Chanukah, Jewish Prayer, and Reflection

It's that time of year. Menorahs are out and the celebration is on. That's right- Chanukah has begun.

The traditional Jewish celebration commemorates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after Syrian forces had desecrated it during the 2^nd century BC. The eight day long celebration pays homage to the "miracle of the container of oil." As the story goes, there was only enough holy oil to keep the sacred Temple fire burning for one day, but the oil lasted for eight days, allowing the Jews time to prepare more of the holy oil. To honor the miracle, every night for eight days, one more candle is lit on the Menorah in remembrance.

During Chanukah, different prayers or blessings are said before the candles are lit. On the first night, two blessings are said along with the Sheheheyanu blessing. The Al ha-Nissim is often added to the end of meal blessings and individual prayers to celebrate the victory over the Syrians. It is common to sing songs derived from Psalms or read Psalms aloud as a group while celebrating. In other words, prayer becomes a huge focus.

During this time period of increased prayer frequency, it is perhaps prudent to consider the concept of prayer on a whole. The Jewish faith has some of the most beautiful and elegant prayers of all world religions. However, the majority of these prayers, as traditional as they may be, don't always resonate with the everyday obstacles and struggles faced by Jews and other believers alike. This is especially true for women, which is where Prayables.com can help.

Prayables.com is a multifaith prayer website for women devoted to developing relatable, fun devotionals and encouraging women to find moments of reflection every day. They provide funny, inspirational and personal prayers developed just for the modern woman. Their prayers are written so that any woman of any faith can use them, and their burgeoning community of faithful women grows every day. Sign up for their free service and receive beautiful and sometimes mildly irreverent prayers that apply to you in your inbox every day.

Expanding upon their mission, Prayables also recently released its first book, entitled Personal Peace: Prayers for Women of All Faiths. Available for purchase online, this collection of prayers makes the perfect bedside companion or gift for the special ladies in your life. Just in time for Chanukah, get yours today!