The geopolitics behind this spiritual battle.

[phkrause]

The story of Chanukah is full of heroism and bravery, as well as of tradition, faith and martyrdom. It puts a magnifying glass on the issue of assimilation of Jews with the nations that surround us. It is an ancient story, yet as current as could be. Let us introduce you to the historical story behind this well-known festival of lights.

Alexander the Great conquered the land of Judea in 333 BCE and began the Greek reign over the land of Israel. However, he allowed the Jews to keep their beliefs and tradition and gave them religious-national autonomy. After his death, the empire was divided and Israel became cast into conflict due to its high strategic value as a passage-way between the continents of Africa, Europe and Asia.

Eventually, in the year 175 BCE, the Syrian emperor Antiochus Epiphanes (Antiochus IV) came into power, with the goal of merging all the nations under one Greek-Hellenistic culture. The Jewish high priest (ëäï âãåì) of the Temple, Yason, agreed to spread the Hellenistic culture among the Jews. He proclaimed Jerusalem (éøåùìéí) to be a city-state ruled by the chosen citizens, and received much power and financial benefits. These benefits attracted other priests who plotted different schemes to get the power, killed their opponents, stole the treasures of the Holy Temple (áéú äî÷ãù) and betrayed each other. Most Jews, however, kept their faith in God and did not follow the Hellenistic ideas.

In 167 BCE Antiochus decreed that all the Jews must cease worshipping God and must worship the Hellenistic gods instead. He also ruled that Jews must work on Shabbat and holidays (ùáú åéåí èåá), and to stop studying Torah and following its rules, including the circumcision ritual (éú îéìä). Jews had to prove they were not acting as Jews by eating swine and participating in Pagan ceremonies. Many of those who refused to do so were killed by the Greeks.

The most famous story tells of Hanna and her seven sons: After they were captured by Antiochus' troops, they were commanded to bow to an idol and eat pigs (çæéø). One by one, each boy refused and was tortured to death before his mother's eyes. When they reached the youngest child, the Greeks threw a coin on the floor to slyly make the boy bow to the idol when bending to grab the coin. The child kept standing and was killed as well. Hanna requested to kiss her dead sons and then jumped from the roof and died.

Enter the Maccabees

When Antiochus’ officials reached Modi'in , a small city in the Judean mountains, they built an altar for their gods and ordered an elderly priest named Matityahu the Hasmonean to sacrifice a pig to the idol. He refused, and when an apostate Jew stepped forward to comply, Matityahu stabbed him, killed the Greek official, and tore down the altar. After that, he turned to the crowd announcing: - "Follow me, all of you who are for God's law and stand by the covenant."

Matityahu fled to the Gofna hills accompanied by his five sons: Yochanan (), Shimon (), Judah (Yehudah - ), Jonathan (Yonatan - ) and Elazar ( ). From there, the family launched a guerrilla war against the armies of the empire.

The rebels, ruled by Matityahu and later by his third son Judah Maccabee , began attacking the Greek army with much bravery and smart tactics, ambushing the enemy at unexpected places and surprising them when the sun blinded their eyes. Although Judah's band of fighters was incredibly outnumbered, they won one miraculous victory after another.

The consequence of the successful revolt was the abolishment of all the decrees against the Jews. On the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev (164 BCE), Judah's army recaptured the Holy Temple, which they cleansed and purified and rededicated to God. (Chanukah means "dedication.") When it came time to re-light the Menorah (îðåøä), they searched the entire Temple, but found only one jar of pure oil bearing the seal of the High Priest. The group of believers lit the Menorah anyway and were rewarded with a miracle: That small jar of oil burned for eight days, until a new supply of oil could be brought.

(From then on, Jews have observed a holiday for eight days, lighting a menorah during the eight nights of Chanukah.)

Actually, that was not the end of the war, and the fighting went on for another 12 years, until the Jews regained control of their land. Geopolitically, that was the moment of real political triumph.

But Chanukah isn't about political power -- Chanukah is about the Jewish yearning for God, for the concentrated holiness of the Temple and its service. Chanukah is the only Jewish holiday not found in the Bible (úð''ê) and the only one rooted in a military campaign. And yet its focus is almost entirely spiritual, not physical. The triumph of the Maccabees was the triumph of the soul over the body, of light over darkness -- viewing the world with God, not man, at its center.

Chanukah Word: "Maccabee"

Judah, the third son of Matityahu, was nicknamed the Maccabee .

The rebelling Jews who followed him were called the Maccabees .

