What’s in a Name? 5 Things to Know About Hanukkah.

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  1. According to tradition, Hanukkah, or the “Festival of Dedication,” celebrates the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem after its defilement by the Syrian Greeks in 164 BCE.
  2. The holiday is also known as the “Festival of Lights.” Hanukkah usually takes place in December, during the winter solstice, a period when the days are shortest and darkest in the northern hemisphere.
  3. The number 25 matters, the name can be broken down into ה”כ ונח, “They rested on the twenty-fifth,” referring to the tradition that the Maccabees ceased fighting on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev and restored the Temple.
  4. Hanukkah is also called a “Second Succoth” because the Maccabees were away at war during the fall harvest festival and could not celebrate the Succoth holiday in its proper time.
  5. The term “hanukkat ha’bait” means “dedication of the home,” referring to the Jewish tradition of dedicating a new space by affixing a mezuzah (a small piece of wrapped parchment with verses from the Torah) to one’s doorpost.

Further Reading:
-הכונח (Hanukkah) can also be read as the acronym for: ללה תיבכ הכלהו תורנ ח, “Eight candles, and the law is like the House of Hillel.”

This is a reference to a famous disagreement between two ancient rabbinic academies—the House of Hillel and the House of Shammai—about how to properly light the Menorah: to count down or to count up? According to Shammai, eight candles should be lit on the first night, seven on the second night, and so on down to one on the last night (because the miracle was greatest on the first day). Hillel, on the other hand, argued that we should start with one candle and light an additional one every night, up to eight on the eighth night (because the miracle grew in greatness each day). The rabbis of the Talmud adopted the position of Hillel.

“Our rabbis taught the rule of Hanukkah: … On the first day, one [candle] is lit and thereafter they are progressively increased … [because] we increase in sanctity but do not reduce.”
– Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 21b

The earliest sources for the story of Hanukkah are the First and Second Maccabees, which describe in detail the Maccabean revolt and the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. These books are not part of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible); they are called Jewish Apocryphal books.

Later, Flavius Josephus (first century CE) wrote about Hanukkah in his historical accounts. Josephus connected the story of the military victory with the symbol of light, and the holiday still is often referred to as the “Festival of Lights,” following his terminology.

Multiple references to Hanukkah are also made in the Talmud. The story of the miraculous jug of oil lasting eight days is first described in the tractate of Shabbat (page 21b), first committed to writing about 600 years after the events described in the books of Maccabees. Interestingly, only a few sentences of text are devoted to the story of Hanukkah while there is a much longer discussion of when, where, and how to light the Hanukkah candles.

Throughout Jewish history, rabbinic commentators have interpreted the story of Hanukkah in multiple ways, with some emphasizing the underdog military victory of the Maccabees, while others focused instead on the miracle of the oil. In the Jewish mystical tradition there are many reflections on the symbol of light and the need to search out God’s holy light in all of life—including the darker parts of existence.

Roger Federer Serves Up the Sabbath

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In 2017, Roger Federer, the greatest tennis player of all time, took an unprecedented leave of absence from the professional tennis tour to rest his soon-to-be 36 year old body and rejuvenate his mind. Federer said, “After playing for almost twenty years, all of a sudden you realize, I think this body, and maybe the mind, deserves a break”.[1] I would like to explore Roger Federer’s philosophy of taking a break in the context of the biblical tradition of the Sabbath.

What does Sabbath mean?

Sabbath means to stop and set apart time. For what purpose? As Abraham Joshua Heschel wrote in his book The Sabbath, “The Sabbath is entirely independent of the month and unrelated to the moon. Its date is not determined by any event in nature, such as the new moon, but by the act of creation. Thus, the essence of the Sabbath is completely detached from the world of space. The meaning of the Sabbath is to celebrate time rather than space. Six days a week we live under the tyranny of things of space; on the Sabbath, we try to become attuned to holiness in time. It is a day on which we are called upon to share in what is eternal in time, to turn from the results of creation to the mystery of creation; from the world of creation to the creation of the world.”

