Christmas Day corresponds with the beginning of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. It commemorates the eight days in which the revolt initiated by the Hasmoneans in the 2nd century BC succeeded in overthrowing the tyranny of the Seleucids over Judea. C., restoring worship and faith in the Living God. According to an oral tradition, after the fighting, the priests could not find enough olive oil to keep the Temple menorah lit, and so a miracle within a miracle occurred. The little oil was not consumed, just as the faith of the few who had, in effect, enlightened the many, was not consumed. Hence the custom of lighting every day a lamp from the eight-armed candelabrum, plus one, called hannukia. ANGELA POLACCO Italian Jewish Community of Jerusalem It is a very heartfelt celebration. Simply because it involves families. It involves children above all. It is a celebration that also happens at a time when there are other festivals of lights, so there is probably an ancient connection with these festivals. Very nice to see. These families not only go on outings, but they organise a lot of family activities and every day at sunset, after sunset they go outside the houses. Especially on the doors of the houses, because this miracle must be absolutely public, so the characteristic is to see these lights outside the doors of the houses. Angela explains that the word Light is the 25th to appear in the book of Genesis, just as on the 25th of Kislev, or December, all religious traditions liturgically commemorate an event that corresponds to the cosmic mystery expressed in the winter solstice, for example the Christmas of Jesus. The young people director of the Italian temple museum in Jerusalem, Daniel Niv, shows us three hannukie of great historical and symbolic value. The first is Ashkenazi and comes from Germany, the second was taken from the helmet of an Austro-Hungarian soldier. And finally, the third, to which he seems very attached, is shaped like an Italian nobleman's palace, underlining the link between this holiday and the temple. The museum of this lively Italian-speaking Jewish community hosts and will host several exhibitions, open to all, without denominational constraints or barriers. DANIEL NIV It is certainly no secret that we are living in quite dark times. This holiday is about bringing light into the world. And the new exhibition we are setting up in this museum, which will open on 24 December, is precisely entitled ‘The Light of the World’. It will present the treasures of many synagogues from all over the world, including, of course, Italy. The basic idea is to be ourselves the light that we are called to bring to the world. Remind us to remain men, to remain kind, exercising tenderness and compassion towards all other men. Read More