by Parmjit Singh

Hanukkah or Chanukah, called the Festival of Lights, is a symbol of freedom and victory. Close on the heels of Indian Diwali, this festival of Jews marks the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem after the defeat of the Syrian overlords for prohibiting the free practice of Jewish beliefs in 164 BCE. The festival runs for eight days and starts off at the 25th day of Hebrew month Kislev. The Kislev month in Hebrew usually falls in November/December of an English calendar year.

Hanukkah marks the Jewish rebellion against the Syrian Kings who outlawed the Jewish practice of Sabbath and Circumcision. At that time, Israel was under the control of Seleucid dynasty after the conquest by Alexander the Great. Subsequently, Antiochus IV tried to enforce the Jews to adopt the practice of worshipping only Greek Gods. However, this was unacceptable to Jews who wanted to practice their own religion with freedom and maintain their traditions.

Once when a small army of King Antiochus came to set up an altar and commanded the Jews to sacrifice a pig, a rebellion was sparked off. Mattathias, a priest and father of Judea Maccabee killed the Jew who was about to execute the request of the army for sacrifice and vanished into mountains to launch a guerilla war against these Syrian oppressors and their allies.

After the death of Mattathias, who launched the original rebellion against Hellenist ruler for disallowing them their religious practice, his son Judea Maccabee kept on fighting. He finally succeeded in freeing the Temple of Solomon in 164 BCE.

According to Talmudic belief, when Judea Maccabee was getting ready to re-dedicate the Temple of Jerusalem after its purification he could find only enough undefiled and pure oil to last for one day. However, miraculously the small quantity of oil lasted for eight days and eight nights. That was the beginning of this eight-day festivity which has roots in liberation, victory and re-assertion of religious freedom.

Ever since, to commemorate this occasion and mark the re-dedication of the Temple of Jerusalem, candles are lit on a menorah each year. A menorah is a candle-holder with eight candles and one shammash or servant candle. Jews start lighting one candle each day until all the eight candles are lit. E.g., one candle is lit on the first day, two on the second day until the eighth day when all the candles are lit.

Apart from the religious import this festival has for people, it is also a family event. After candles are lit each day, blessings are recited and family members sing special Hanukkah songs. Jews hailing from different geographical areas sing different hymns or songs on Hanukkah.

The popular food for Hanukkah is potato pancakes, or latkes, cooked in oil in honor of the miracle. After lighting the candles, people present gifts to each other, sing, enjoy and make merry. Children enjoy this festival by playing a game called dreidel, consisting of nuts or gold-covered chocolate coins. This cube-shaped toy bears a Hebrew letter on each side. The letter that is visible when the top stops spinning, determines the victory or loss of stakes. Stakes are usually in the form of a pile of sweets. Children also receive Hanukkah money or gelt.

Like Indian Diwali, Hanukkah also invokes us to light our own hearts by dispelling the darkness of ignorance and intolerance and generate social and community well-being. It is an annual reminder for us to suffuse our hearts with kindness, compassion and understanding.

Jewish people believe in:
• One and only one God.
• A personal relationship with God.
• Community and are required to bring holiness into their daily life and work.