Sabbath is first mentioned in the Torah in Genesis (2:3) when God rested on the seventh day after creating heaven and earth.

As Heschel wrote, “It is, indeed, a unique occasion at which the distinguished word qadosh is used for the first time: in the Book of Genesis at the end of the story of creation. How extremely significant is the fact that it is applied to time: “And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy.” There is no reference in the record of creation to any object in space that would be endowed with the quality of holiness.” Even God needed a time to rest and reflect.

The Israelites first experienced Sabbath in Exodus (16:23) while wandering in the wilderness after fleeing slavery in Egypt. God fortified the Israelites by providing manna for sustenance and Sabbath for sacred sanctity. Sabbath is described as sacred time in Leviticus (23:3).

So how does the biblical connection of Sabbath relate to Roger Federer in 2017? To understand the connection, I will provide a bit of background. Roger Federer is acknowledged as the greatest tennis player of all time. From 2003-2015, he won 17 grand slam titles, 90 percent of his matches, and made it to 10 straight grand slam finals. In addition, Federer holds the record for most consecutive semi-finals at a grand slam, 23, and most consecutive quarter-finals at a grand slam, 36. However, after his Wimbledon title in 2012, he went 19 grand slams without winning a title. He suffered his first major injury in 2016. The 2016 French Open was the first grand slam event he missed in his active career and ended a run of appearing in 65 consecutive grand slam tournaments. Some critics said that it was time for Roger Federer to retire. Had his best tennis passed him by? He even experimented with a new racquet and new coaches.

Wimbledon 2016 was the critical juncture in Roger Federer’s career. I had the privilege of attending Wimbledon 2016 and watched Roger Federer play Milos Raonic in the men’s semi-finals on Wimbledon’s Centre Court. In the fourth set, Roger fell and severely injured his knee. His movement was not the same from that point forward. He ended up losing the match 3-6 in the fifth set. When Federer met with his doctors and the team they told him, “Look, buddy, you need to rest right now”. “Once the decision was made, Federer and his wife, Mirka, walked out of the room, and looked each other in the eye and said, ‘No problem. OK. We’ll take six months.’ I mean, it hurt for a few days. Like it’s supposed to. Then, honestly, for me it was over. It was done. I knew I wasn’t supposed to be playing. I dealt with it like I think I should.”[2]

The next day, Roger Federer announced that he would not play in the U.S. Open and, in fact, that he was not going to play the rest of the 2016 tennis season. Roger Federer was taking a 5-month break from competitive tennis. He wanted to rest his body, heal his knee, and rejuvenate his mind.

Roger Federer announced his return to competitive tennis in January 2017 in time for the Australian Open. In January 2017, I ruptured my left Achilles for the second time and had reconstructive surgery. My doctor put me on 40 days of bed rest (Reflections Between Passover and Shavuot: What can you learn from wandering in the wilderness for 40 years (or 40 days)?). While lying in bed recovering, I was inspired by Roger Federer’s comeback at the Australian open. I even bought a tee shirt (pictured below) which stated that “champions are born in January” (my birthday is in January). Roger Federer’s recovery inspired me during my recovery from injury.

Legends T-shirt

When he was asked about his chances at the Australian open, Roger humbly stated, “at the first press conference after the first match in Melbourne I said I would be happy having lost today if my body is feeling well…I thought in the best case I could make the quarters, and beat one good player. Maybe two if things went crazy well. That was my expectation. That’s why it feels so much better, this one, because I never thought in a million years I was going to win.”[3]

