What is Jewish Hanukkah?
Here's the answer:
Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday known as the "Festival of Lights."
Most people have heard of Hanukkah, but they are not sure what it is. Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that is celebrated either in November or December. It is an eight-day festival that begins on the 25th day of the Jewish month, Kislev. This holiday is not mentioned in the Old Testament, although it is mentioned in the Jewish book, the Talmud.
Since Hanukkah is so close to Christmas, many people think of it as a Jewish Christmas. They celebrate the holiday by giving each other gifts, decorating, and spending time with loved ones. But this holiday didn't start with this type of celebration, as it actually has an intense past. The origin of this holiday is found in a rebellion of the Jewish people, known as the Maccabean Revolt.
The Jews were forced to adopt Greek culture, they were murdered, and they could not practice their religion. After a great time period, the Jews could no longer stand under the hand of the rulers and revolted. One of the Jewish groups, opposed to the ruler Antiochus, was led by Mattathias and his son, Judah Maccabee. The Jews battled against the rulers and won.
Although their temple was destroyed, they were able to truly experience freedom again. They had run their enemies out of their land and were able to fully worship God again. The Maccabees cleansed the temple and rededicated it to God. They lit the Menorah, or candle holder, with a small amount of oil, and that oil amazingly burned for eight days. These eight days are now what is celebrated on Hanukkah.
Bible Truth
"Lord, I will give you honor. You brought me out of deep trouble. You didn’t give my enemies the joy of seeing me die. Lord my God, I called out to you for help. And you healed me. Lord, you brought me up from the place of the dead. You kept me from going down into the pit" (Psalm 30:1–3).
"Jesus spoke to the people again. He said, 'I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in darkness. They will have that light. They will have life'" (John 8:12).
