Hanukkah (also Chanukah) – the Holiday of Lights – is a celebration of the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. It commemorates the Maccabees’ successful struggle for independence and religious freedom against the Syrians (2nd century BCE).
A few of the Seleucid kings (the dynasty that followed Alexander the Great, based in Syria) tried to force the Jews in the Land of Israel to adopt certain customs that were against the laws of Judaism. The worst decree was when King Antiochus IV ordered the installation of a statue in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
In 167 BCE, the Jews revolted against the Greek Seleucid regime. A few of the leaders of the revolt, the Hasmoneans, or Maccabees, were the sons of Mattathias, the high priest. In 164 BCE, under the leadership of Judah Maccabee, the revolt reached its climax with the liberation of Jerusalem from foreign rule, including the Holy Temple. The events are documented in a few historical sources written at the end of the 2nd century CE, a few decades after the revolt. According to Jewish tradition, the holiday of Hanukkah was instituted by Judah Maccabee.
The holiday lasts eight days, commemorating the celebrations marking the purification and rededication of the Holy Temple, and a miracle recorded in the traditions: After the Maccabees returned to Jerusalem to liberate it, they entered the Temple and cleared it of the idols placed there by the Syrian vandals.
A new altar was built, and, since the golden menorah had been stolen by the Syrians, the Maccabees made one of cheaper metal. When they wanted to light it, they found only a small cruse of pure olive oil, but with only enough to light it for one day. By a miracle of God, it continued to burn for eight days, until new oil was made available.
In memory of this, our sages appointed these eight days for annual thanksgiving and for lighting candles.
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