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History of Chanukah

Chanukah, known as the festival of lights, is celebrated on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev, which is November/December on the Augustan calendar. This Holiday is celebrated to commemorate the victory of the Jews over the Hellenistic Syrians in 165 BC.

The Maccabees, one of the tribes of Israel led the revolt against their Syrian oppressors. Following their victory over the Syrians the Jews entered the Holy Temple in Jerusalem to find in desecrated and defiled by the Syrians who had invaded it. The Judean Victors went about the work of cleansing the temple and rededicating it to the service of God. The Hebrew word, Chanukah is a term for dedication. So, this dedication of the Holy Temple was actually the first Chanukah.

To light the temple for the dedication the Judean Victors, led by Judah Maccabee, began to search for undefiled oil to light the lamps. While searching the temple they found a small vase of oil which should have been enough to light the Holy Temple for maybe one night. The oil lit the Holy Temple for eight nights. This is the miracle that Chanukah commemorates. The Chanukah Menorah represents the eight nights that the oil lasted in the Holy Temple.

The story of Chanukah can be found in the Talmud, which is the body of Jewish oral law.

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