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The
story of how Hanukkah came to be is contained in Books I and II
Maccabees. This story records that the first time the Jewish people
celebrated this holiday was in 165 B.C. After three years of struggle,
the Jews in Judea defeated the Syrian Greek tyrant Antiochus. The
Jewish people held festivities in the Temple of Jerusalem. After
removing all statues of the Greek gods from the Temple, the Jews had
only a little bit of purified oil — enough to last one night.
Miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days. Judas Maccabaeus, one of
their leaders, then proclaimed that this festival be observed by Jews.
The
word “Hanukkah” means “dedication” in Hebrew and symbolizes the
rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem after its desecration by
foreign forces.
Early records suggest that when the
Maccabees entered the Temple, they found eight metal spears left by the
Syrian Greeks, from which they fashioned the first Menorah.
“Menorah”
is the Hebrew word for lamp. Today it refers to the candelabrum that
holds nine candles; one to be lit each night of the eight nights of
Hanukkah. The ninth flame is called the shamash (“the servant”) because
its purpose is to light the others.
The first-century Jewish historian Flavius Josephus wrote about this holiday and referred to it as “Festival of Lights.”
Source: myjewishlearning.com