Hanukkah
commemorates the Maccabean victory over their enemies, the Hellenistic kings of
the House of Selvecus, and the miracle that occurred when worship resumed at
the Temple in Jerusalem.
In
167 BCE, King Antiochus IV forbade the Jewish residents of Eretz Israel to
study the Torah and practice the Jewish mitzvoth (commandments). Matityahu the
Hasmonean and his sons led the revolt against the cruel rulers, battling
heroically and successfully liberating Jerusalem and the Temple.
The
Babylon Talmud (Tractate Shabbat 21b) describes how the Maccabees found only
one small cruse of pure oil, enough to light the Temple menorah for a single
day. A miracle occurred and this oil lasted for eight days, until more pure oil
could be prepared. Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days as a reminder of this
miracle.
It
is customary to light candles in windows or doorways on each of the eight
nights of Hanukkah to make this miracle known. Over the years, Jewish
communities in Israel and throughout the world have developed different types
of "Hanukkah lamps" in which eight candles may be lit. These lamps
are known as Menorahs.
During
Hanukkah it is also customary to eat food fried in oil, such as deep-fried
jelly-filled donuts, to commemorate the miracle. Children play with spinning
tops called dreidels and they get Hanukkah pocket money.
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