How to Celebrate Hanukkah at Home | Part 2
When it comes to celebrating Hanukkah at home, it’s not just about how, but why. As we discovered in Part 1, Hanukkah speaks to our cultural moment with spiritual clarity, calling us to choose courage over compromise, not to mix the holy with the profane, and to behold our God, who brings miraculous provision, piercing the darkness with His Light.
When we take these spiritual truths to heart, we see the significance Hanukkah has in our lives as One New Man Believers. It’s in this heart posture that we explore the beautiful traditions and ways of celebrating Hanukkah at home.
Let’s talk about lighting the Hanukkiah, fun, traditional games to play, and the biblical numerology and significance of the eight nights of Hanukkah.
The Hanukkiah | Celebrating Hanukkah at Home
The Hanukkiah, a 9-branched menorah, is lit daily and is typically placed in a window or in a public view, serving as a personal declaration of faith and trust.
The traditional Temple menorah has seven branches representing creation. The 9-branched menorah is exclusive to the celebration of Hanukkah and the miracle of the oil. Discover more about the similarities and differences of each here.
Begin by lighting the middle candle, known as the “Shamash” or Servant candle. Then light an additional candle per night (one on the first night, two on the second night, and so on) until the Hanukkiah is fully lit.
Symbolism of the Light
- The Servant candle is used to light the other candles of the Hanukkiah. It is symbolic of the Messiah. Lighting this candle acknowledges that God is the source of all light, just as it is written in Genesis when Yahweh said, “Let there be light” (see Genesis 1:3)
- Lighting the Hanukkiah is a physical act that serves as a spiritual reminder of the importance of faith and maintaining your spiritual identity.
- We light the Hanukkiah as a reminder that we serve a God of miracles and miraculous provision.
- We light the Hanukkiah candles for eight nights (symbolic of new beginnings), having an opportunity to realign our lives with our Judeo-Christian roots. We are a people of faith without a compromised culture in our homes.
Lighting the Hanukkiah
Below is a list of the candles (note that the Servant candle is lit first, representing the Messiah) and the corresponding letter of the Hebrew alphabet associated with each. Each number and Hebrew letter is followed by a brief explanation.
- Aleph א (the first letter in the Hebrew alphabet)
When you light the first candle, you acknowledge that you choose to follow Father God. “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!” —Deuteronomy 6:4
- Bet ב (the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet)
When you light the second candle, you acknowledge that you choose to be in covenant agreement and unity with God. The number 2 is symbolic of the covenant (see Ephesians 2:14-22).
- Gimel ג (the third letter of the Hebrew alphabet)
When you light the third candle, you trust the strength and power of the trinity—the three-stranded cord of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (see Ecclesiastes 4:12).
- Dalet ד (the fourth letter of the Hebrew alphabet)
In Hebrew, dalet is symbolic of a ‘door.’ When you light the fourth candle, decree that the door to your heart opens, allowing the light of God into your life (see John 10:9). Declare, “Shine your light in me and through me, O Lord!”
- He ה (the fifth letter of the Hebrew alphabet)
The number 5 is symbolic of grace. When you light the fifth candle, know that the way forward is only by His grace (see Ephesians 2:8-9).
- Vav ו (the sixth letter of the Hebrew alphabet)
The number 6 represents man. When you light the sixth candle, it symbolizes reconciling with the reality that you are human, created in God’s image, and in need of Him (see Genesis 1:27).
- Zayen ז (the seventh letter of the Hebrew alphabet)
The number seven represents God’s perfect number or completion. When you light the seventh candle, you acknowledge that the only perfection for man is to receive Yeshua, the perfect One, and our righteousness is in Him alone (see Colossians 2:9-10).
- Het ח (the eighth letter of the Hebrew alphabet)
When you light the eighth candle, you celebrate the symbolism of new beginnings. Through the light of Messiah, you are a new creation, and He gives you new seasons and fresh starts (see 2 Corinthians 5:17). Through Him, you are One New Man—one new humanity and one new creation.
