Chanukilje

Lighting of the Chanukilje (Chanukia)

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

Remarks	Green Teffiloth	תפילה
First beracha	168	להדליק נר של חנוכה
Second berache	168	שעשה ניסים
Shehechejanoe (only first night)	168	שהחינו
Haneroth Halalu	168	הנרות הללו
Psalm 30, recited	168	מזמור שיר חנוכת הבית לדוד

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


Brass Chanukilje Abraham Pharar, 1629	Silver Chanukilje, made in 1770 by Isaac van Wijk, donated in 1877 in name of Hanna en Isaac Lopes Salzedo

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).