The Feast of Hanukkah is also known
as the Feast of Dedication or the Feast of Lights. Although the feast is not found in the Hebrew
Bible, its origin is from Second Temple Judaism. The sources for events surrounding the feast
are found primarily in 1 and 2 Maccabees.
In 167 BCE, the Seleucid King Antiochus Epiphanes entered Jerusalem and desecrated
the Jewish Temple setting up an altar to Zeus.
With the help of the Maccabees, a small group of Jews were able to win
back Jerusalem and regain the Temple.
This is known as the Maccabean Revolt.
In celebration of the victory, Hanukkah was celebrated for eight days
beginning on the 25th of Kislev, which currently takes place during months
of November and December. During the
next several days I will look more closely at important topics associated with the
Feast of Hanukkah.
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| Hanukkah Menorah inside King David's Tomb in Jerusalem, Israel. |
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