While I am not Jewish, I do love and appreciate the miracle God performed for the Jews who trusted Him against great odds. About 2200 years ago, Greek kings reigning from Damascus ruled over the land of Judea and the Jewish people living there. Antiochus Epiphanes, a Greco-Syrian king, forbid the Jewish people from praying to their God, practicing their customs, and studying their Torah. He placed an idol of the Greek God Zeus on the alter in the Jewish Holy Temple in Jerusalem forcing the Jews to worship the Greek god.
In response to this persecution, Judah Maccabee and his four brothers organized a group of resistance fighters known as the Maccabees. They fought against paganism and oppression. The tenacity of the rebels, which came from their steadfast faith in one God, is the reason this military victory has been so celebrated by Jews in future generations. In one battle near Beit Horon, Judah's small army is intimidated by the size of the Greco-Syrian army and Judah tells the Jews to have faith that God is on their side:
But when they saw the army coming to meet them, they said unto Judah: 'What? shall we be able, being a small company, to fight against so great and strong a multitude? ...' And Judah said: 'It is an easy thing for many to be shut up in the hands of a few, and there is no difference in the sight of Heaven to save by many or by few; for victory in battle standeth not in the multitude of an host, but strength is from Heaven. They come unto us in fullness of insolence and lawlessness, to destroy us and our wives and our children, for to spoil us; but we fight for our lives and our laws. And He Himself will discomfort them before our face; but as for you, be yet not afraid of them." (The First Book of Maccabees)
According to tradition, when the Maccabees entered the Holy
Temple, they discovered that the
Greco-Syrians had defiled the oil which was used for the Temple's menorah. Only one vat of purified
oil remained. A miracle occurred when one day of oil burned for eight days.
This is why the Hanukkah Menorah has eight candles (not including the shamash
candle used to light the others) and why Jews celebrate Hanukkah for eight
days.
Against great odds, after three years of fighting, the
Maccabees succeeded to drive the Greco-Syrians out of Judea.
Hanukkah proclaims the message of the prophet Zachariah: "Not by might,
not by power, but by My spirit." The Maccabees reclaimed the Holy Temple
in Jerusalem, removing
the Greek symbols and statues. When Judah and his followers finished cleaning
the temple, they rededicated it. On the 25th day of the month of Kislev in 164
BCE, the Temple
was purified and rededicated. Hanukkah began this year at sundown on Friday December 11th and continues until the 19th. This history is taken from different sources, please feel free to share
any other part of this story you know. I would also appreciate knowing any of your
traditions when celebrating Hanukkah.
My Hanukkah Teacup Greeting card was fun and challenging to paint as I worked out the different ways to incorporate the Menorah, Dradle, Dove and the Jewish star. It comes with kosher Jasmine tea from Harney & Sons Fine Teas.