ABSTRACT

I. TlIE I~nbbis teach that the precept relating to the lighting of a candle at the ~'east of Dedication applies to a whole household, but that those ,vIlo are particular light a candle for each individual lnember, and those that are extrenlely particular light up ei.rlht candles on the first day, seven on the second, decreasing the number by one each day. This is according to the school of Shalnmai; but the school of :EIHlel suy that he should light up one on the first day, t,vo on the second, increasing the number by one each of the eight days of the feast.... vVhat is the origin of the Feast of Dedication 1 On the t,ventyfifth day of I(islev (about December), the eight days of the Dedication commence, during ,vhich term no funernl oration is to be made, nor public fast to be decreed. 'Vhen the Gentiles (({-reeks) entered the second Temple, it was thought they had defiled all the holy oil they found in it; but ,vhell the IIasmoneans prevailed and conquered them, they sought and found still one jar of oil stamped with the seal of the lIigh IJriest, and therefore undefiled. Thougll the oil it contained ,vould only have sufficed for one day, n miracle ,vas perfornled so that the oil lasted to the end of tho ,veel\: (during which time more oil ,vas provided and consecrated for the future service of the Temple). On the o.nnivel'sary of this occasion the Feast of Dedication was instituted. Shnbbath, £01. 2I, col. 2.