I know the basics of Hanukkah, but am very interested in the story of Hanukkah.
This eight day festival of lights celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, of purity over adulteration, of spirituality over materialism.
Over twenty-one centuries ago, the Holy Land was ruled by the Seleucids (Syrian-Greeks), who sought to forcefully Hellenize the people of Israel. Against all odds, a small band of faithful Jews defeated one of the mightiest armies on earth, drove the Greeks from the land, reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and rededicated it to the service of G-d.
When they sought to light the Temple’s menorah (the seven branched candelabrum), they found only a single cruse of olive oil that had escaped contamination by the Greeks; miraculously, the one-day supply burned for eight days, until new oil could be prepared under conditions of ritual purity.
To commemorate and publicize these miracles, the sages instituted the festival of Chanukah. At the heart of the festival is the nightly menorah (candelabrum) lighting: a single flame on the first night, two on the second evening, and so on till the eighth night of Chanukah, when all eight lights are kindled.
From the Chabad.org website
On this holiday, it is customary to eat foods cooked in oil (latkes), play the dreidel game (tune in tomorrow!), and give Hanukkah gelt (money) to kids. Right now my boys think the gelt is only really chocolate coins – they love them!
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