Hanukkah
Hanukkah is the festival of lights. It is a Jewish festival. The festival is celebrated to commemorate the recovery of Jerusalem. Also, the festival commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple.
When is Hanukkah celebrated?
The festival is observed for eight nights. According to the Hebrew calendar, it starts on the 25th day of Kislev which occurs in the end of November. Kislev is the third month of the Hebrew calendar.
How is Hanukkah celebrated?
The festival is celebrated lighting the candles. A unique candle called SHAMASH is lit. Shamash in Hebrew means attendant. Every night, one additional candle is lit till all eight candles are lit together on the last night of the festival.
Why is Hanukkah celebrated?
The King David united Israeli tribes and captured Jerusalem. In 957 BCE, his son King Solomon built a temple in Jerusalem. This temple was called the First Temple. Later in 586 BCE, the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar looted and destroyed the temple. He also deported the Jews. Later the second temple was built in 516 BCE. The second temple was destroyed by Neo – Babylonian Empire.
What are the battles related to Hanukkah?
The Maccabean Revolt are series of battles led by the Maccabees against the Hellenistic and Seleucid influence in Jewish life. It was a Jewish rebellion. Before the Maccabean revolt, a series of battles took place. They are Battle of Adasa, Battle of Beth Horon, Battle of Beth – Zechariah, Battle of Beth Zur, Dathema, Battle of Elasa, Battle of Emmaus and Battle of Wadi Haramia. These battles are associate with the Second temple period.
