Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish festival celebrated all over the world. It is also known as the Festival of Lights, and commemorates the miracle of the Jewish people who reclaimed a temple in Jerusalem in the 2nd century BC. So, what country is Hanukkah from?
Hanukkah is an ancient celebration that was first celebrated by the Jewish people thousands of years ago in what is now Israel. However, today it is celebrated all over the world by both Jews and non-Jews alike. The story of Hanukkah begins with the Maccabees, a small band of Jewish warriors who waged a successful battle against the Seleucid Greek Empire to save the Second Temple in Jerusalem.
The Syrian-Greek Occupation in Jerusalem
The Seleucid Empire had occupied Jerusalem and started a policy of Hellenization, pressuring the Jewish population to abandon their customs and adopt the ways of the Greeks. When Antiochus III was killed in battle in late 168 BCE, his successor Antiochus IV Epiphanes continued the practice of Hellenization and began persecuting the Jewish population. In 167 BCE, Antiochus issued a decree that all Jews must be circumcised and their Temple must be dedicated to the worship of the Greek gods and goddesses.
The Maccabean Revolt
In response to this decree and the increasingly oppressive rule of the Syrian-Greeks, a small group of Jewish activists led by the priest Mattathias and his five sons (known as the Maccabees) launched a revolt against the Seleucids in 166 BCE. After a long and bloody battle, the Maccabees were able to drive the Seleucids out of Jerusalem, purify the Temple, and restore it to Jewish worship and practice according to the Torah. It was this miraculous victory that is celebrated on Hanukkah.
The History of Hanukkah in Israel
Following the Maccabean victory, Hanukkah became an official Jewish holiday celebrated in Israel. The celebration originally lasted for seven days, and observed various customs such as lighting the menorah, playing dreidel, eating latkes, and giving small gifts. Although the holiday has evolved over the centuries and is now celebrated for eight days in many parts of the world, the story and traditions of Hanukkah remain the same in Israel: a celebration of the courage and faith that enabled the Jewish people to reclaim their Temple and keep their traditions alive for thousands of years.
In conclusion, Hanukkah is an ancient Jewish celebration that was first celebrated by the Jewish people in what is now Israel over two thousand years ago. While it has since become a global holiday, it will always be associated with Israel and the ancient miracles that are celebrated each time it is observed.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.