Blood Libel in the UK
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A concise, comprehensive guide to the holiday of Hanukkah.
Hanukkah celebrates the Jewish victory over the Syrian-Greek superpower in the second century BCE, during the time of the Second Holy Temple. It also celebrates the miracle of a little oil that lasted eight days. It is also known as the Festival of Lights.
Hanukkah celebrates the Jewish victory over the Syrian-Greek superpower in the second century BCE, during the time of the Second Holy Temple. The Greeks emphasized external beauty, and attempted to secularize the Jews by abolishing key the Jewish practices of circumcision, Shabbat, and Torah study – under penalty of death. Many Jews (called Hellenists) began to assimilate into Greek culture, decaying the foundation of Jewish life and practice.
The story of Hanukkah is about this clash of cultures.
When the Greeks challenged the Jews to sacrifice a pig to a Greek god, a band courageous Jews took to the hills (near modern-day Modi’in) in open revolt against this threat to Jewish life. The Jewish priest Matitiyahu, and later his son Judah the Maccabee, led a guerrilla warfare against the Syrian-Greek army. After three years, against incredible odds, the Maccabees miraculously defeated the superpower of that time.
The Jewish warrior heroes recaptured the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, cleansed it of idols, and re-dedicated it on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev. Wanting to re-light the Menorah, they searched the entire Temple, but found only one jar of pure oil bearing the seal of the High Priest. That small jar of oil miraculously burned for eight days straight, until a new supply of oil could be brought.
To publicize this historic victory and the miracle of the oil, Jews today observe a “Festival of Lights” for eight days – lighting a menorah for eight nights.
A Menorah is the candelabra on which the Hanukkah candles are lit. Its origins date back to the Torah, in Exodus (25: 31-40), when God gave Moses instructions for building a holy seven-branched candelabra on Mount Sinai. The literal translation of the word Menorah is a ‘lamp’ and the Menorah itself has also become a significant symbol in Judaism, which can be explored further in the article ‘9 Common Jewish Symbols’.
Click here to learn how to light the menorah and make the blessings on the hannukah candles.
The main way to celebrate Hanukkah is by lighting the candles of the menorah. Hanukkah also has many traditions such as eating special foods fried in oil, playing the dreidel game, saying Hanukkah prayers and listening to Hanukkah songs.
Hanukkah has multiple meanings of the word, such as ‘education’, ‘dedication’, and ‘beginning’. Read more here to learn more.
Hanukkah is celebrated to honor the miraculous victory of the Jewish people over the oppressive Syrian-Greek empire and the rededication of the Second Temple.
Click here for classic hanukkah recipes & learn how to make Hanukkah foods.
Listen to Hanukkah songs.
Happy Hanukkah – Chanukah!
