| Unlike most of the major Jewish holidays, | | | | Maccabees looked for holy oil to light the |
| Hanukkah's origin is not in the Bible, but rather in | | | | candelabrum in the Temple, they found only one |
| events that happened later. This is a holiday that | | | | small flask whose seal had not been broken and |
| lasts eight days and begins on the 25th of the | | | | was therefore still pure. The oil in the flask was |
| Hebrew month of Kislev (usually in December). | | | | enough for only one day, but a miracle occurred |
| Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that marks the | | | | and the oil burned for eight days. |
| rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. It | | | | Throughout the eight days of Hanukkah, candles |
| commemorates the Maccabees' successful revolt | | | | are lit in a Hanukkiah, a candelabrum with eight |
| for independence and religious freedom against | | | | branches in a row and an extra candle, called the |
| the Seleucids in 167 BCE. The Jews revolted | | | | shamash, used to light the other candles. |
| against Antiochus IV, who had desecrated the | | | | This is a very joyful holiday and is a special |
| Holy Temple. In 164 BCE, under the leadership of | | | | favorite among children. Children play with |
| Judah Maccabee, they liberated Jerusalem from | | | | four-sided spinning tops, marked with the Hebrew |
| foreign rule and rededicated the Temple. | | | | initials of a Great Miracle Happened Here. |
| A miracle recorded in the tradition: When the | | | | |