What country does Hanukkah originate from?

Answer 1

How was Hanukkah Started?Hanukkah was started by a war between the Maccabees and the Syrian-Greeks. The Syrians overran the Holy Temple and ruined its contents. Finally the Maccabees reclaimed the Temple. They had very little oil left to light the menorah. The Maccabees thought that they had only enough oil for one day. But a miracle happened and the oil lasted for eight days. This is why we celebrate the eight days of Hanukkah. Also known as the festival of lights.

Answer 2

Hanukkah is a minor holiday that commemorates the victory of the Jews against the Syrian-Greeks in the Maccabean War of 165 BCE. The war took place in Israel. But no one actually knows where the holiday first became a distinct occasion.

Answer:

The above answer contains two mistakes.

1) On Hanukkah the chief celebration is not for the military victory; it's for the miracle of the oil (Talmud, Shabbat 21b). As an augmentation to the celebration of that miracle, we alsothank God during Hanukkah for the Hasmoneans' miraculous military victories (during which they ousted the Seleucids and their lackeys, the Hellenizing Jews, making possible the rededication of the Temple).

2) Of course we know where Hanukkah first became a distinct occasion. It was instituted by the Maccabees in conjunction with the Torah-sages in Judea (Israel), and was adopted immediately by Jews wherever they lived.

Answer 3

The story of Hanukkah took place in Israel. Back then it was called Judea. The war generally took place not far from Jerusalem and of course, the Hasmoneans rededicated the temple in Jerusalem following their victory.

Answer 4

It is unknown where or exactly when it was first celebrated as a holiday. It's first reference as a holiday was in the Talmud, in the 3rd Century CE.

Answer:The above answer has two mistakes.

1) We do know when and where Hanukkah was first celebrated. It was first celebrated by Jews wherever they lived, in 164 BCE (one year after the Maccabees retook Jerusalem).

2) The first reference to the celebration of Hanukkah was written long before the Talmud. It is mentioned by Josephus and in the book of Maccabees.

See the following paragraphs for details:

The Seleucids (Syrian-Greeks) under Antiochus Epiphanes (2nd century BCE), at the instigation of the Hellenizers, had forbidden various Torah-practices in Judea, such as Sabbath-observance, and pressed the Jews to offer up idolatrous sacrifices. The Hasmoneans (a family of religious Jews) fought to retake the Holy Temple, which had been seized by the Seleucids, and to enable the people to once again observe the Torah.

When they reached the Temple grounds and prepared to light the oil lamps of the Temple's menorah (Exodus ch.25), they found only one day's supply of unsullied olive oil. Miraculously, the menorah stayed lit for eight days (Talmud, Shabbat 21b), allowing enough time for new oil to be prepared and brought.

The significance of the miracle is that it demonstrated that God's presence still dwelt in the Holy Temple. This is what Hanukkah represents: the closeness to God; and the avoidance of Hellenization (assimilation).

The Torah Sages instituted the festival of Hanukkah at that time (Talmud, Shabbat 21b), to publicize the miracle (Rashi commentary, ibid). This is why we light our Hanukkah-menorahs.

The eight-day rededication of the Temple is also mentioned in the book of Maccabees (I, 4:36; and II, 1:18); and Josephus mentions the eight-day festival in Antiquities ch.12.

The Al-Hanisim prayer which we recite during Hanukkah centers around the Hasmoneans' victory and rededication of the Temple, while the candle-lighting commemorates the miracle of the oil.

Though the military victory is prominently mentioned in the prayers, it wouldn't have been celebrated if not for the miracle of the oil.

It should also be noted that the main goal for which the Maccabees fought was not political independence. They fought to enable the people to observe the Torah's commandments; as we say in the Al Hanisim prayer: "the Greeks sought to cause us to forget Your Torah and leave Your statutes."

Answer 5

The Torah-sages started Hanukkah, and it was celebrated by Jews wherever they lived. At the time, the largest Jewish communities were in Israel (Judea) and Babylonia; and smaller numbers of Jews in other places (North Africa, Arabia, Italy, etc.). See also:

Where and how did Hanukkah start?

Answer 6

It originated in Israel.

Answer 7

Judea, also known as Israel.

Answer 8

Israel