Chanukah's Fascinating History

Chanukah, also known as the festival of lights is an eight-day holiday on which we celebrate the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem following our victory over the Syrian Greeks in the 2nd century B.C.E. Although strictly speaking Chanukah is a minor holiday, observed by the lighting of the Chanukiah or menorah on each of the eight days of Chanukah, saying Hallel or Psalms of Praise during morning services and adding the “v'Al HaNisim—for the miracles” paragraph to the Amidah and Birkat HaMazon, the Blessing after the Meal, it has an incredibly fascinating history and a deeper message that often gets missed.

The story of Chanukah, with which many are quite familiar is to be found no where in the Tanakh—Hebrew Bible—but may be found instead in the 1 and 2nd books of Maccabees which are not part of the Jewish scriptural canon. During the 2nd century B.C.E., the Land of Israel, also commonly referred to as Judea was under the rule of the Syrian Greeks. The Greeks allowed their subjects to live in accordance with their own customs and religious practices relatively undisturbed which was the case for the Jews during this period, particularly under the reign of Antiochus III. Following his death, Antiochus III was succeeded by his son, Antiochus IV Epiphanes who, in sharp contrast to his father’s relatively tolerant stance sought to impose his Hellenistic cultural practices and beliefs upon the Jews. There was a substantial faction of people who were attracted to Hellenism and who adopted much if not most of its practices and ways of looking at the world, including taking Greek names, studying Greek philosophical thought, attending the gymnasium, ETC. They were sharply opposed by the so-called pietists, amongst who were the priest Mattathias and his five sons, the most famous of whom, Judah, soon became known as Judah the hammer—hence why we refer to them collectively as the Maccabees.

Amongst Antiochus IV Epiphanes’ most anti-Jewish measures included the outlawing of circumcision, the defiling of the Holy Temple by erecting an altar to Zeus, sacrificing a pig and forbidding the offering of the daily, Shabbat and festival sacrifices, as well as forbidding the observance of Shabbat and festivals in general. The First Book of Maccabees records many other brutal measures that were taken by Antiochus IV Epiphanes during this time. Nonetheless, many Jews sought to assimilate into Hellenistic Greek culture but as the conditions for the Jews continued to worsen profoundly, those who did not wish to adopt Hellenism rebelled against the repression and outlawing of Judaism and Jewish practice. A small group lead by the priest Mattathias and his five sons began an uprising, beginning in the year 167 B.C.E. and culminating with the Maccabees victory in 164 B.C.E., having overcome incredible odds.

In the aftermath of their incredibly miraculous and highly unlikely victory over the Syrian Greeks, the Maccabees went about the momentous task of rededicating the Temple in Jerusalem which took them a year’s time. Chanukah begins on the 25th of the month of Kislev because it was on this date that the Temple was finally rededicated. Chanukah is eight days long, some maintain, because the Maccabees wished to model it after Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret, having been unable to observe either while fighting for the previous three years. Others point to the significance the number eight holds in Judaism generally as the reason for the eight days of Chanukah.

Chanukah also celebrates the miracle of the oil, which is first recorded in Tractate Shabbat of the Babylonian Talmud and which is no doubt one of the best known parts of the Chanukah story today. It was essential that the Menorah remain lit throughout each night in the Temple but at the time of its rededication, only a single cruse of oil was found which bore the insignia of the High Priest. Miraculously, the oil, which was only meant to last a single day, lasted instead for eight, allowing a fresh supply of pure oil to be prepared. Today, Chanukah celebrates this miracle, not the Maccabees’ military victory.

Chanukah’s message is and has always been multi-faceted. It is a holiday about bringing light into the darkness of winter as we add a new light to our Chanukiah each night of Chanukah, increasing the light. Kabbalah or Jewish mysticism places a great deal of significance on the inner meaning of the Chanukah lights. Chanukah is also a time to reflect upon what it means to be Jewish today, just as many generations have done before us.