For Families Eyes Only

I learned a lot about how special Hannukah is to Jewish families, and why it is such a cherished Jewish family holidays celebration.

Hannukah is a Joyous Jewish Holiday Celebrated Close to Christmas

By: Lynn Jebbia

Hannukah is a Jewish holiday celebrated in December normally a week or so before the Christian holiday of Christmas. It is not one of the important religious holidays in the Jewish faith but it is a joyous holiday. It is often referred to as the “Festival of Lights”. It commemorates the physical and spiritual victory of the Jews over the Greeks more than 2150 years ago.

Jerusalem was conquered by Alexander the Great. When he died his empire was divided among the Greek rulers who then gained control of the Jewish land. They forced the Jews to adopt Greek dress and customs to establish conformity in religious and political practices. They even changed the Temple in Jerusalem which was the national house of worship to a temple to the Greek god, Zeus.

Mattathias was a Jewish priest who began a revolution when he refused to worship the Greek gods. His sons joined him and later his son Judah Macabee led a small group of soldiers and conquered the temple. They were able to eventually drive the Greeks right out of Jerusalem.

After the temple was conquered it was rededicated and it is said that a miracle occurred at this ceremony. Hannukah means rededication in Hebrew.