Hanukkah otherwise known as the festival of lights is the most celebrated Jewish holiday. This holiday is celebrated in the month of December and probably a week before Christmas.

The most important reason why this festival is celebrated is to honour the memory of their victory over the Greeks about 2150 years ago and it was more than anything spiritually satisfying.

The reason for this victory to be not only physically satisfying but spiritually also was a long series of torture by the Greeks. Alexander the great conquered Jerusalem and he had great control over it, but it all started after his death when the rule for the empire went into the hands of cruel Greeks.

Greeks were merciless over the Jews; they wanted Jews to worship their god (Zeus) and so started to force the issue. Slowly they made the Jews to wear Greek dresses and follow their customs, if they wanted to be a part of the political practitioners.

The Greeks changed the temple known as the ‘national house of worship’ to a Greek temple where Greek god Zeus were worshiped. This was spiritually very disturbing for the Jews and the revolt began.

A Jewish priest Mattathias disagreed to worship the Greek god and was ready to face the consequences. This was appreciated by many Jews and many joined his revolt. Judah Macabee the son of Mattathias formed a small group of soldiers to conquer the temple. Eventually the Jews succeeded in throwing the Greeks out of their city and conquered the temple (’national house of worship’).

For long it has been said that a miracle had taken place in the ceremony of rededication. So the name Hanukkah was kept which means to rededicate in Hebrew. The Greeks had messed up the place and the Jews had to repair the temple and make it look as it was before.

The eternal flame on the Menorah was extinguish and to relight it they required sacred olive oil, but they had oil that would be enough only for one day. To remake the oil it would take another 8 days. But the oil that was supposed to last only one day lasted for amazing eight days, this took everyone by surprise and this was the miracle that spiritually binds the Jews to the festival of lights or Hanukkah.

In Hanukkah the people began the festival as they enlighten the Menorah. Menorah is used as candlelabra; it contains 9 candles and one which is placed at a better height than the others. All the eight candles are lit from left to right and the 9 candle known as known as the Shamash is lit at last.

The eight candles are meant for eight days. People pray for goodness and blessing from their god and for the best. After that they sing to their god and exchange gifts for each of the eight nights and enjoy themselves by playing games. The most famous game is played with the help of dreidel; it has four sides and is similar to spinning top.

Favorite food is made and served with fried items; Jews cook latkes which is a dish with fried potato. It is one of the happiest moments to be there. Many people mistake this to be a Jewish Christmas where there are blue and white colors flying.

This festival brings great respect for the religion of Jews where they were able to defeat the Greeks and get their honor back but it wasn’t only appreciated by their fellow men but also by their god. It is always said god helps you only if you are wiling to help yourself.

Adam Florence is writes for various topics and enjoys buying Sukkahs,
Etrogs for Sukkot
at http://www.esrogheadquarters.com.
For simchas: http://www.bestkippah.com
for kippot & kippahs

[tags]hannukah, hanukah, hanukkah, chanukkah, chanuka, jewish, holiday, judaica, spiritual, religious[/tags]