Sermonette: The Origin of Hanukkah

Should We Celebrate It?
#696s

Given 11-Dec-04; 14 minutes

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The Feast of Dedication, Feast of Lights, or Hanukah, is the only civil or national Jewish holiday mentioned in the Bible. Greek tyrant Antiochus Epiphanes defiled the temple by sacrificing a pig on the altar and forced the observance of pagan Greek festivals upon the Jews. Judas Maccabees (known as the Hammer) led a revolt against Antiochus Epiphanes, capturing back the temple from the Greek defilers, and rededicated it. A legend about a menorah miraculously burning for eight days emerged from this episode. Modern observances of Hanukah (The Feast of Dedication or Festival of Lights) unfortunately has assimilated some of the symbolism associated with the fires of the pagan winter solstice, coaxing back the unconquered sun.




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