Few people know much about the holiday of Hanukkah. When asked to describe Hanukkah, Simona Stolpner, a Thurgood Marshall College senior, said “”Chanukah is the festival of lights. Instead of one day of presents, we have eight crazy nights,”” quoting Adam Sandler.
For those whose knowledge of the holiday is entirely based on “”The Chanukah Song,”” there is much more to learn about this holiday, which takes place from Dec. 19 through Dec. 27 this year.
According to Jewish traditions the origins of Hanukkah began a long time ago, in a kingdom far, far away. The Syrian King Antiochus ruled from 175 B.C. to 163 B.C. over the province of Judea, which ‹ as the name implies ‹ is where the Jews lived.
He was convinced that the Jewish religion was at the heart of the opposition to his policy of Hellenization (the spreading of Greek culture), so he decided to outlaw Judaism under penalty of death. He ordered his soldiers to sacrifice pigs in the Holy Temple and place a large statue of Zeus there; Jews saw both actions as desecrations to this holy site.
Antiochus’ decree sparked a revolt. The revolt began in 167 B.C. in the city of Modi’in. Antiochus had sent soldiers to the towns of Judea to force the leaders to sacrifice pigs. But Mattathias, one of the elders of the town of Modi’in, refused to perform the sacrifice. He killed the soldier and shouted, “”Follow me!”” Many Jews followed him, beginning the revolt.
The Jews were led by Mattathias’ son Juda, nicknamed Maccabeus, and thus, the rebels were called Maccabees. The Maccabees hid in caves and practiced guerrilla warfare. After three long years, the Maccabees won and regained control of Jerusalem.
Hanukkah then represents the miraculous victory of a small rebel band of Jews who fought against a foe that was trying to wipe them out. But that’s not all. Jewish belief says that there was a second miracle when the Maccabees regained control of the temple. The Jewish troops wept at the sight of the Holy Temple defiled, and vowed to clean it and repurify it.
They could only find one jar of pure olive oil to light the menorah, or candelabra. The menorah was always supposed to be lit, but there was only enough oil to last for one day, and it would take eight days to get more oil. According to legend, a miracle occurred, and the small jug of oil lasted for eight days, allowing the menorah to burn until more oil could be made.
In commemoration of this miracle, Hanukkah is eight days long, and on each day, candles are lit in menorahs to remember this miracle. On the first night one candle is lit, on the second night two, and so on.
Latkes, or potato pancakes, are fried in oil to remember the miracle of the oil. Other fried foods are eaten as well; in Israel a big favorite is sufganiyot, or jelly-filled doughnuts.
Another commemoration of the miracle is the tradition of playing with dreidles on Hanukkah. A dreidle is a four-sided top, and on each side a Hebrew letter is printed (nun, gimel, hey, shin) as an acronym for “”Ness Gadol Haya Sham,”” which means “”A great miracle happened there [Israel].””
Dreidles are used to play a child’s betting game. The dreidle is spun and depending on which letter lands up, it determines whether the spinner gets money, or has to put it into the pot instead.
