In 164 B.C.E. the cruel king Antiochus ruled the Syrian territories of the Greek Empire, including Israel, forcing on them the Greek pantheon and worship.

The Greek tyrants appointed Hellenistic Jews to prominent positions. Rejecting their Jewish faith, the apostates adopted Greek names, dress and thought and reduced the holy Torah to mere literature and history, rather than Divine truth.

But many Jews remained loyal to the Torah, so the angry Antiochus sent soldiers to attack them and eradicate Judaism. The Greeks forbade Jewish practice, but Jewish martyrs defied the ban on Torah study, Circumcision and Shabbat observance.

Heroic Jews like Chana and her seven sons perished rather than bow to a Greek idol, and the aged priest Eliezer was slain for refusing non-kosher meat.

The elderly Matisyahu and his five sons in the town of Modin started a revolt, calling themselves the ‘Maccabees,’ a Hebrew acrostic: “Mi Komochah B'eilim Hashem,” “Who is like You, o G-d.” The courageous Jews prevailed over the mighty Greek army and expelled them from Israel.

The Maccabees then turned 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. They found only one intact small jar of oil that was not defiled by the Greeks, but the little oil was insufficient to light the Menorah for more than a day.

Miraculously, the oil burned full eight days until newly pressed pure oil was obtained.

This year, we usher in Chanukah with the lighting of the First Candle on Sunday evening December 25.

The Menorah’s 8 lights must all be of equal height, in a 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 with wicks that can be purchased, or homemade by twisting a puff of absorbent cotton into a 2-3 inch string.

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

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

In the absence of a designed Menorah, any metal containers may be used, but be sure there is no fire hazard. During the Holocaust and Communist oppression, Jews improvised Menorahs from hollowed potatoes filled with margarine or fat. Israeli soldiers have used spent ammunition canisters lined in a row as their Menorah.

On the first night, light 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 flame to its right, and so on, until all eight flames are kindled.

Many people place the Menorah in the window facing the street, while some light 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. 30) the Chanukah lights must be kindled before the Shabbos lights. (Shabbos begins once the Shabbos candles are lit, so it is forbidden to light the Menorah later.) Saturday night, the Chanukah candles are lit after the “Havdalah” ceremony bids farewell to Shabbos.

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 or regular lights in the room.

Some women refrain from household chores during the half-hour that the lights burn, honoring the brave Jewish heroines 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 donate some money to charity.

Chanukah gifts of books, games or toys are welcome, preferably in addition to the 'Gelt' coins tradition.

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

The Syrian Greeks had forbidden the Jews to study Torah. But the steadfast Jews defied the ban and continued to learn in hiding. If Greek soldiers discovered a Torah class, the children would disguise their studies 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 Latke 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 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, and the Jews were saved.