Weekend self-care open thread: Happy Hanukkah!

National Menorah in Washington, DC, Ted Eytan, CC BY-SA 2.0

The story of Hanukkah is one of survival and dedication.

The Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes, unlike his father, wanted all subjects of his realm to worship the Greek gods. He saw Judaism as peculiar and an abomination. In 168 BCE, his soldiers descended on Jerusalem, massacring the inhabitants, and desecrating the Second Temple by placing an altar to Zeus in it and sacrificing a pig.

This set off a rebellion among the Jews. Led by the family of the priest Mattathias, and then by his son Judah Maccabee (The Hammer), they drove the Greeks out of Jerusalem and eventually out of Judea.

Judah called on his people to rededicate the desecrated Temple by lighting the menorah. However, there was only enough oil to keep the menorah lit for one day. According to the accounts, a miracle occurred, where the lights kept flickering for eight days, allowing more oil to be found. This event led to the festival commemorating the miracle.

In this time of war and strife, when the House of Israel is again facing hatred and oppression, we celebrate the Festival of Lights, and remember that the darkness is a passing thing, and the Light will always prevail.

Chag sameach, my friends!

As always, be ever kind and gentle with yourselves and those around you.

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