A Brief Historical Overview
In the second century BCE, during the time of the Second Temple, the Syrian-Greek emperor Antiochus, began a systematic suppression of the Jews. The Jewish rebellion against this oppression began as a small revolt led by the Chasmonean (Hasmonean) family, Mattityahu HaKohen (Mattityahu The High Priest) and his five sons. When Mattityahu died he was succeeded by his son, Yehudah HaMacabee (Judah The Macabee).
"HaMacabee" in English means "The Hammer". So Judah was commonly referred to by his mates as "The Hammer".
Yehuda led the Jews to victory, driving the Greeks out of Jerusalem. The Jews were then able to clean the Temple and to resume the Temple service. This took place on the 25th of Kislev.
At this point the famous "Miracle of Chanukah" took place. Part of the Temple service is the lighting of the Menorah. This requires ritually pure olive oil. Due to the Greek desecration of the Temple no such oil could be found except for one small container which had enough oil to last for just one day.
Since it would take eight days to get the required new oil this was a catastrophe. The Jews used this oil for the first day and it miraculously lasted for the full eight days until new oil was available.
The Jewish victory celebrated on Chanukah was primarily a religious victory; it ended the suppression of Judaism at the hands of the Syrians and Greeks.
What are the customs of Chanukah?
Lighting The Menorah
The most well known law of Chanukah is the requirement to light the Menorah. This should be done by all Jews, whether male or female. The Chanukah Menorah has eight lamps in a perfectly straight line, plus a ninth lamp, the Shamash, which is separated from the others.
The custom is to light one candle on the first night, two the second night, and so on, until the 8th night when all eight candles are lit. The common custom is for every member of the household to light their own Menorah.
The time for lighting the Menorah is at nightfall, when the stars come out. If one was unable to light at the proper time, he or she can still light. We are prohibited from using the Chanukah lights for anything else, such as reading or lighting cigarettes.
On Friday afternoon, one lights the Menorah before the lighting of the Shabbat candles. Both must be lit before sundown. Care must be taken to provide enough oil in the Menorah (or large enough candles) that it will burn for 30 minutes after nightfall. This in effect means that the Menorah candles should burn for about an hour.
Playing Dreidel
There is a tradition to play with a "dreidel" on Chanukah. A dreidel is a four-sided top with Hebrew letters on each side. These letters stand for the sentence: "Nes Gadol Haya Sham", which means "A Great Miracle Happened There."
The rules of the game are simple: Each participant puts an amount of the playing unit into the kitty; each player takes a turn spinning the dreidel, and depending on which letter falls, that player either wins the whole kitty, half of it, none of it, or has to add a certain amount to it. The unit of play does not have to be money. It can be nuts, candy, poker chips, monopoly money or the like.
What is behind this custom?
In the time of King Antiyochus, one of the decrees against the Jews was the prohibition of the study of Torah. Tradition holds that the children and adults would gather to engage in some kind of game that resembled gambling, such as cards, and at the same time, they would discuss the Torah orally among themselves.
Eating
It is a widely accepted custom to eat foods fried in oil on Chanukah. Some of the most common foods eaten are potato latkes and doughnuts.
May. 25th - 26th
5th Sivan
Begins: 20:46
Ends: 22:03
Sedra: Bamidbar