Hanukkah (Festival of Rededication)
. . . is celebrated for 8 days in December.
. . . is sometimes called the Festival of Lights.
. . . reminds Jews of events that happened 2000 years ago.
. . . celebrates the bravery of a small group of Jews who were led by a
man named Judah the Maccabee( The Hammer).
Judah was the leader of a small group of men who fought against the cruel
emperor Antiochus. When they beat his army, they recaptured Jerusalem.
Antiochus had made the Temple there unclean by killing a pig on the altar. It
could not be used to worship God again until it had been specially cleaned and made holy
again.
When the temple was made holy again, the Temple lamp, a menorah, was lit.
It was supposed to burn all the time but Antiochus had let it go out. It only
had enough oil to burn for one day. Judas sent his army to get more oil but it was
special and it took 8 days to get it. But the lamp was still burning when they
returned. The people said it was a miracle and that God had made it burn. This
showed that God was pleased that the Temple had been made ready for worship again.
When they celebrate Hanukkah today, Jews use a special branched
candlestick. It is called a Hanukkiah. It has 8 branches and an extra holder
for the "servant candle" that is used to light all the others. One candle
is lit the first night and one more is lit each night for 8 nights. Before each
candle is lit a special prayer is said.