CHANUKKAH

A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . .
It is easier for one to raise a myriad of olive trees in Galilee than to bring up one child in the Land of Israel. [Midrash Raba]

THE STORY OF CHANUKKAH (Part 1)
Chanukkah means dedication. It is the Jewish Festival celebrating the Maccabees' victory over the Syrian army in 165 BCE (Before Common Era/BC - Before CHRIST).

Alexander the Great once conquered all the countries around the Mediterranean Sea, creating a vast Greek Empire. At the age of 33, he died broken-hearted, feeling that he had conquered all that was worth conquering. Wherever the Greek army went, Greek culture, language and religion were forced upon the population known as Hellenism.

After Alexander died, the Greek Empire was divided among his generals: Antigonus received Asia; Ptolemy received Egypt; Seleucus got Babylon; Lysimachus received Hellespont; and Cassander received Mascedonia. There were wars back and forth continually for years.

At the time of the Maccabees, Antiochus Epiphanies (means: "the deified god") ruled Syria and Ptolemy ruled Egypt. These two warred over the holy land. Antiochus launched a military campaign against Egypt in order to bring all of Israel under Syrian dominion. They imposed Hellenistic culture and religion on all they conquered with a vengeance. The Syrians were incredibly barbaric, even the Greek language was imposed upon the people they conquered. It was forbidden to observe Shabbat, study TORAH, use the Hebrew language or perform circumcision. Circumcised baby boys were killed and the mothers were forced to carry the dead infants hanging from their necks. Jews were given the choice to give up Judaism or die, often by torture; pagan temples were built throughout Israel. Then they plundered and desecrated the Temple of ELOHEY on the 24th of Kislev 168 BCE.

The soldiers even sacrificed a swine on the Temple Altar, the HOLY TORAH was spattered with pig blood and cut into pieces, then burned. Then Antiochus committed the ultimate offense - - on the birthday of Zeus, which is the month of Kislev (December) 24. Antiochus had his soldiers erect an idol of Zeus Olympus, the Greek’s supreme deity, in the Holy of Holies of the Temple of GOD. Not surprisingly, the idol bore the face of Antiochus himself. He demanded that the people bow down to worship his idol god. [As described in Daniel/Danyel 9. 27; 11. 30 - 31; Matthew 24. 15 - 17] Many Jews would not give allegiance to a heathen deity, and as many as 80,000 people chose to die rather than commit idolatry.

. . . to be continued
Blessing for Chanukkah


Barukh atah Adonai, Elohaynu, melekh ha-olam
Blessed are you, Lord, our God, king of the universe


she-asah neeseem la-avotaynu ba-yameem ha-heim ba-z'man ha-zeh
who performed miracles for our ancestors in those days at this time


(Amein)
(Amen)