Hanukkah is a minor holiday that commemorates the victory of the Jews against the Syrian-Greeks in the Maccabean War of 165 BCE. It was first celebrated one year after the rededication of the Temple during that war.
Answer: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' military victory (during which they ousted the Seleucids and their lackeys, the Hellenizing Jews, making possible the rededication of the Temple).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 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, they found only one day's supply of unsullied olive oil, but the oil lamps miraculously burned for eight days (ibid.), 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.
The Torah Sages instituted the festival of Hanukkah at that time (Talmud, Shabbat 21b), to publicize the miracle (Rashi commentary, ibid). 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, 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, just as we have no special occasion to mark Abraham's victory (Genesis ch.14), or those of Moses (Numbers ch.21), Joshua, Deborah (Judges ch.4), Gideon (Judges ch.6-7), Jephthah (Judges ch.11), or King David. And though the Hasmonean battles continued for two decades after the retaking of the Temple, the Sages instituted Hanukkah immediately after 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."
There are no special cookies associated with Hanukkah. Any kind of cookies can be seen at Hanukkah parties.
Words that can be made from the letters in Happy Hanukkah are:aahahaanankhanyaukayahhahahhankhankyhaphayhuhhunkhunkyhuphyphakahunakappakayakkhankhaphknapnahnapnappynaynupapahpanpappapapapayapaypukkapunpunkpunkahpunypuppupapyauhunhappyupyakyankyapyaupyuanyukyup
Hanukkah has never been "made official" by any person.Answer:The above answer is mistaken. Our tradition explicitly states that Hanukkah was instituted by the Torah-sages (Talmud, Shabbat 21b), who were acting in concert with the Hasmoneans.
No U.S. president has ever made Hanukkah an official holiday. Only 2% of the population celebrates it, so it would not be warranted.
Not necessarily. Enchiladas are a Mexican food.
Words that can be made from the letters in Happy Hanukkah are:aahahaanankhanyaukayahhahahhankhankyhaphayhuhhunkhunkyhuphyphakahunakappakayakkhankhaphknapnahnapnappynaynupapahpanpappapapapayapaypukkapunpunkpunkahpunypuppupapyauhunhappyupyakyankyapyaupyuanyukyup
חנוכה שמחSee also: More about Hanukkah
Hanukkah is a holiday, while "kosher" is an adjective referring to food which is made in accordance with the Torah-rules for preparing food. Celebrating a "kosher" Hanukkah, it would mean that any foods served during the holiday were kosher.
It is called a Hanukiah or a Hanukkah menorah.
Hanukkah is the name of Hanukkah. In Hebrew it is spelled חֲנֻכָּה
There is no such thing as a Hanukkah bush. This is something that was made up by Jews who really want to celebrate Christmas, but can't bring themselves to do it.
Hanukkah is a holiday, not a person.