A Great Miracle Happened There

WHAT IS HANUKAH?

Hanukah, the Jewish Festival of lights, celebrates a beautiful story of a miraculous event which took place over 2300 years ago in Judea, which is now Israel. In the western world it is a movable feast, celebrated this year 2004, December 7th through December 16th. It commemorates the victory of the Maccabees and the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem. It also commemorates the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days. The story can be found in the Book of Maccabees. This book is not in the Protestant Bible since it is considered an apocryphal book - one which is not inspired. It is, however, a part of the Catholic Bible, based on apostolic tradition.

ENTER JUDAH MACCABEE

Now Antiochus, the Syrian king, had issued a proclamation that the Jews were to renounce the worship of God, as well as all of their religious beliefs and customs and worship, instead, the Greek gods. Some of the Jews obeyed the king, while others refused to do so. One brave Jew, Judah Maccabee, was one who refused. Something clearly had to be done to rectify a burgeoning situation.

MACCABEEAN REVOLT

Judah took matters into his own hands. He and his four brothers pulled together an army. Their goal was to drive the Syrians out of Israel and reclaim the Temple in Jerusalem. Their goal was achieved in three years. The Maccabees then sanitized the temple after which the building was rededicated.

THE OIL LAMP

The next thing to do was light the N'er Tamid, the eternal light, which should burn a perpetual flame. Once the oil lamp is lit, it should never be extinguished.

THE MIRACLE

Only one small pitcher of oil was found containing just enough oil for one day. The oil lamp was filled and lit anyway. Then a miracle occurred. The tiny bit of oil stayed lit not for one day, but for eight days!

THE CELEBRATION

Hanukah is celebrated worldwide by all Jews to mark the victory over the Syrians and the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. The Festival of Lights, Hanukah, lasts for eight days to commemorate the miracle of the oil.

It is a time of play, prayer, food, and songs. The Jewish Outreach Institute is a wonderful web site with dreidel games, lyrics to favorite Hanukah songs, great recipes, and pages for children to download for coloring and cut-out play.