Hanukkah

The eight-day “Festival of Lights,” Hanukkah commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabean revolt against Seleucid oppression in 164 BCE. Though a minor festival in Jewish law, Hanukkah has become widely celebrated for its themes of religious freedom, perseverance, and the miraculous.

Historical Background

The Maccabean Revolt

Setting (175-164 BCE):

• Seleucid Empire controls Judea (Hellenistic Greek dynasty)
• Antiochus IV Epiphanes attempts forced Hellenization
• Bans Jewish practices (Torah study, circumcision, Sabbath)
• Defiles Temple—sacrifices pig on altar, erects statue of Zeus
• Goal: Eradicate Judaism, impose Greek culture

The Uprising:

• Mattathias, elderly priest in Modi’in, refuses to make pagan sacrifice
• Kills Greek official and Jewish collaborator
• Flees to hills with five sons
• Judah Maccabee (“The Hammer”) leads guerrilla warfare
• Small band defeats mighty Seleucid army
• Miraculous victory against overwhelming odds

The Rededication

25 Kislev, 164 BCE:

• Maccabees recapture Jerusalem
• Temple desecrated and defiled
• Clean and purify Temple
• Relight Menorah (golden lampstand)

The Miracle of the Oil (Talmudic account, Shabbat 21b):

• Only one sealed jar of pure oil found (one day’s supply)
• Needed eight days to prepare new oil
• Miraculously, one day’s oil burned for eight days
• Temple menorah stayed lit
• Sign of divine approval and presence

Historical Reality:

• 1 & 2 Maccabees (historical books) don’t mention oil miracle
• Focus on military victory and rededication
• Oil miracle appears later in rabbinic literature (Talmud, ~500 CE)
• Both miracle and victory celebrated

The Hanukkah Menorah

Hanukkiah

Nine Branches:

• Eight for each night
• One shamash (helper/servant candle) to light others
• Different from Temple’s seven-branched menorah

Lighting Procedure:

• Night 1: One candle (plus shamash)
• Night 2: Two candles (plus shamash)
• Night 8: Eight candles (plus shamash)
• Add candles right to left; light left to right (newest first)
• Lit after nightfall
• Burned for at least 30 minutes

Placement:

• In window facing street (publicizing miracle)
• Left side of doorway opposite mezuzah
• High enough to be seen but not too high

Blessings

First Two Blessings (every night):

1. “Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the Hanukkah light.”
2. “Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who performed miracles for our ancestors in those days at this time.”

Third Blessing (first night only): 3. Shehecheyanu: “Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season.”

After Lighting:

• HaNerot Halalu: “These lights we kindle…”
• Ma’oz Tzur: “Rock of Ages” hymn
• Other songs and prayers

Customs and Traditions

Dreidel

Spinning Top Game:

• Four Hebrew letters: נ (Nun), ג (Gimel), ה (Hei), ש (Shin)
• Nes Gadol Haya Sham: “A great miracle happened there”
• In Israel: ש replaced with פ (Pei) - “A great miracle happened here”

Game:

• Players ante into pot (gelt, candy, nuts)
• Spin dreidel
• נ (Nun): Nothing - pass
• ג (Gimel): Get all - take pot
• ה (Hei): Half - take half pot
• ש (Shin): Put in - add to pot

Origin:

• Possibly children pretending to gamble while secretly studying Torah (when Torah study banned)
• Or simply Yiddish gambling game adapted for holiday

Foods

Fried in Oil (commemorating miracle):

Latkes:

• Potato pancakes
• Grated potatoes, onions, egg, flour
• Fried until crispy
• Served with applesauce or sour cream
• Ashkenazi tradition

Sufganiyot:

• Jelly-filled doughnuts
• Fried and dusted with powdered sugar
• Israeli favorite
• Sephardi/Israeli tradition

Cheese Dishes:

• Commemorate Judith’s story (apocryphal)
• She fed enemy general cheese and wine, then killed him
• Cheese blintzes, noodles

Gelt

Chocolate Coins:

• Wrapped in gold foil
• Given to children
• Modern custom based on older tradition of giving money to children
• Used for dreidel game

Gift-Giving

Modern Development:

• Traditional: Small gifts or money to children
• American influence: Competing with Christmas
• One gift each night (some families)
• Debates about commercialization

Theological Significance

Light Overcoming Darkness

Symbol:

• Light of Torah vs. darkness of oppression
• Small light pushes back great darkness
• Spiritual illumination
• Hope in dark times

Increasing Light:

• One candle, then two, then three…
• Progressive illumination
• Adding holiness
• Optimistic worldview—increase goodness

Few Against Many

Military Miracle:

• Small band defeats empire
• David vs. Goliath theme
• Faith over might
• God fights for His people

“Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit” (Zechariah 4:6) - Haftarah reading for Hanukkah

Religious Freedom

Right to Worship:

• Resistance to forced assimilation
• Preserving Jewish identity
• Freedom of conscience
• Cultural autonomy

Modern Resonance:

• Holocaust memory
• Contemporary antisemitism
• Fight for religious liberty
• Minority rights

Dedication (Hanukkah = Dedication)

Rededication:

• Temple cleansed and rededicated
• Renewal of worship
• Fresh commitment
• Spiritual renewal

Personal Application:

• Rededicate ourselves to God
• Renew spiritual commitments
• Cleanse from defilement
• Fresh start

Rabbinic Development

Why Eight Days?

