Chanukah
The Hebrew word Chanukah means "dedication." In
the 2nd century BCE, the Syrian-Greek regime of
Antiochus sought to pull Jews away from Judaism,
with the hopes of assimilating them into Hellenism
-- Greek culture. Antiochus outlawed aspects of
Jewish observance -- including the study of Torah
-- which began to decay the foundation of Jewish
life and practice. During this period, many of the
Jews began to assimilate into Greek culture, taking
on Greek names and marrying non-Jews.
In response, a band of Jewish settlers took to
the hills of Judea in open revolt against this
threat to Jewish life. Led by Matitiyahu, and later
his son Judah the Maccabee ("The Hammer"), this
small band of pious Jews led guerrilla warfare
against the Syrian army.
Antiochus sent thousands of well-armed troops to
crush the rebellion -- but the Maccabees succeeded
in driving the foreigners from their land.
Jewish fighters entered Jerusalem in December,
164 BCE. The Holy Temple was in shambles, defiled
and desecrated by foreign soldiers. They cleansed
the Temple and re-dedicated it on the 25th day of
the Jewish month of Kislev. When it came time to
re-light the Menorah, they searched the entire
Temple, but only one small jar of oil bearing the
pure seal of the High Priest could be found.
Miraculously, the small jar of oil burned for eight
days, until a new supply of oil could be
brought.
From then on, Jews have observed a holiday for
eight days in honor of this historic victory and
the miracle of the oil.
Today, the observance of Chanukah features the
lighting of a special Chanukah menorah with eight
branches (plus a helper candle), adding one new
candle each night. Other customs include spinning
the dreidel (a top with Hebrew letters on the
sides), eating "oily" foods like potato latkes
(pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly donuts), and
giving Chanukah gelt (coins) to children.
--Aish HaTorah
Chanukah Sites
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