Understanding Growth and Blessing
Hosea 4:6 tells us that we are destroyed for a lack of knowledge. Opportunities for growth and blessing are directly tied to understanding. It is essential to recognize that when we fail to understand or practice something that reflects God’s truth, it does not negate the truth itself; rather, it means we are yet to grasp it.
In other words, this is not about legalism; it is about having the knowledge to access what is already yours.
The Word of God is a full opportunity to put into practice God’s instruction and reap a harvest of blessings.
For example:
- Isaiah 58:13-14 promises joy and fulfillment to those who keep the Sabbath.
- Malachi 3:10 promises an open Heaven for those who honor God with their finances.
- Isaiah 58:6-8 indicates that attending to the needs of the poor is crucial for releasing healing and restoration.
Hanukkah is an opportunity for us to reset, rededicate, and choose to fight for the truth for ourselves and His Kingdom.
Each night that we celebrate Hanukkah at home by lighting the candles, we are reminded of the importance of:
- Keeping our temples, which are our bodies, according to 1 Corinthians 6:19, clean and dedicated to God’s purpose. We do this by overseeing what goes in and what comes out. This includes words of repentance and praise.
- Keeping the oil in our spiritual lives full. In other words, be full of the Holy Spirit, as 1 John 2:27 says, “But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you…” We do this by staying in the Word of God and remaining steadfast in our faith. Feed your faith and starve your fears!
- Joining Yeshua in being a light to the world and a city on a hill, according to Matthew 5:14. Like the Hanukkiah in the window, we are to allow our lives to shine publicly.
- Keeping our wicks trimmed and lamps full of untainted oil, just like the five wise virgins in Matthew 25:1-13. The Bridegroom is returning for His bride, even when it feels like He is a long time coming.
Bringing the Light of Hanukkah into Your Home
Suggested ways to celebrate Hanukkah at home:
- Light the Hanukkiah in your homes each night (get more ideas in The Believer’s Guide to Hanukkah).
- Declare the traditional Hanukkah blessing as you light your candles (see below).
- Recite Psalm 30 (a Psalm for the dedication of the Temple).
- Host a Hanukkah meal for family and friends where you recount the Lord’s faithfulness to provide in the past year. This meal can be varied, but foods fried in oil are traditionally served at Hanukkah.
- Play the dreidel game with gelt (chocolate coins).
- Give small gifts to one another.
- Share the Hanukkah story with your children, grandchildren, and/or friends.
- Take a spiritual “culture check” to find areas in your life that might need adjustment in the coming year.
- Use this unique eight-day period to join Yeshua in being the light of the world in the darkness (see Matthew 5:14) by doing something kind for others.
Traditional Hanukkah Blessing
Hebrew:
.ברוך אתה יי, אלוהינו מלך העולם, אשר קידשנו במצוותיו, וציוונו להדליק נר של חנוכה
Transliteration:
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha’olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tsivanu l’hadlik ner shel Hanukkah.
Translation:
Praised are You, our God, Ruler of the universe, who made us holy through Your commandments and commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah lights.
Traditions can become negative when they become routines that our hearts are not engaged in. However, when our hearts are engaged with positive traditions, they serve as important reminders of what the Lord has done.
They are physical acts that trigger something in our minds and spirits, allowing us to remember the goodness of God…
- The seas He has parted
- His faithfulness in the midst of our trials
- His great love poured out for us
The traditions of Hanukkah remind us that the enemy’s attempt to hijack and infiltrate our identity cannot stand when we call and align with the Lord, who is faithful to deliver and provide.
Remembering the God of Miracles
No matter how you choose to celebrate Hanukkah at home, we encourage you to take a moment to thank the God of Miracles for His faithfulness in providing for you. Even when you just had “one day’s worth of oil,” so to speak, He miraculously stepped in so that your oil did not run out.
We have all had those moments. It is good practice to stop, reflect, and encourage your heart in the faithfulness and goodness of God. The God who sees, hears, and provides—the God of Miracles. This is the God you serve in dedication.