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The Seleucids (Syrian-Greeks) under Antiochus Epiphanes (2nd century BCE), at the instigation of the Hellenizers, had forbidden various Torah-practices such as Sabbath-observance and circumcision, rededicated the Jewish Temple to a Greek idol, and pressed the Jews to offer up sacrifices to the idol. One of the leading elder Jewish sages called upon the people to keep observing the Torah anyway; and if necessary, to use force in resisting the decrees.When a Hellenized Jew offered a sacrifice to the Greek idols in a nearby village, the sage killed him as well as the Greek overseer. This brought a violent reaction from the Greeks; and the loyal Jews, led by the Hasmonean family, were forced to retreat from their towns and strike out at the Greeks in an attempt to oust them from the Holy Land and to enable the people to once again observe the Torah. The Torah-Jews were heavily outnumbered by the attacking Greek armies, but God gave them miraculous victories again and again.
After three years of struggle, the Greek armies retreated from Jerusalem, and the Hasmoneans (also called Maccabees) entered the Holy Temple which the Greeks had defiled, reconsecrated it to God, and began the Temple service once more.
Among other things, they wanted to relight the olive oil candelabrum (Exodus ch.25), but could only find one day's supply of undefiled oil - 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 was still there. The Torah-community was overjoyed, because God's presence meant everything to them. 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."
See also:
What else can I help you with?
In what year did the Peasants' Revolt begin?
The Peasant's Revolt began in 1381.
Where did the persecution of the Jews by Antiochus Epiphanes take place?
The majority of the persecution of the Jews by Antiochus Epiphanes took place in the area around Jerusalem. This persecution led directly to the Maccabean Revolt.
How military men begin to help the revolt?
by being super cool
What group defeated the Syrians in the Hanukkah story?
The group that defeated the Syrians was the Maccabees. The defeat took place during the Maccabean revolt between 167 and 160 BCE in Judea.
When did Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla begin a revolt against Spanish rule?
On 16 September 1810.
When did the Maccabean Revolt begin?
139 BC
Discuss the causethe course and the consequence of maccabean revolt?
It is rebel,social religious,inner and outer enemies that causes it.
This Syrian ruler's orders for Jews to worship Greek gods led to the maccabean revolt?
Antiochus IV Epiphanes
What caused Maccabean revolt?
It was Matityahu from the city of Modi'in, father of Yehuda the Macabi and his brothers.
Why was judah called the hammer?
Judah lead a revolt in Judea which was nicknamed the maccabean war which translates into the hammer so he was called that.
In what year did the Peasants' Revolt begin?
The Peasant's Revolt began in 1381.
When did the slovanian peasant revolt begin?
Slovenian peasant revolt of 1515 and Croatian and Slovenian peasant revolt of 1573
What was the attitude of 1st century Jews after the Maccabean revolt against the Romans?
You've combined two different periods. The Maccabees led a revolution against the Syrian-Greeks.
What change in Greek control led to the Jewish Maccabean revolt?
At the instigation of Hellenising Jews, the Syrian-Greeks outlawed several of the Torah-commands and imposed idolatrous sacrifices.
Why did the Maccabean Revolt takeplace in Judea?
The Maccabean Revolt took place in Judea primarily due to the oppressive policies of the Seleucid Empire, particularly under King Antiochus IV, who imposed Hellenistic culture and religion on the Jewish population. This included the outlawing of Jewish practices and the desecration of the Temple in Jerusalem. In response, a group of Jewish rebels, led by the Maccabee family, rose up to restore their religious freedoms and reclaim their autonomy. The revolt ultimately resulted in the establishment of the Hasmonean dynasty and the rededication of the Temple, commemorated by the festival of Hanukkah.
When did the Libyan revolt begin?
The Libyan revolt began as a series of protests and altercations on February 15th, 2011.
What was the result of the Maccabean Revolt?
The Maccabees regained control over the land from the Syrian Greeks and this was called the Hasmonean Kingdom. The Hasmoneans were overrun by the Roman armies nearly a century later.
