Happy Hanukkah
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| Detail from the Arch of Titus in Rome, which was built to commemorate the sacking of Jerusalem. |
Hanukkah is an eight-day birthday celebration that dates to the year a hundred sixty five BCE. Sources vary however the conventional view of the pageant is what follows. In 167 BCE, Antiochus who was the ruler of the Selucid Empire sacked Jerusalem and outlawed Judaisim. Further, he ordered the set up of a statue of Zeus within the Temple. The Selucid Empire turned into a Greek/ Macedonian Empire made up from the eastern conquests of Alexander the Great. Antiochus' moves provoked a rebel.
A Jewish priest named Mattityahu and his five sons, Jochanan, Simeon, Eleazar, Jonathan and Judah led the revolt. Judah came to be known as Yehuda YaMakabi, or Judah the Hammer. By the year 166 Mattityahu had died and Judah became the leader of the revolt. By 165 the revolt was successful and the Selucid Empire was beaten back. The Temple was reclaimed and rededicated. Judah ordered that the Temple be cleansed, that a new altar be built and that all of the vessels be remade.
According to the Talmud, the Temple Menorah needed to be fueled with the aid of olive oil and further, the Menorah needed to burn thru every night. However, there has been only enough oil for one night and making greater oil become an eight-day method. Miraculously, the one-day deliver burned for eight days.
So now . Please be a part of me in extending warm Hanukkah greetings to all of us who is celebrating for the next week.