There are two possible explanations for this name:

1)- makevet, a hammer

2) An acronym for "who is like you among the powers, O God" (- "mi kamocha ba'elim Hashem") - the battle cry of the Jewish people.

Related Hebrew Names

Judah (Yehuda) -

Judah is related to the verb (lehodot, "to thank"). Judah was the fourth son of Jacob and Leah (Genesis 29:35); the tribe of Judah is called after his name, as is the kingdom of Judah.

Hanna (Chana) -

A girl’s name from the Bible: the original Chana was Elkanah's wife, and the mother of the prophet Samuel (1-Samuel 1:20). In the Chanukah story, a woman named Chana watched as her seven sons bravely chose death rather than betray their Jewish faith.

Chanukah Song

Chanukah, Chanukah

Chag yafeh kol kach

Ohr chaviv, mi-saviv

Gil li-yeled rach.

Chanukah, Chanukah

Sivivon, sov, sov

Sov, sov, sov! Sov, sov, sov!

Ma nayim vi-tov.

(Translation)

Chanukah is a great holiday.

Surrounded with lovely light.

Fun for little children.

Dreidel, spin, spin, spin.

How wonderful!

pk

[Dottie]

Thank you for this. My boy was told about Chanukah at school, but didn't learn anything except that they had a nine-candled candlestick.

So we were were talking about finding the origin of the story, and here it is!

Thanx agin

[phkrause]

Than Dottie I'm glad I posted that. I almost didn't but I think the HS kept at me. I'm glad I could be of service. It really is only an 8 candle stick the ninth one is for lighting the other 8. It should either be above the others a bit or off to the side from what I understand.

pk

[phkrause]

Dottie here is a little thing on lighting the candles:

What Menorah to Light

To publicize which night of Chanukah it is, all eight candles on the menorah should be at the same height -- and preferably in a straight line. Otherwise, the candles may not be easily distinguishable and may appear like a big torch.

In addition to the eight main lights, the menorah has an extra helper candle called the "Shamash." As we are forbidden to use the Chanukah lights for any purpose other than "viewing," any benefit is as if it's coming from the Shamash.

Since the Shamash does not count as one of the eight regular lights, your menorah should have the Shamash set apart in some way -- either placed higher than the other candles, or off to the side.

What Candles to Light

The most important thing is that that your candles must burn for at least 30 minutes after nightfall. (Those famous colored candles barely qualify!) Many Jewish bookstores sell longer colored candles.

Actually, it is even better to use olive oil, since the miracle of the Maccabees occurred with olive oil. Glass cups containing oil can be placed in the candle holders of any standard menorah. Many Jewish bookstores even sell kits of pre-measured oil in disposable cups.

Where to Light

To best publicize the miracle, the menorah is ideally lit outside the doorway of your house, on the left side when entering. (The mezuzah is on the right side; in this way you are "surrounded by mitzvot.") In Israel, many people light outside in special glass boxes built for a menorah.

If this is not practical, the menorah should be lit in a window facing the public thoroughfare.

Someone who lives on an upper floor should light in a window. If for some reason the menorah cannot be lit by a window, it may be lit inside the house on a table; this at least fulfills the mitzvah of "publicizing the miracle" for the members of the household.

Since the mitzvah occurs at the actual moment of lighting, moving the menorah to a proper place after lighting does not fulfill the mitzvah.

When to Light

The menorah should preferably be lit immediately at nightfall. It is best to wait, however, until all the members of the household are present. This adds to the family atmosphere and also maximizes the mitzvah of "publicizing the miracle." The menorah can still be lit (with the blessings) late into the night, as long as people are still awake.

The menorah should remain lit for at least 30 minutes after nightfall, during which time no use should be made of its light.

On Friday afternoon, the menorah should be lit 18 minutes before sundown. And since the menorah needs to burn for 30 minutes into the night, the candles used on Friday need to be bigger than the regular "colored candles" (which typically don't burn longer than a half-hour).

How to Light

On the first night, place one candle at the far right, as you face the menorah. This applies whether the menorah is placed next to a doorway or by a window.

Another candle is placed for the Shamash (taller helper candle) which is used to light the others. It is not counted as one of the candles.

First light the Shamash, then recite the blessings, and then use the Shamash to light the Chanukah candle.

On the second night, place two candles in the two far-right positions -- and use the Shamash to light the left one first.

The third night, place three candles in the three far-right positions -- and use the Shamash to light them in order, from left to right.

Follow this same procedure each night of Chanukah... until all the lights are kindled and glowing brightly!

Just thought you might be interested.

pk