Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday that commemorates the Maccabees’ rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in the second century BCE. Starting on the 25th of Kislev, the festival is observed by the lighting of the menorah (or hanukkiyah in Hebrew), the spinning of the dreidel, and the eating of traditional foods such as sufganiyot (or jelly donuts) and latkes. But what is the real story behind this holiday?
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The War of the Maccabees
The story of Hanukkah began in 167 BCE, when a group of Jewish resistance fighters called the Maccabees successfully overthrew the Syrian-Greeks, who were trying to impose their Hellenistic religion on the Jews and desecrate the Temple in Jerusalem. On the 25th of Kislev, 165 BCE, the Maccabees re-dedicated the Temple. This rededication is the basis for the holiday of Hanukkah.
The Miracle of the Oil
The holiday of Hanukkah was created to commemorate the miracle of the oil. The Talmud tells a story of a one-day supply of oil that miraculously continued to light the Temple for eight days straight — the exact time needed to prepare a fresh supply of oil conforming to Jewish ritual purity standards. This miracle is commemorated by lighting the menorah for eight days of Hanukkah.
Symbolism of the Menorah
The Hanukkah menorah holds nine candles — one for each night of Chanukah and an additional one, known as the shamash, which is used to light the other candles. It is customary to add a candle each night, from right to left, each night of the holiday. This symbolises the miracle of the increasing light of Hanukkah.
Traditional Hanukkah Foods
During the eight days of Hanukkah, it is traditional to eat foods that are fried in oil, to commemorate the miracle of the oil. Potato pancakes (known as latkes) and jelly donuts (known as sufganiyot) are most commonly eaten during Hanukkah, although other fried dishes are popular as well.
Hanukkah is a time to celebrate the ancient victory of the Jews as well as the power of miracles to sustain us through difficult times. As the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah commemorates the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem as well as the miracle of the oil that kept its menorah burning for eight days and nights. Through the lighting of the menorah, eating of traditional fried foods, and spinning of the dreidel, Jews around the world celebrate the joy and miraculous light of Hanukkah for eight days each year.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.