from
The Story of Hanukkah
by Norma Simon
illustrated by Leonid Gore

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In the year 167 B.C.E., Israel was under Greek rule, and many Jewish practices had been outlawed. The Temple in Jerusalem, the center of Jewish observance, had been taken over for the worship of Greek gods. The Greeks destroyed the holy scrolls, books, and the inside of the Temple.

Soon, fighting broke out. The Jews were lead by Mattathias and his five sons. Mattathias was succeeded by his son Judah Maccabee, and Judah's army was known as the Maccabees, which means strong as a hammer.

Judah was an excellent leader, and after many battles with the enormous army of the Greek king, he and his men took back the Temple on Mount Moriah in Jeruslaem. On the 25th day of the month of Kislev, 165 B.C.E., the Jews reclaimed the Temple from the Greeks, and rededicated it as their place of worship.

There they rekindled the eternal flame, which was supposed to be kept burning constantly within the Temple. They had only one day's worth of oil for the flame, but miraculously, the flame lasted for eight days and nights until more oil could be brought!

What is Hanukkah?
When is Hanukkah?
How is Hannukah Celebrated?
Recipe for Hanukkah latkes
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