Learn about the History of Hanukkah

Sheilah Kaufman: Hi! I am Sheilah Kaufman and today we are going to learn about Hanukkah. Now we are going to learn about the history of Hanukkah. Over 2000 years ago, the Syrian king Antiochus sized Jerusalem and desecrated the temple there by letting swine rambles and trying to get Jews to worship Greek idols. After a successful revolt against the Syrian king by the High Priest, Mattathias and his five sons, the temple was recaptured and rededicated. During the cleansing for the re-dedication, only one small cruse of oil was found enough for just one day. The miracle that happened at Hanukkah was the one days' worth of oil lasted for eight while the priest were able to prepare the new holy oil needed in the temple. It was during this time the Judith, a beautiful widow went to one of the Syrian Generals and invited him to dinner. When he came, she plied him salty cheese dishes and when he fell asleep drunk, she took his sword and beheaded him and the remainder of his army fled. The Maccabees were very inspired by Judith and in recent years more and more people have added eating cheese dishes, which we are going to make one, to their Hanukkah festivities. So this day Hanukkah is celebrated by lighting the Menorah, one candle for each of the eight days by eating foods cooked in oil, although back down it was olive oil and by exchanging gifts, singing songs, and playing games. If you would like to learn more about Hanukkah, in many areas we will send you, for free, this wonderful brochure with some history, recipes, candle lighting times, and the proper blessings to say over the candles, and the proper way to light the candles. So that's a little bit of history about Hanukkah. Now we are going to learn about Menorahs and the proper lighting of Menorahs to celebrate this wonderful festival.