Hanukkah, also known as “the Festival of Lights,” is an eight-day Jewish holiday celebrated during the Jewish month of Kislev, which is the ninth month of the Hebrew calendar falling between November to late December, starting on the 25th day. This holiday commemorates the purification and rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after it was defiled by the Greek Syrians, and it is also a time for rededication to the faith. The story of Hanukkah is found in the books of Maccabees I and II that are included in the books of the Apocrypha. These books convey the events and the sacrifices in attempts to regain possession of Jerusalem, although it is not mentioned in the Hebrew bible. The familiar universal tradition of the lighting of the
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He replaced the high priest, Onias III, with his younger Hellenized brother, Jason. Under Antiochus ' law, any Jew who conformed to the Hellenistic culture would be left in peace, but those who departed from these laws would be sent to punishment by the theocratic government. Antiochus ' placements of Hellenistic city-states throughout his empire was his attempt in hopes of voluntary integration of Hellenization. With Antiochus as ruler and Jason as the high priest, Hellenistic culture heightened and many priests under Jason had started to abandon the Temple’s service. Hellenizers began the building of a gymnasium and a Hellenistic school in Jerusalem. Expecting peace amongst people of his empire, Antiochus continued is reign by appointing a man named Menelaus as the new high priest after he offered him a much larger sum compared to Jason. During Antiochus’ absence on an Egyptian campaign, Jason tried overthrowing Menelaus causing a threatening return of Antiochus. In the year 167 B.C., Antiochus who was livid with the still remaining conflict …show more content…
Mattathias had five sons, Yochanan, Simon, Judah, Eliezer, and Jonathan who were farmers. Although the Pietists were Chasidic, meaning they believed everything was to be left upon to God’s will, the Maccabees were convincing in the argument that in the Jewish faith "every commandment of the Torah except three – idolatry, murder, and certain sexual immoralities – can be overridden to save a life." Before his death, Mattathias passed his leadership down to his son, Judah. Through his valor and honor to his father, Judah led his supports to victory as they defeated various armies sent to them by Antiochus. After their arrival back to Jerusalem, Judah, and his followers discovered the temple had been tarnished. They initiated the "purification" of the temple by destroying existing statues of Greek gods and immediately lit the Ner Tamid, which is a lamp symbolizing eternal light that hangs above the Torah representing God’s presence. The only remaining items found that had not been tainted was a single vile of oil and a menorah. Expecting the oil to burn
He replaced the high priest, Onias III, with his younger Hellenized brother, Jason. Under Antiochus ' law, any Jew who conformed to the Hellenistic culture would be left in peace, but those who departed from these laws would be sent to punishment by the theocratic government. Antiochus ' placements of Hellenistic city-states throughout his empire was his attempt in hopes of voluntary integration of Hellenization. With Antiochus as ruler and Jason as the high priest, Hellenistic culture heightened and many priests under Jason had started to abandon the Temple’s service. Hellenizers began the building of a gymnasium and a Hellenistic school in Jerusalem. Expecting peace amongst people of his empire, Antiochus continued is reign by appointing a man named Menelaus as the new high priest after he offered him a much larger sum compared to Jason. During Antiochus’ absence on an Egyptian campaign, Jason tried overthrowing Menelaus causing a threatening return of Antiochus. In the year 167 B.C., Antiochus who was livid with the still remaining conflict …show more content…
Mattathias had five sons, Yochanan, Simon, Judah, Eliezer, and Jonathan who were farmers. Although the Pietists were Chasidic, meaning they believed everything was to be left upon to God’s will, the Maccabees were convincing in the argument that in the Jewish faith "every commandment of the Torah except three – idolatry, murder, and certain sexual immoralities – can be overridden to save a life." Before his death, Mattathias passed his leadership down to his son, Judah. Through his valor and honor to his father, Judah led his supports to victory as they defeated various armies sent to them by Antiochus. After their arrival back to Jerusalem, Judah, and his followers discovered the temple had been tarnished. They initiated the "purification" of the temple by destroying existing statues of Greek gods and immediately lit the Ner Tamid, which is a lamp symbolizing eternal light that hangs above the Torah representing God’s presence. The only remaining items found that had not been tainted was a single vile of oil and a menorah. Expecting the oil to burn