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“Qualitative Military Edge” is the term given to the military-technological advantage that the Maccabees used in their efforts to overcome a far more numerous Syrian-Greek Q army. The modern-day Israel Defense Forces employed this strategy as it protected Israel from numerically superior attacking Arab CHANUKAHtoto armies in 1948, 1967 and 1973. A By MICHAEL C. DUKE Z “Maoz Tzur”, or “Rock of Ages,” is a traditional Chanukah song. A Z “Rock of Ages” is believed to have been composed by the 13th- century poet, Mordechai. The bard’s name is an acrostic formed by the first letters of the song’s five stanzas, the first of which is based Ron Psalm 31, and which celebrates G-d’s continued delivering power.

Antiochus IV Epiphanes ruled the Hellenistic Seleucid Empire from 175 to 164 B.C.E. Under Antiochus IV, Jewish It is Sephardic, as well as Israeli and Polish Ashkenazic, custom religious practices were outlawed in Eretz Yisrael, and Greek to eat fruit-filled doughnuts, called sufganiyot, on Chanukah. religious symbols forcibly were installed in the Second Temple Similar to latkes, sufganiyot are deep-fried in oil, symbolic of the Ain Jerusalem. These actions provoked a large-scale Jewish revolt in 167 oil miracle. B.C.E. S

Though Chanukah originates in the historic military victory of The first source to mention the mitzvah of kindling the Chanukah the Maccabees over the Syrian-Greeks, the importance of the lights is the baraita: “According to Bet Shammai, ‘On the first festival lies in the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem day, eight lights should be kindled, thereafter they should be and with the restoration of Jewish observances and freedom in progressively reduced;’ while Bet Hillel held that ‘On the first TEretz Yisrael. Bnight one light should be kindled, thereafter they should be progressively increased’ ” (Scholium to Megillat Ta’anit; Shab. 21b).

Like other Hellenistic rulers before him, Antiochus IV underestimated the will of his Jewish adversaries. Initially, The name, Chanukah, has two interpretations: Most often, it only a small army of Syrian-Greeks was dispatched to put down is said to mean “dedication,” from the root chet-nun-chaf. A the Jewish revolt. With the Maccabees triumphant, however, second interpretation contends that Chanukah spells out the UAntiochus IV amassed a much large force, but again was defeated by the Hebrew acronym meaning “eight candles as determined by the Jewish rebels, who eventually took back and purified the Temple. CHouse of Hillel.” This is a reference to Hillel’s opinion that a new candle should be added each night in observance of Chanukah.

Chanukah lights should burn for a minimum half-hour after dark. In many communities, Jews observe the custom of vilna Dreidel is a traditional game of chance played on Chanukah, gaon, in which the Chanukah lights are kindled at sundown. using a special four-sided top. In the Diaspora, these sides are On Shabbat, however, the Chanukah lights must be lit before marked with the Hebrew letters nun-gimel-hay-shin, which, Vsundown, and there must be enough oil or wax to burn half-an-hour after in Yiddish, spell out the rules of the game: nit (nothing), gantz dark. D(all), halb (half) and shtell (put). It is believed that the game of dreidel was developed as a ruse during times when the study of Torah was forbidden.

The Battle of Wadi Haramia, in 167 B.C.E, was the first hand-to-hand combat fought between the Maccabees Eleazar was the youngest of Judah Maccabee’s five sons, who and the Syrian-Greeks. Judah Maccabee led a group of led the now-famed revolt against Antiochus IV. Eleazar was killed Jewish rebels to the northern part of Shomron. There, the during the Battle of Beth-Zechariah in 162 B.C.E. As the Syrian- WMaccabees ambushed the Seleucid forces led by the governor of Samaria, Greeks were attempting to lay siege on Jerusalem, Eleazar spotted The special menorah used on Chanukah is called Apollonius. With the element of surprise, Judah and his band successfully Ea large war elephant bearing the royal seal. The young warrior threw himself the chanukiah. Chanukiot have nine branches: destroyed the much larger Seleucid army, killing its commander. under the elephant and thrust his sword into its soft underbelly, killing one for each of the eight nights of Chanukah, both the elephant and himself. Eleazar’s heroism was commemorated on a plus one “helper,” or shamesh, used to kindle the Chanukah coin issued by the Bank of Israel in 1961. MChanukah lights. The celebration of Chanukah is supposed to C . Duke Despite the success of the Maccabean revolt, Jewish be made public, which is why Jews often place their chanukiot independence in Eretz Yisrael would be short-lived. Internal in the front windows of their homes.

