Festival of Dedication and Feast of Lights begins at sundown.
By Mark Blazer


Chanukah, the Festival of Dedication and the Feast of Lights, recalls historical events that nearly destroyed Judaism in the second century B.C.E. The land of Israel was ruled at the time by the Syrian-Greek heirs of the great empire of Alexander the Great.

The Seleucid dynasty that controlled Palestine and Syria was headed by Antiochus Epiphanes, an ardent Hellenizer who was anxious to spread Greek culture throughout the Middle East and Asia.

When the Hellenizers, backed by a contingent of soldiers, sought to introduce the Hellenistic culture and religion in the small town of Modin near Jerusalem, an aged priest named Mattathias and his five sons proclaimed a full-fledged revolt against the Seleucid rulers and called for the citizens to rise up and expel the polluters of the Temple and Jerusalem.

Under the inspired leadership of his son, Judah Maccabee (“the Hammer”), the Jews rallied their citizens army in 167 B.C.E. Gradually, they overcame the professional and well-armed forces of Antiochus and on the 25th of the Hebrew month of Kislev 165 B.C.E., they finally expelled them from Jerusalem.

The scene they found on the Temple mount was appallingly depressing: The sacred altar had been polluted with swine’s blood and pagan practices had been introduced into Judaism’s holiest site. Accordingly, the liberators set about cleansing the Temple and preparing it for renewed use as a Jewish temple. Finally, after completing the process, an eight-day festival of rededication was proclaimed. Hence, the name “Chanukah,” which means “dedication” or “consecration.”

Legend has it that the victors found a small cruse of undefiled oil sufficient for one day’s use in the lamp of the Temple.

A miracle occurred and the lamp burned for eight days, giving the priests sufficient time to prepare fresh, consecrated oil. Consequently, we light the menorah for eight days of Chanukah and sometimes refer to the holiday as Hag Ha-Urim, the Festival of Lights.

Chanukah is a minor holiday in the Jewish calendar. Yet, it has assumed a major role in the lives of many Jews.

One reason is that it stresses how a few, highly motivated patriots were able to overcome the superior forces of a tyrant. As the prayer we recite during this holiday, “Al Ha-Nissim,” puts it: “You delivered the strong into the hands of the weak, the many into the hands of the few ...”

Second, Chanukah teaches us that spirit can triumph over force; that deeply felt principles can overcome mighty armies.

In the words of the Prophet Zechariah which we read during Chanukah, “Not by armies and not by might but by My spirit.” Jews have always maintained this belief; had they done otherwise, we would have disappeared long ago.

Third, Chanukah reinforces the notion of pluralism: That each faith and creed has the sacred right to be different, to uphold its own ideals and principles, to serve God in its own unique way.

Hellenism sought to homogenize all faiths and cultures; the Maccabees succeeded in battling for the right to uphold Judaism in a world of paganism and to swim against the popular tide.

Finally, Chanukah emphasizes the lesson that out of darkness can come light.

We have never surrendered to the dark night of hopelessness and despair whether in our national history or in our personal lives. To the contrary: We have always been strengthened by men and women who were ready and able to kindle the lamps of faith and hope.

The greatest ritual connected to Chanukah is lighting the menorah or hanukiyah, each night for eight successive nights as dusk falls.

Many people also eat potato pancakes, latkes, fried in oil, while others prefer doughnuts. These foods also recall the miracle of the olive oil that lasted eight days. It is also an old Chanukah custom to play dreidel.

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