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Lighting of the Chanukilje (Chanukia) Recordings: NN tape 20, 19'09.99 - 22'56.26
The chanukia is light during "hanerot halalu", such that the
lighting finishes together with the singing. Thus, the first days one should
light slowly, the last days one should sing slowly.
We call the chanukia “Chanukilje” Where does this come from? A simple explanation is this: Chanoeki-ja = Chanuki – je and the L ’slipped” in, like Sevilla, which is pronounced as SEVILJA. The terms Hanuquilha (Portuguese) or Chanukiya (Hebrew) or Hanuqilla (Spanish) are all used in the Sephardic world. The oldest Chanukilje of our community was donated by Dr.
Abraham Farar (Pharar) in 1629 (5390). The inscription on this Chanulije reads
ABRAHAM PHARAR DUESTA HANUKILHA, which means, “This HANUKILHA was donated by.
Abraham Pharar”.
Abraham Pharar was a doctor, born in Porto and practitioning in Lisbon. He fled the inquisition and went to Amsterdam, where he published a book on all commands (mitzwot) in 1627 in the Portuguese language. He died in 1663. (source: MHG pag. 31). Both Chanukiljes are used, each 4 days. They are placed on the south wall: on the doors in the big Snoge and on the fence in the small (winter) Snoge.
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