Lighting of the Chanukilje 

Recordings: NN tape 20, 19'09.99 - 22'56.26

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”. 
The Hebrew part reads   כי נר מצוה ותורה אור    ה'שצ

        
Chanukilje Abraham Farar, 
                1629

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).

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