to reflect and say, "Never lose hope." Also known as the Festival of Lights, Chanukah is observed for eight days, and begins on the evening of the twenty-fifth day of the month of Kislev. Eight days of merriment and eight days of gifts, eight days of latkes, donuts, and gelt every night: we can’t think of anything better!

Chanukah has evolved into an elaborately festive holiday (even more so than the jubilant Purim)! Manufacturers have recognized this and are now providing more Chanukah related themed items…and not all of them are blue! Judaica Specialties is proud to offer you a wide selection of the finest Chanukah merchandise. This year some of our newest items are Hanukkah houses, artful glass menorahs from Tamara Baskin and tons and tons of tchokes for children of all ages! We just want to snuggle up to the fuzzy bear with the light up menorah in his chest; he is a perfect gift for any Bubbe to give her grandbaby. For couples that share the faith of Judaism and another faith we have hand blown Polonaise glass ornaments in Jewish Stars, dreidels and Menorahs, perfect for a Chanukah bush or shared holiday tree. On that note, remember to pick up some Chanukah socks or a crystal tipped Star of David pin to show your holiday pride: Santa and Rudolph can be pretty mean rivals! And in all of our sections you will find a plethora of gift ideas for any family or friends you might be visiting for the holidays.

But why all the festivity? In 165 BCE, Jewish revolutionaries known as the Maccabees declared victory over the Syrian Greeks, who had held been a military super power and had not let the Jews practice their religion. In the process of restoring Jerusalem, the Jewish people found their temple completely desecrated. The Jews set about restoring and cleaning their holy place of worship, and on the twenty-fifth day of the month of Kislev, they were through. Once the temple was ready for rededication, the Jews desired to light the eternal light (N’er Tamid), which was a flame that burned in every Jewish household. Once lit the flame was not to be extinguished, yet all the oil that could be found was only enough for one day. The flame was lit regardless, and then a miraculous event occurred: the flame kept burning for eight days, the exact amount of time it took them to prepare more oil! Thus the temple was rededicated.

The Festival of Lights is commemorated by the lighting of the Chanukah lamp (Hanukiah), a type of menorah that contains eight candleholders plus a shamash (master light). The holiday begins by the lighting of one candle on the first night of Chanukah. On each subsequent night, an additional candle is lit.

Other old and cherished Chanukah customs include spinning the dreidel, eating scrumptious latkes, and giving gelt. Dreidels were originally designed before the Macabee Revolt in order to fool Syrian soldiers, and are now used to commemorate the miracle that occurred at the temple (read more about dreidels in our Dreidel Section!). Latkes are potato pancakes fried in vegetable oil; the oil is symbolic and serves as a reminder of the miracle oil from the temple so long ago. These treats are served hot and crispy on the outside and are often dipped in applesauce or sour cream. “Gelt" is a Yiddish term for "money." After the Temple was recaptured, Syria's King Antiochus VII declared to Simon the Macabee that he and his people had the right to mint their own coins. This new right was a profound statement of the Jews’ newfound independence, and soon coins were created that portrayed the Menorah on one side and the Table of Shew Bread on the other, both symbols of the restored Temple. Today, Chanukah gelt can be savings bonds, checks, cash or even small chocolate coins wrapped in gold foil. Most often a few coins are saved for charity and put into a tzedakah box.