Hanukkah

[Tanya Shivari]

A very misunderstood holiday...Hanukkah takes place on the 25th of [Kislev], the 3rd month on the Jewish calendar. Kislev used to be 100% synonymous with December, but, whereas the modern calendar is solar, the Jewish calendar, like the Old Roman calendar, is lunar. This is why Hanukkah is on different dates in December throughout the years.

In [168] [BCE], on the 25th of Kislev, Antiochus Epiphanes, King of Syria and overlord of Israel, desecrated the Jewish Temple by setting up a statue of Zeus inside, and sacrificing a swine to Zeus. Many Jews were forced to worship the Greek deities, or else be killed. MattithYah [Maccabee], and his son Yahudah led a rebellion, and within 3 years regained control of Jerusalem. On the 25th of Kislev, [165] BCE, [the Maccabees] purified the Temple, and re-dedicated it to the service of Yahweh.

[Merna]

A lesser Jewish festival, lasting eight days from the 25th day of Kislev (in December) and commemorating the rededication of the Temple in 165 BC by the Maccabees after its desecration by the Syrians. It is marked by the successive kindling of eight lights.