What is Hanukkah?

Hanukkah is mentioned in the New Testament as the “feast of the dedication.”

"And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter." - John 10:22 KJV [Another translation: “It was now winter, and Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time of Hanukkah, the Festival of Dedication.” – John 10:22 NLT]

“Hanukkah,” also called “Chanukah,” began Sunday, December 23, 2019, at dusk.

It is the Jewish “festival of lights,” celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers and fried foods.

The Hebrew word “Hanukkah” means “Dedication.” On this day in 139 BC the Temple was repaired, cleansed and rededicated. This is after the Temple was defiled by the Syrian-Greek king Antiochus IV and his armies, who had tried to forcefully uproot the beliefs and practices of Judaism from the people of Israel. Jewish worship was forbidden, the scrolls of the Law were confiscated and burned, and Sabbath rest, circumcision and the dietary laws were prohibited under penalty of death.

Antiochus sent his General Apolonius to wipe out Judah and his followers, the Maccabees. The Maccabees were a band of Jewish freedom fighters. Though greater in number and equipment than their adversaries, the Syrians were defeated by the Maccabees.

The Maccabees returned to Jerusalem to liberate it. They entered the Temple and cleared it of the idols placed there by the Syrians. Judah and his followers built a new altar, which he dedicated on the 25th of the Hebrew month Kislev, in the year 3622 (139 BC).

All the Temple's oil had also been defiled by the pagan invaders. When the Jews went to re-light the Temple's Golden Candlesticks, they could only find one small cruse of olive oil that was ritually pure. By a miracle of God, it continued to burn for eight days, until new oil was made available. In memory of this, Jewish sages appointed these eight days for annual thanksgiving and for lighting candles.

For eight nights, candles are lit to recall and publicize this great miracle. A menorah holds eight candles, with one additional candle placed above the rest that is used to light the other candles. On the first night, one candle is lit. On the second night, two candles are lit, and so on until the eighth night. It is said that throughout the eight nights, the lights are multiplied, totaling thirty-six lights lit over 8 nights. It is required that the menorah lights be set in a window or doorway so that the world that passes by can see the light. A menorah is lit in every household.