Holiday Traditions Around the World

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Israel

Chanukah (kha'nu'kah) is a Jewish celebration of the victory of the Jews over the occupying forces of Antiochus IV, king of Syria in the year 165 BC. Just as Passover commemorates the freeing of the Jews from Egyptian enslavement by divine intervention, Chanukah tells of one of the great victories in Jewish history, the defeat of the forces of what was then one of the mightiest of powers by the Jews under the leadership of Judah the Maccabee and his four brothers, all members of the Hasmonean family.

Syria was, at that time, the eastern remainder of the empire of Alexander the Great and its worship and philosophy was still dominated by Greek influence. Many historical sources refer to its inhabitants as Syrian-Greek. Syria controlled Jerusalem, as well as the entire region known as Palestine. King Antiochus tried to impose Syrian-Greek practices on the Jewish population. He banned circumcision, Temple ritual, Shabbat observance and converted the Temple in Jerusalem into a pagan shrine.

When the Hasmoneans recaptured the Temple in Jerusalem, they proceeded to rebuild the alter and purify the building. This process took eight days. Legend has it that only one container of pure oil sealed by the High Priest could be found, normally enough for one day. But through a miracle, this oil burned in the Temple candelabrum for eight days, until new purified oil could be prepared.

The holiday is observed each year by lighting candles for eight days, one additional candle each day. All present join in singing traditional songs, such as Ma'oz Tzur (Rock of Ages) and other songs telling of the heroes of Israel and of brotherhood. Special prayers are read, thanking God for the miracle of Syria's defeat and for being well and alive to observe this holiday. Games are played using a special spinning top inscribed with the Hebrew letters for "A great miracle happened here". In the United States it has become the custom to exchange gifts on the first day of the Chanukah feast. Since the dates for Chanukah and Christmas frequently coincide, or are near each other, this affords Jewish children the opportunity to share some of the same happy experiences as their non-Jewish friends. Since Chanukah is not a religious holiday, but rather a National celebration, observant Jews may travel, work and attend school during the eight days of Chanukah.

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