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Remember Coles at Sandy Bay for all your Kosher goodies!
8
The Story of Hanukkah
After the death of Alexander the Great his empire was split amongst his generals. Ptolemy ruled
Egypt and Seleucus ruled Syria and both were in perpetual battle with one another, with Palestine a
pawn caught in the middle, being occupied by first one, then the other of the warring sides.
The people were happier with the Ptolemaic rule, whereas the High Priests preferred that of the
Seleucids’, who allowed the priests the power to govern the people. The priests were thus very
happy when the Ptolemies were expelled from Judea (in about 198 B.C.E.).
The High Priests’ rule, however, was generally very bad. One High Priest, Menelaus, was so terrible
that the people revolted against him and he called upon Antiochus, the Syrian king, to aid him quell
the rebellion. Antiochus and his army came to Jerusalem, put down the revolt and plundered and
desecrated the Temple. Menelaus continued his rule, but even more tyrannically, publishing edicts
that were contrary to Mosaic Law and thus gave grounds for another rebellion. This time, the rebellion
started amongst the peasants in the countryside, where living conditions were far worst than that in
the towns. The rebellion was organised and led by Mattathias, a priest from the village of Modin.
One year into the revolt Mattathias died and the leadership was passed to Judah the Maccabee (it is
said that “Maccabee” comes from the word for ‘hammer’, though another explanation is that it comes
from the initial letters of their battle cry: “mi
kamocha
ba’elim
Adonai?” – “Who is like unto Thee
among the mighty, O Lord?”)
Judah and his small band of guerrilla warriors beat the mighty army of Antiochus, cleaned the Temple
of all its desecrating filth and rededicated it. However, they found only one cruse of oil for the Temple
Lamp, which was sufficient for one day only, and it would take eight days to prepare more. This
single cruse of oil lasted for eight days, so enabling the Temple Light to burn continually until fresh oil
could be prepared.
This is the Miracle of Hanukkah that we now celebrate for eight days, each day lighting an extra
candle in the Menorah. On the first day, facing the Menorah, we place a candle in the right-hand side
and using the shamash (shamash – the extra 9th candle which is lit first and is then used to light the
other candles), light it. On every successive night we add another candle, always starting at the right-
hand side, in the manner Hebrew is read, BUT we LIGHT them starting at the LEFT-HAND side. The
shamash candle can be put out when its work is done but the others MUST be allowed to burn out. It
is also customary to put the Menorah in the window, so everyone can see that you have lit the
candles, taking care not to set fire to the curtains!
On Friday night the Hanukkah candles are lit before the Shabbat candles and on Saturday night after
Havdalah.
On Hanukkah it is customary to eat dishes that are fried in oil – potato latkes, matzo-meal latkes,
doughnuts or even a plate of chips or French-fries. (All equally unhealthy!) Another custom is to play
a gambling game with a four-sided top called a dreidel. The children are also not forgotten at this
festival – it is customary to give the children Hanukkah gelt (money) and presents, and naturally there
are Hanukkah songs to be sung.
LEN FREEDMAN
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