The Start of Hanukkah - December 26th, 2024
The Start of Hanukkah: A Joyous Celebration of Light and Triumph December 26th, 2024 marks The Start of Hanukkah , a beloved Jewish holiday that's all about light, joy, and the triumph of good over evil. Also known as the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah is an eight-day celebration that commemorates a miraculous event that took place over 2,000 years ago. To understand the significance of Hanukkah, we need to take a step back in time to the 2nd century BCE. During this period, the Seleucid Empire, led by King Antiochus IV, ruled over Judea (modern-day Israel). In an attempt to impose Greek culture on the Jewish people, Antiochus IV erected a statue of Zeus in the Temple of Jerusalem and banned Jewish traditions, including the observance of Shabbat and the study of the Torah. A small group of brave Jewish rebels, known as the Maccabees, refused to surrender to the king's decrees. Led by Judah Maccabee, they fought against the powerful Seleucid army and eventually reclaimed the...