I
would just like to start off this blog post by saying Chanukah is not the
Jewish Christmas. You may see things like a Chanukah bush or blue
and white lights hung with care. You may even be given ironic gifts like a
stocking with a Star of David on it (true story). But it’s still not the Jewish
equivalent of Christmas. In fact, unless you're 6 years old and
living in a shtetl it’s really not even a major holiday. So what is it? I’m
glad you asked.
Sometimes
it’s referenced as the Holiday of Lights, although technically the word
Chanukah means, "dedication." You’ll understand why shortly. It’s
always celebrated on the 25th day in the Jewish month Kislev
(otherwise known as the end of the November/beginning of December- trying to
explain the Jewish calendar without confusing not only myself but everyone else
would require another miracle). Since the holiday falls in December, often in
close proximity to Christmas, the above-mentioned belief about it being the
Jewish version of Christmas is understandable. But again, it’s really not.
Chanukah
is basically a holiday celebrating a pretty rad miracle that G-d performed for
some badass rebels that were rededicating the Temple after it had been
defiled. Here’s how it went down:
 |
| from temple-isaiah.org |
So
Alexander the Great had the habit of allowing the inhabitants of the land he
controlled to continue practicing their own religions. This worked
out great for the Jews, some even assimilating into the Hellenistic culture,
much to the chagrin of others. However, roughly two hundred years after the
death of Alexander the Great, Antiochus IV gained control. Then everything
changed. He started oppressing the Jewish people. There was a lot of killing, a
lot of persecuting, and a lot of defiling the Jewish Temple. For
example, he sacrificed a pig on the Temple altar.
Ahhh we don’t even eat pork
so I’m sure you can imagine the general reaction.
A
group led by Mattathias the Hasmonean and his son, Judah Maccabee, led a revolt
and eventually regained control of Judea. According to tradition
(who else just heard Fiddler on the Roof?) when the Maccabees went to
rededicate the Temple there wasn’t enough undefiled oil left to do it
properly. There was only enough to burn for one night. However,
HaShem did something pretty awesome. G-d miracled the oil to burn for all 8
nights. Ergo a holiday was born to celebrate.
And
that’s the story we tell our kids. What we don’t mention is that the leaders of
that revolt stayed in power for quite a long time and committed their own
bloodthirsty campaign against their own people. Specifically, anyone who
challenged their rule. We also don’t mention that the rededication
of the temple was more than likely a second Sukkot, as the rebels were unable
to celebrate the holiday when it was biblically commanded due to all the war
mongering that was going on.
Now,
we burn a nine-branched Chanukiah in our windows to remember the miracle of the
oil. We also eat a lot of food fried in oil (cue the latkes and jelly
doughnuts), play dreidel (cue Adam Sandler) and, if you have young children,
maybe even give gifts. I would like to add, however, that the gift giving is a
recent tradition, born out of assimilation into American culture. Ironic that a
holiday born out of revolution to assimilation and oppression has become one of
the most assimilated holidays we celebrate. But, I digress.
I don’t know if the Miracle
of the oil actually happened. Regardless, there are a lot of wonderful messages
that can be taken from this story. I know that those candles illuminate way
more than just my window. They are a symbol of our light, as Jews, to the
world. They tell us that oppression can be overcome. And for at least eight
nights out of the year, they whisper anything is possible.
