In 164 B.C.E., the cruel tyrant Antiochus ruled the Syrian territories of the Greek Empire, which included the land of Israel. The sweep of Hellenist culture forced the Greek pantheon and philosophy on all Mediterranean nations of the ancient world, promoting the supremacy of human reason, and worshiped physical beauty for its own sake.

Those Jews who agreed with the Hellenists were appointed by the Greek rulers to prominent positions, adopting Greek names, dress and thought and rejecting their Jewish faith. They reduced the Torah to being merely literature, history and ethics, but not considered Divine truth.

But many Jews remained steadfast and loyal to the Torah, so the infuriated Antiochus sent soldiers to wipe them out and eradicate Judaism. The Greeks forbade Torah study, as Jewish martyrs defied the ban on Brit Milah and Shabbat in the face of torture and death.

Heroic Jewish acts included those of Chana and her seven sons, who perished rather than bow to a Greek idol, and the aged priest Eliezer was slain for refusing non-kosher meat.

The elderly Matityahu and his five sons in the town of Modin began a rebellion, calling themselves the ‘Maccabees,’ an acrostic of four Hebrew words: "Mi Komochah B'eilim Hashem," "Who is like Thee, G-d." The tiny band with enormous faith and courage ultimately prevailed over the mighty Greek army and expelled them from Israel.

The Maccabees then tried to clean and restore the center of Jewish life, the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, searching the pillaged and defiled Temple for sacred oil to light the Menorah. All they could find was only one small intact jar of oil that was not defiled by Greek soldiers. This oil was insufficient to light the Menorah for more than one day.

Miraculously, the oil burned full eight days until new pressed pure oil could be obtained.

This year, we usher in Chanukah with the lighting of the First Candle on Friday evening December 19 before sundown.

We light an additional candle each night of Chanukah, leading up to the lighting of all eight candles on Friday evening, December 26.  The Chanukah holiday actually continues through Saturday Night Dec. 27.

The Menorah's 8 lights must all be of equal height, in a straight row. To differentiate it from the other Chanukah candles, the Shamash 'servant' candle that kindles the others is placed a little higher or lower.

Most Menorahs use candles, while some prefer olive oil. When lighting with oil, ready made wicks can be purchased, or can be homemade by twisting a puff of absorbent cotton into a 2-3 inch string.

An electric menorah does not fulfill the obligation, but may be placed in addition to a candle or oil menorah to promote Chanukah awareness.

Chanukah is a holiday of renewal and rededication, ideal to promote Jewish heritage. We encourage the children to light their own Menorah.

In the absence of a pre-manufactured Menorah, metal bottle covers or any container may be used. During the Holocaust and Communist oppression, Jews improvised Menorahs from hollowed potatoes filled with margarine or fat. Today, Israeli soldiers on duty have used spent ammunition canisters lined in a row as their Menorah.

On the first night, we begin by lighting the flame on the extreme right of the Menorah. Each succeeding night another flame is added to the left of the previous flames. The new flame is lit first, followed by the one to its right, and so on, until all eight flames are kindled.

Many people place the Menorah on a windowsill facing the street, while some prefer lighting at the doorpost across the mezuzah. Kindled at sunset or nightfall, the candles should burn for at least half an hour after dark.

On Friday evenings (Dec. 19 and Dec. 26) the Chanukah lights must be kindled before the Shabbat lights. (Shabbat begins once the Shabbat candles are lit, so it is forbidden to light the Menorah afterward.) Saturday night, the candles are lit after the "Havdalah" ceremony bids farewell to Shabbat.

It is customary to sit by the kindled Menorah, tell stories and sing Chanukah songs. We are not allowed to benefit directly from the light of the candles, only from the shamash and other lights in the room.

Work is not be done near the lit candles. Some women refrain from all household work during the half-hour that the lights burn, in honor of the brave heroines like Judith who played crucial roles in the Chanukah story.

PRAYERS

The full Hallel is recited during Chanukah’s morning prayers. We add "Al Hanissim" in the Amida and during Grace after meals. We give Chanukah Gelt to the children, encouraging them  to give some money to charity.

Chanukah gifts of books, games and toys are welcome, but it is proper to also preserve the tradition of 'Gelt' coins.

The Draydel spinning toy has Hebrew letters on its four sides, available in metal, plastic or wood in different colors and sizes.

Before the Chanukah victory, the Syrian Greeks forbade the Jews to study Torah. But the Jews defied the ban, and continued Torah classes in hiding. If a Torah class was discovered by Greek soldiers, the children disguised their learning activity by pretending they were just playing an innocent game of Draydel.

HOLIDAY FOODS

Oil is central to the Chanukah miracle, so it is traditional to eat fried foods, i.e. Potato Latkes pancakes and Sufganiot doughnuts.

It is customary to eat dairy specialties. Cheese recalls the heroine, Judith, who charmingly made her way into the enemy camp, and gained the confidence of Helifornos, a vicious Greek general. She served him salty cheese, followed by a strong wine to quench his thirst. As he slept, Judith seized his sword and slew him. Realizing that their head had fallen, his soldiers ran off in confusion, saving the besieged Jews.