Hanukkah: a lesser Jewish festival, lasting eight days from the 25th day of Kislev (usually beginning in December) and commemorating the rededication of the Temple in 165 BC by the Maccabees after its desecration by the Syrians. It is marked by the successive kindling of eight lights.
Answer:
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 circumcision, rededicated the Temple to a Greek idol, and pressed the Jews to offer up idolatrous sacrifices. Despite being heavily outnumbered, 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. The Hasmoneans (also called Maccabees) were miraculously victorious. When they reached the Temple grounds, they immediately reconsecrated it to God. As part of this action, they relit the Menorah (Exodus ch.25), which was fueled with olive oil. However, it soon became apparent that there was only sufficient oil to keep the candelabra burning for one single day - and it would take eight days to make and bring some more.
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 Hanukkah-menorah, or hanukkiyah, is a special form of the original seven-branched menorah. Our Hanukkah-menorahs have eight spaces for oil, or candles, to mark each of the eight days for which the oil lasted and a ninth to hold the shamash, a candle used to light the others.)
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."
Hanukkah is a Jewish festival.
The Jewish people.
Jewish
The festival of Hanukkah is in the Jewish religion. See also:http://judaism.answers.com/jewish-holidays/hanukkah
It is part of the Jewish religion (celebrated by Jews)
Hanukkah is not a religion. It is a Jewish Holiday. Jewish people worship one God.
The religion that celebrates yon kippur and Hanukkah is known as Judaism, which is the oldest religion...they also celebrate pesach, sukkot, purim and many other Jewish festivals.
No. The Jewish religion does not have priests. Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that is celebrated by each family in the home.
Hanukkah has no direct connection to either Joseph or Moses. Hanukkah commemorates the Maccabean War of 165 BCE.Answer:The answer is that all of these are from the Jewish religion.
Judaism is the religion that associates with the Torah, Yahweh (the Hebrew name for God), and Hanukkah. The Torah is the central religious text of Judaism, Yahweh is the God worshiped in Judaism, and Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem.
the most important holiday of the jewish religion is hanukkah
Chanukah is celebrated by the Jewish religion.
Hanukkah, also known as the 'festival of lights', is based on Judaism.
The Jews celebrate Yom Kippur and Hanukkah.
Of course. I am Jewish and it's totally fine to ask someone out before Hanukkah.