JHV: Mic h ael JHV: divisions and the invasion of yet another imperial power Chanukah commonly is referred to as the Festival of Lights. Kindling the Chanukah lights is Daniella Tikvah Hooper Landweber, 7, daughter of Naftali and would send the children of Israel back into exile for nearly two This name is derived from the account given by the first-century Yocheved Landweber. Xcenturies. This exile would come to an end with the restoration of Jewish historian, Josephus. Though Josephus does not explain the origins Besides representing the rules of the game, the Hebrew letters sovereignty in the historic Jewish homeland in 1948. of Chanukah’s eight-day lighting custom, he does point out: “And on the dreidel are said to spell out the phrase: “nes gadol Ffrom that time to this we celebrate this festival, and call it Lights.” hayah sham,” or “a great miracle happened there.” On Judah Maccabee was the third son of the Jewish priest, Mattathias, Israeli dreidels, however, the shin is replaced with a pay, which Chanukah is considered a dairy holiday, a custom that has who killed a Greek official after he attempted to force Mattathias Nchanges the “there,” to “here.” its roots in the book of Yehudit, or Judith. The Assyrian (and The “money” that is used in the dreidel game is called gelt. into making a sacrifice to a pagan god. In response, Antiochus IV possibly Greek) general, Holofernes, surrounded the village Today, Chanukah gelt usually refers to chocolate coins of J launched a wave of reprisals, which then sparked a Jewish uprising. of Bethulia as part of his campaign to conquer Judea. With various sizes wrapped in metallic foil. Judah led the successful Maccabean revolt, and thus is acclaimed as one of When the Maccabees regained control of Judaism’s holiest Ythe Jews’ vital water supply cut off, Judith formulated a plan to liberate the great warriors in Jewish history, alongside Joshua, Gideon and David. G site, the Temple in Jerusalem, it was discovered that the pagan the village. She pretended to surrender to the enemy, and Holofernes was occupiers had defiled most of the olive oil needed to light overwhelmed by her beauty. He took her back to his tent, where she plied The Jewish rebels who led the revolt against the Syrian- its candelabrum. At the Temple’s rededication, the Jews used him with wine and cheeses. When he passed out, Judith killed him, which Greeks were known as the Maccabees – from the Hebrew word Every year, Chanukah observance begins on the 25th day of whatO ritually pure oil was left. Rather than burning for the expected few emboldened the Jewish resistance and broke the siege. Eating diary on meaning “hammer.” The Maccabees, whose family name Kislev (this year, the evening of Dec. 4). This date coincides hours, the oil miraculously lasted eight days. Today, the miracle of the oil Chanukah today serves as a reminder of Judith’s bravery, which is said to was Hasmonean, were said to have struck a “hammer blow” with the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. serves as a reminder of the miraculous survival of the Jewish people over rival that of the Maccabees. Hagainst their oppressive enemies. K the millennia. Fried potato pancakes, or latkes, are a traditional food eaten The last day of the Chanukah festival is known as Zot Without the Maccabees, Jews today might be speaking Greek. Under primarily by Ashekenizic Jews on Chanukah. The main ingredients In addition to the brachot said over kindling the Chanukah Chanukah. This name is derived from the verse, Zot Chanukat Seleucid occupation, Israel was being cleansed of its Jewish language are grated potato, egg and chopped onion, served with toppings lights, it is customary, especially among Chassidic and Sephardic Hamizbe’ach, which states: “This was the dedication of the and customs. To save Israel, and to preserve Jewish life, the Maccabees of sour cream, applesauce, strawberry preserves and/or grated communities, to recite Psalms 30, 67 and 91. Psalm 91, in alter” (Num. 7:84). According to Judaism’s mystical tradition, fought back and triumphed. More than 2,000 years later, the modern Lcheese. Latkes generally are fried in olive oil, which serves as a reminder of particular, is recited seven times after kindling the Chanukah ZKabballah, Zot Chanukah is the final “seal” of the High Holy Days season, IState of Israel continues to light the way for Jewish culture and freedom. Chanukah’s oil miracle. Plights, a practice initiated by the Baal Shem Tov. and thus is a time to repent and reaffirm our love for G-d.