CHANUKAH, FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
Light One Candle
A primer on Chanukah
The season is upon us, and with that comes a primer on Chanukah so that you can be in the “holiday know.” Most of us know that the holiday is 8 days, and on each night, we add one more candle to be lit. So on night 4, we light 4 candles. On night 5, we light 5 candles.
But there is so much more to know and understand as we greet the holiday. Here’s my primer.
The Chanukah Story Itself
Back in 190 BCE, the Greeks occupied Israel and imposed their will. They required that Jews help finance their military through taxes and house their soldiers in their homes. They placed a Zeus statue in the Temple courtyard and banished Jewish observances, including the sabbath and circumcision of newborn boys.
When the Greeks demanded that Jews sacrifice a pig to Greek idols, a line was crossed. In 166 BCE, a group of Hasmoneans led by Mattathias had enough, and violence ensued.
Complete chaos broke out, and a war began between the Jews and the Greek army.
Mattathias and his five sons led the Maccabees in guerrilla warfare against a much better-equipped Greek army. After Mattathias was killed, the Maccabees…
