Chanukah means dedication in Hebrew. It commemorates the victory of the Maccabees. They entered Jerusalem and cleaned the Jewish temple of the "abominations" such as the Greek gods that Antiochus Epiphanes imposed on the Jews when he attempted to coerce them into giving up their religion.
The real story of Chanukah is not the one about the little miracle concerning the temple's single pure oil can that lasted 8 days during the Chanukah (dedication) of the temple by the Maccabees, about 2200 years ago.
The Maccabees' victory may well be the first victory of a guerrilla army against an invading world power. Judah Maccabee (="hammer") and his brothers led a brilliant campaign in the Judean hills. Several of the 5 brothers died in those battles.
More importantly, the victory was that of those Jews who believed in their biblical God and refused to assimilate, over those Jews who had accepted the Greek culture. One war was waged by the Maccabees against the foreign rulers, the Syrians, who were called "Greeks" in the Chanukah story as theirs was a Greek culture. That culture was dominant just about anywhere then. However, there was a parallel civil war meant to rid Judea of the assimilationists who were adopting the Greek culture. Had the Maccabees lost Judaism may not have lasted long. Due to the victory the Maccabee dynasty ruled the country for more than 200 years, and Judaism as it existed then survived for millennia afterwards. This said, some observe that today's Jews have largely assimilated in their contemporary culture, and behave more like the assimilated that the Maccabees fought (for example in terms of eating non-kosher foods or their insufficient observation of the Sabbath).
The real story of Chanukah is not the one about the little miracle concerning the temple's single pure oil can that lasted 8 days during the Chanukah (dedication) of the temple by the Maccabees, about 2200 years ago.
The Maccabees' victory may well be the first victory of a guerrilla army against an invading world power. Judah Maccabee (="hammer") and his brothers led a brilliant campaign in the Judean hills. Several of the 5 brothers died in those battles.
More importantly, the victory was that of those Jews who believed in their biblical God and refused to assimilate, over those Jews who had accepted the Greek culture. One war was waged by the Maccabees against the foreign rulers, the Syrians, who were called "Greeks" in the Chanukah story as theirs was a Greek culture. That culture was dominant just about anywhere then. However, there was a parallel civil war meant to rid Judea of the assimilationists who were adopting the Greek culture. Had the Maccabees lost Judaism may not have lasted long. Due to the victory the Maccabee dynasty ruled the country for more than 200 years, and Judaism as it existed then survived for millennia afterwards. This said, some observe that today's Jews have largely assimilated in their contemporary culture, and behave more like the assimilated that the Maccabees fought (for example in terms of eating non-kosher foods or their insufficient observation of the Sabbath).
My first celebration of Chanukah was memorable. When 4 years old I was the 5th candle of the menorah (candelabra) during a play. However, despite the huge importance of my 2 lines I was never nominated by the academy.
by Edmos December 14, 2008
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When The Spot Got Raided And It's Gonna Be Dry For Weeks Don't Prolong Follow Along And Changalangdangdong
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Hard way of prounouncing: *clearing throat sound*-nuh-kah) (Easy christian way: Han-uh-kah)
1. A Jewish holiday that celebrates the victory of the Maccabees over the greeks. Basically.
2. The time when Jewish kids can brag to their Christian friends on how they get chocolate and presents for eight days, while Christian kids only get one day.
1. A Jewish holiday that celebrates the victory of the Maccabees over the greeks. Basically.
2. The time when Jewish kids can brag to their Christian friends on how they get chocolate and presents for eight days, while Christian kids only get one day.
1. OMG! I can't believe you don't know the Chanukah story with the Maccabees and all that!
2. While the Smiths' were taking forever getting their Christmas tree up, the Rothenburg's were eating chocolate by their Menorah, which took a second to put up.
2. While the Smiths' were taking forever getting their Christmas tree up, the Rothenburg's were eating chocolate by their Menorah, which took a second to put up.
by Elyana October 1, 2006
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by Jsjdhdiendbjdoso November 12, 2019
Get the Chimmi Changa Momma mug.a word used to describe many things. a term coined by king arthur himself when he was requesting a delicious poopy changa. over the years, the term poopy changa has evolved into something greater and more powerful than you could ever imagine. simply saying the syllables can move mountains and knock planets off their axis. this is not a word that can be used by any normal human being. only those deemed worthy. you might be asking yourself what this word truly means...it means whatever the fuck you want it to mean. but don’t say it if you don’t wanna cause a world wide apocalypse. all hail the poopy changa leader.
person: “you are acting like word I cannot say”
other person: “stop being such a poopy changa-”
*world ends*
other person: “stop being such a poopy changa-”
*world ends*
by provazone November 20, 2019
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