Edition 36
Feb.-March 2001   Adar 5761 Vol. 4 Edition 2
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An Epic Century of Jewish Life
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Hanukkah means dedication (see Lowin's article on the root kh-n-c). According to Pesikta Rabbati, a medieval midrash on the festivals, the festival of Hanukkah commemorates more than one great event in the historical evolution of the Jewish people. There are, in fact, seven Hanukkot.

And they are

1

Dedication marking the covenant of Creation: "when the heavens and earth were completed" (Bereshit/Genesis 2:1); "completed" refers to dedication, as it is written "and when the work of the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting was completed" (Exodus 39).

2

Moshe's dedication, "on the day Moses completed building the tabernacle" (Numbers 7).

3

The dedication of the First Temple, as it is written "A psalm and song at the dedication of the House of David" (Psalms 30).

4

The dedication of the Second Temple, as it is written "And they brought sacrifices in celebration of the dedication of the House of God" (Ezra 7).

5

The dedication of the wall, as it written "And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, they sought all the Levites from all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to rejoice in the dedication (Nehemiah 12).

6

This dedication, the dedication of the priests of the House of the Hasmoneans, the one we celebrate now with lighting a lamp.

7

The dedication in the world to come, where there will also be many candles, as it is written: "The light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days" (Isaiah 30).


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