Hanukkah is a widely celebrated holiday in the Jewish community around the world. It is a Jewish festival commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire. Although it is an eight-day long festival from Kislev 25 to Tevet 2 on the Hebrew calendar, its origin is still largely a topic of contention.
<h2>The Maccabean Revolt</h2>
The origin of Hanukkah is widely associated with the Maccabean Revolt which began in the 2nd century BCE. After the death of Alexander the Great, Palestine came under the control of the Seleucid Empire. The Seleucids introduced Greek polytheism which contradicted the religion of the Jews. This caused much unrest in the Jewish community and they began to rebel against them. In 164 BCE the Maccabee revolt led by a priestly family of five brothers called the Hasmoneans, succeeded in recapturing the Temple and regaining control of Judea.
<h3>Rededication of the Temple</h3>
When the Hasmoneans regained control of Jerusalem, they entered the Temple to rededicate it. Although they had only enough oil to light the Menorah (the seven-branched candelabrum) for one day, miraculously it lasted for eight days, enough time to fetch new oil for the Menorah. To commemorate this miracle, the eight-day festival of Hanukkah was born.
<h3>Celebration of Hanukkah</h3>
A number of traditional activities are associated with the celebration of Hanukkah. Today, these activities usually include the lighting of the Menorah, eating traditional foods like potato latkes and sufganiyot and playing games like dreidel.<bold>Hanukkah is also celebrated through gift giving, charity and various other secular and religious traditions.</bold>
Hanukkah is an important holiday celebrated by Jews around the world. The origin of the festival may be up for debate, but one thing is certain – its celebration is a reminder of the miraculous liberation of Judea from foreign rule. It is a time for the Jewish community to gather together and celebrate their freedom and unity.
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Last update 2023-11-27. Price and product availability may change.