Chanukah

A little over two thousand years ago in the area we know as Israel there was a great struggle between the oppressive Syrian Empire and the Jews. The Jewish people have lived there for centuries but King Antiochus III took the land from King Ptolemy. Antiochus III the king of Syria wagered war with King Ptolemy of Egypt for the land we know as Israel, and Antiochus III had won it after the war. Before it was taken, the land was peaceful and serene. Antiochus III did not mind the Jews and did not cause them much trouble. He let them continue their way of life. Antiochus III was

When the family gets together it is much like Christmas. Gifts are exchanged, decorations are put up, and lights are used to decorate. Gifts are exchanged to show one another that they care. This tradition was mainly started because the children were jealous of their Christian friends who got presents on Christmas day. So most of the gift given takes place between parents and their kids. The decorations consist of lights, pictures, and other items. The lights represent the lights on menorah that burned for eight days. Other decorations represent good will and thankfulness. A lot of traditional games are also played. One of these games is called Dreidel. Dreidel is played with a four-sided top in which is spun on top of a table. The top has four Hebrew letters printed on it. Each letter represents a word. The words are: Great, Miracle, Happened, and there. The words are referring to the miracle of the lights that stayed lit for eight days when they should have only lasted one day. A player spins the top and when it stops whatever side it lands on they have to do what is incorporated with that side; If it lands on Miracle they have to put nothing into the kitty, lands on great they get whatever is in the kitty, if it lands on happened they get half of what is in the kitty, lands on there they put into the kitty. The objects that are used can be candy, matches, sticks, or any other small item. There are also many other card games that are played during Chanukah. These card games include gambling games that traditionally the Jewish people played through the long winter nights of Chanukah. These games are very important to the holiday because it sort of brings the family together and it helps them to spend more time together (“Chanukah on the net” 6).

Almost all people of the Jewish faith in America celebrate Chanukah. From New Jersey to Los Angles this holiday is very important to the Jewish people; it is almost equivalent to our revolutionary war to gain our independence. The Jewish holiday Chanukah starts on November 30th and ends on December 7th. During these eight days a Menorah holds eight candles representing the eight days that the Menorah remained lit over three thousand years ago. A Jewish person lights one candle every night. The Menorah is placed by a window to advertise the miracle that occurred over three thousand years ago. A candle called the shamash is used to light the other eight candles. During these eight days family and friends get together to celebrate. Their is food, games, prayers, and lots of fun(Brownstone 154).

Syrian officials would go from town to town to make sure Judaism was not being practiced. One day when the Syrian officials arrived in a Jewish town where Mattityahu, an old respected Jewish priest lived, A Syrian officer built an altar in the marketplace of the village and demanded that Mattityahu offer sacrifices to the Greek gods. Mattityahu replied, "I, my sons and my brothers are determined to remain loyal to the covenant which our God made with our ancestors!" Right after that, a Hellenistic Jew approached the altar to offer a sacrifice. Mattityahu grabbed his sword and killed him, and his sons and friends attacked the Syrian officers and men. They killed many of them and chased the rest away. After the officers were chased away they destroyed the altar. Mattityahu knew that Antiochus would be enraged when he heard what had happened. He k

Some topics in this essay:
Antiochus IV, Miracle Happened, Jewish-fighting Antiochus, Antiochus III, Los Angles, Chanukah Jews, Rabbi Eliezer, Chanukahs Chanukah, Christmas Gifts, Jason Jason, jewish people, eight days, antiochus iv, antiochus iii, syrian life, holiday jewish, thousand ago, traditional food, holiday jewish people, priest yochanan, kitty lands, november 30th december, religion antiochus iv, eight days menorah, chanukah holiday jewish,