Hanukkah in Morocco.

by  Fahd Abali,  Chouaib Benkirane, Karim Kharchafi and Julien Sebag.

There are two religions practiced in Morocco. Indeed, the most represented religion is Islam, but there are also Moroccan Jews who practice their rituals and traditions normally. We are going to introduce you to one of the most important Jewish holidays: Hanukkah !

Hanukkah is the Jewish holiday of a rabbinical institution, commemorating the consecration of the altar of offerings in the Second Temple of Jerusalem, on his return to Jewish worship, three years after its ban by the Seleucid Antiochus IV.

According to rabbinical tradition, during the consecration is the miracle of the cruse of oil, allowing the priests of the temple to burn for eight days, a quantity of oil sufficient for only one day.

It is celebrated from 25 Kislev (which corresponds, according to November or December in the Gregorian calendar) and lasts eight days, until 2 or 3 Tevet (depending on the length of Kislev, the month of 29 or 30 days).

The lighting of lights on the evening of the eight-day festival is its only characteristic rite. It commemorates the miracle of the cruse of oil and contributes to its publication.

It takes place in a special candleholder called Leuchter Hanikke or Hanikke Menorahanoukkia in Yiddish and Hebrew. The shape of this chandelier often evokes that of the Temple menorah, but it has eight branches in addition to a particular branch, called the Shamash or Shammai ("servant"). It is with the shamash you turn the other lights of the Hanukkah candelabrum.

Jewish families don’t celebrate Christmas, but they also have a feast to celebrate in December, during Hanukkah, the festival of lights, each light a candle in a chandelier with eight branches, each night of the week. Each candle in a chandelier  means something:

First Candle: The Hanoukia

Second Candle: The Light

Third Candle: The miracle

Fourth Candle: Sabbath

Fifth Candle: Heroism

Sixth Candle: The Hebrew language

Seventh Candle: The Jewish solidarity

Eighth Candle: Peace

This picture was taken by Julien at his home on the last day of Hanukkah :