Theories:

1. Oil Miracle: One day’s oil lasted eight
2. Delayed Sukkot: Couldn’t celebrate Sukkot (8 days) during war, so made up for it
3. Historical Precedent: Solomon’s Temple dedication lasted eight days

Minor Festival Status

Not Torah-Mandated:

• Established by rabbis, not Moses
• Post-biblical origin
• Work permitted
• Less stringent than biblical festivals

But Widely Observed:

• Perhaps most universally celebrated Jewish holiday (with Passover)
• Cultural significance enormous
• Accessible and family-friendly
• Adaptable to modern life

Hanukkah in Different Jewish Movements

Orthodox

Traditional Observance:

• Strict lighting procedures
• All traditional prayers and songs
• Emphasis on miracle
• Oil-based foods

Conservative and Reform

Varied Practices:

• Core customs maintained
• May add contemporary readings
• Feminist additions (heroines like Judith and Hannah)
• Social justice themes

Secular Jews

Cultural Celebration:

• Even non-religious Jews often light menorah
• Cultural identity marker
• Family tradition
• Jewish pride

Hanukkah and Christmas

Timing

Often Concurrent:

• Both in December (Hanukkah varies; lunar calendar)
• Proximity creates cultural interaction
• “December Dilemma” for interfaith families

Influence:

• Gift-giving amplified in America due to Christmas
• Decorations and public celebrations expanded
• Some see as “Jewish Christmas” (problematic comparison)
• Others emphasize distinct identity

Theological Differences

Different Meanings:

• Hanukkah: Historical event, military victory, religious freedom
• Christmas: Birth of Jesus, incarnation
• Hanukkah predates Christianity by 160+ years
• No connection beyond calendar proximity

Hanukkah Worldwide

Israel

National Character:

• Public menorah lightings
• Sufganiyot everywhere
• School plays and programs
• National pride in Maccabean heroism
• Tourist attractions at Modi’in (Maccabee hometown)

United States

High Visibility:

• Public menorahs (Chabad movement)
• White House Hanukkah party
• School accommodations
• Retail focus
• Greeting cards, decorations

Europe

Post-Holocaust Revival:

• Public celebrations growing
• Reclaiming Jewish presence
• Interfaith events
• Educational outreach

Modern Challenges

Commercialization

Concerns:

• Gift-giving excess
• Focus on material over spiritual
• Competing with Christmas consumerism
• Loss of religious meaning

Response:

• Emphasizing story and values
• Modest gifts
• Focus on family and tradition
• Charitable giving

Assimilation vs. Distinction

Balancing Act:

• Participating in broader culture
• Maintaining Jewish distinctiveness
• Interfaith families navigating traditions
• “December Dilemma”

Historical Accuracy

Maccabees Were Complex:

• Not just heroes—also ruthless warriors
• Established Hasmonean dynasty (eventually corrupt)
• Forced conversions of Idumeans
• Nuanced history vs. simple story

Songs and Prayers

Popular Songs:

• Ma’oz Tzur (Rock of Ages)
• HaNerot Halalu (These Lights)
• I Have a Little Dreidel
• Oh Hanukkah (Chanukah, Oh Chanukah)
• Light One Candle (Peter, Paul & Mary)

Liturgical Additions:

• Al HaNissim (“For the Miracles”) added to Amidah and Grace After Meals
• Hallel (Psalms 113-118) recited daily
• Special Torah readings

The Message of Hanukkah

Hanukkah tells us: A little light dispels great darkness. One small jar of oil, one small band of fighters, one small nation refusing to surrender—and darkness retreats.

The Maccabees were outnumbered and outmatched, but not out-faithed. When the choice was assimilate or die, they chose a third option: fight for the right to remain who God called them to be.

The menorah in the window is defiant hope. It says: We’re still here. You tried to extinguish us, but we still burn. Our light may be small, but it will not go out.

And the increasing light—one candle, then two, then three—that’s Jewish optimism. Don’t curse the darkness; light a candle. And tomorrow, light two. Keep adding light. Keep pushing back the shadows.

Hanukkah celebrates not just survival but thriving. The Temple wasn’t just defended; it was rededicated. Not just preserved but made holy again. Not just protected but renewed.

For modern Jews, Hanukkah whispers: Don’t be ashamed of your distinctiveness. The Greeks offered an appealing culture—philosophy, athletics, art, reason. But it came at a price: abandoning covenant identity. The Maccabees said no. And three thousand years later, Judaism still lives while the Seleucid Empire is dust.

Light your candles. Spin your dreidels. Eat your latkes. Tell your children the story. Teach them that small lights matter, that faith can defeat empires, that miracles happen, that dedication is renewed, and that the light will always outlast the darkness.

“A great miracle happened there.” And here. And still does.

Happy Hanukkah!