Chanukah - the festival of light

In this festive season Christians celebrate Christmas and Jews have already celebrated Chanukah. But what is Chanukah all about, this ‘Festival of Light’? What does it celebrates? Where does it take its name? From how far in history does it echo? And what is its message? Chanukah celebrates a miracle that happened about two thousand one hundred and fifty years ago. After the death of Alexander the great in 323BC when its empire was divided between his generals, the Seleucid dynasty came into being. The Seleucid, who ruled the area of Israel and Judea, continued Alexander’s policy of Hellenizing their territories. Around the year 200B.C the Seleucid Antiochus IV came to power. Frustrated with his inability to Hellenize the Jews he eventually converted The Second Temple in Jerusalem to a house of pagan idol worship. map of Jerusalem in antiquity. The Second Temple is considered to be one of the seven wonders old world In 167BC after three years of guerrilla warfare, against a numerically superior army, man named Yehuda haMaccabi(judas Maccabeus), son of Matityahu (Mattathias), recaptured Jerusalem and the Temple Mount, cleansing it from all idols. After the Temple was cleansed, Yehuda and his men wanted to rekindle the temple’s eternal flame. They hunted high and low to find some blessed oil needed to light the flame on its seven-branched golden Menorah (candlestick), but all they could find was a tiny clay pot, which had enough oil for just one day. On the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev, which corresponds to sometimes in the month of December, a miracle occurred and the Menorah lit for eight days, giving enough time for fresh oil to be brought up to Jerusalem. The entrance to the Temple area Chanukah lasts for 8 days, signifying this event. Every evening during these days the chanukiyah (the special candlestick used only in Chanukah) is ceremoniously lit with an additional candle for each night. On the last night all eight candles are alight, as well as the service candle used to light the others. However, Chag (feast) HaChanuka celebrates not only the recapturing of the Temple, when Judaism was the only monotheistic religion in a sea of paganism, but also the survival of the Jewish spirit and culture. At the same time it raises awareness to the right of freedom over oppression. Chanukah is a happy celebration, where people sing songs, play games and eat sweet and oily foods to denote the miracle. We have come to evict the darkness, In our hands a fire so bright, Each of us is a small candle Together we are eternal light. Disperse, oh black darkness, Disperse! Here comes the light! Renate http://www.promisedland-renate.com/