Hanukkah : how did all come about...

On 25 Kislev on the Jewish calendar, which this year corresponds to December 1st on the secular calendar, the Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah, a wonderful holiday, one that commemorates events that took place in Jerusalem in 138 BC (year 3622 from the creation of the world). A miracle occurred in the Temple in Jerusalem, crowning one of the most brilliant pages in the history of the Jewish people.

The Hellenistic rulers (the Greeks) of that time tried to eradicate the Jewish culture using fire and sword. Under penalty of death, Jews could not study the Torah, observe the Sabbath, or keep the holidays. They installed a statue of Zeus in the Temple in Jerusalem. Then, Mattathias the Hasmonean, who refused to worship the Greek idols, raised an armed revolt against their oppressors with the appeal, “All those who are for the One God, stand with me!” This war was the first one fought in the world for religious freedom. After the death of Mattathias, his son Judah the Maccabean continued his cause, under whose leadership the Jews achieved one victory after another. Little by little, the Jews liberated their homeland from the enemy and in a decisive battle liberated Jerusalem.


Upon entering Jerusalem, the army of Judah the Maccabee went to work. It was necessary to clean the temple after its desecration, they had to take down the statue of Zeus, and they had to wash, clean, and repair everything within it. When the work was finished, the Temple was ready to receive the Torah scrolls and the other religious items. However, it was necessary to sanctify the temple, so that it was fit for the worship of the One God, as it was before. They needed to light the temple lamp, the menorah. The ordinary oil used in the temple rites would not do, they needed olive oil, purified and sanctified in a special way. There was not enough of this oil in the Temple because the Greeks had destroyed everything. Miraculously, they managed to find a small vessel with some of the special oil in it. However, it could last, at most, only one day. Nevertheless, it was impossible to postpone the ceremony. Judah decided to fill the menorah with the oil that was available. Then, a miracle happened, the fire burned for eight days, the time that was necessary to prepare a new portion of oil. To commemorate this miracle, Jews celebrate Hanukkah (in Hebrew, Hanukkah means “dedication”) and light Hanukkah candles.


Noting Hanukkah, we remember the Jewish revolt against their oppressors and rejoice in the victory of our ancestors over their enemies. However, the main thing that we celebrate these days is the miracle of the pitcher of oil. In memory of the eight days, we light the Hanukkah lamp, the Menorah. In these days, we treat everybody to sweet donuts and share funny gifts. The kids especially love this holiday because they get toys or we give them money, called Hanukkah geld, so that they can buy sweets.