Hi Dan,

Thank you for writing.

Although I have some Jewish ancestry, I am not Jewish, I am Christian. However, I love history, and because of both my Christian faith and my ancestry, I am interested in learning about things, and also wish others good times. :)

Hanukkah has two names. It is called the Feast of Dedication for when they dedicated the second Jewish Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt against a Hellenistic Empire.

It is also called the Festival of Lights. It is an 8-day celebration. One candle is lit each day. The ninth candle is called the "Attendant." It lights the other candles and usually is set higher on the candelabra.

I am always interested in the reasons and meanings of the various holidays and celebrations. :)

Below is the reason given on

"The Scroll of Antiochus concludes with the following words:

...After this, the sons of Israel went up to the Temple and rebuilt its gates and purified the Temple from the dead bodies and from the defilement. And they sought after pure olive oil to light the lamps therewith, but could not find any, except one bowl that was sealed with the signet ring of the High Priest from the days of Samuel the prophet and they knew that it was pure. There was in it [enough oil] to light [the lamps therewith] for one day, but the God of heaven whose name dwells there put therein his blessing and they were able to light from it eight days. Therefore, the sons of Ḥashmonai made this covenant and took upon themselves a solemn vow, they and the sons of Israel, all of them, to publish amongst the sons of Israel, [to the end] that they might observe these eight days of joy and honour, as the days of the feasts written in [the book of] the Law; [even] to light in them so as to make known to those who come after them that their God wrought for them salvation from heaven. In them, it is not permitted to mourn, neither to decree a fast [on those days], and anyone who has a vow to perform, let him perform it. a scroll:"

I hope you have enjoyed learning along with me. :)

Eileen

Eileen: You are the true "attendant" of knowledge (you have lit and satisfied my query). I really appreciate your effort to bring new knowledge to me. Thank you, thank you, thank you. DAN

Eileen, I have learned so much about the festival, thank you for posting and also to Dan for questioning.

BlessedB: That was an awfully nice thing you just said about me. Thank you. DAN

Thank you! :) I love helping.

justeileen: My daddy always use to say that, "a giver never wants." I'll bet there is not much that you go without. Cheers. DAN

Ahh, Thank you! :)

Thank you. :) I wish I knew Hebrew.
Be blessed!
Eileen

Thanks Yonah for additional information about Hanukkah.

:)