In an unprecedented run, Roger actually won the Australian Open soundly defeating his arch rival, Rafael Nadal, in the finals. Roger went on to win his next two tennis tournaments in the U.S. at Indian Wells, CA and Miami, FL, defeating Nadal in both. Roger Federer was having one of his greatest tennis seasons and was on course to regain the number 1 world ranking as the oldest player to achieve this ranking. What did Roger Federer promptly do after winning the Miami tournament? He suddenly announced another personal Sabbath, taking off the entire clay court season, including the French Open. This second pause in his active schedule was unparalleled. Nevertheless, or as a direct result, he returned for the summer grass court season and won Halle Tournament in Germany and ultimately won Wimbledon for the unprecedented eighth time. While he lost in the U.S. Open in the quarter finals, he continued to play very well. Roger then took another break this fall. In October, he returned to competitive tennis to win the Shanghai Open while defeating Rafael Nadal in the finals, representing a fifth consecutive victory over his arch  rival. This past weekend, Federer won his hometown tournament in Basel, Switzerland for the 8th time, giving him a tour-leading 7th tournament victory in 2017. Roger’s 2017 winning percentage is 93% which is the third best of his career.

Federer Wimbledon
Roger Federer excelled in 2017 not because he worked harder and played more tennis. Roger Federer played better tennis because he rested, he paused, because he experienced Sabbath. Federer said, “That gave me a lot of power for this year. I said, I have to come out of this six months rejuvenated. Fresh. Hungry. Ready to go. We were able to achieve that”. “It gave me a totally different outlook on the season. I don’t have to overplay. I’ve got a month here, so really relax, take my time. When I play I want to enjoy it.”[4]

As Vladimir Horowitz, the world-class pianist, once said when he was asked how he played the music so much better than anyone else, he replied “it is not the music that I play better than anyone else, it is the pauses that I play better”.

In today’s society, there is compelling conviction to strive to do anything and everything. We are overscheduled. We overdo. Our children are massively over programmed.

If God can take time to have Sabbath on the seventh day…

If the Israelites could find sanctity in the Sabbath and transform themselves in order to arrive in the Promised Land…

If Roger Federer can experience a Sabbath sabbatical and then defy age by re-establishing himself as the most dominate tennis player in the world…

…so can we!

Game, Set, Match!

To understand how Roger Federer deals with a loss, please watch this post-match video:

Watch how positive Roger Federer is in the face of adversity:

Additional Reading:

Federer’s storybook season, “Roger Federer Is Still Rocking” written by Jason Gay in The Wall Street Journal on October 31, 2017.

Jason Gay wrote a wonderful article “We need to relax like Roger Federer” in The Wall Street Journal on July 21, 2017.

I also recommend My Jewish Learning “Shabbat Rest and Renewal” for additional exploration about the meaning of Shabbat.

Time Magazine article, “Q&A: Roger Federer Talks to TIME About Nadal, That Win in Melbourne, and Partying Till Dawn” Sean Gregory, TIME Sports, Feb 02, 2017.

[1] Gregory, Sean. “Q&A: Roger Federer Talks to TIME About Nadal, That Win in Melbourne, and Partying Till Dawn” TIME Sports, Feb 02, 2017.

[2] Gregory, Sean. “Q&A: Roger Federer Talks to TIME About Nadal, That Win in Melbourne, and Partying Till Dawn” TIME Sports, Feb 02, 2017.  (accessed October 19, 2017)

[3] Gregory, Sean. “Q&A: Roger Federer Talks to TIME About Nadal, That Win in Melbourne, and Partying Till Dawn” TIME Sports, Feb 02, 2017.  (accessed October 19, 2017)

When Hanukkah and Christmas Collide

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When our eldest son mentioned that he would be spending Christmas with his girlfriend’s family this year, I admit I felt a pang of sadness. Even though I haven’t claimed that holiday for thirteen years, it still stung.

Flashback to November of 2003 when I was just a few steps away from completing my conversion to Judaism. Until that point, our inter-faith family had luxuriated in both Hanukkah and Christmas, but primarily Christmas as I’d been raised Christian and my husband’s assimilated reform family also celebrated Christmas. Ours were never religious Christmases, however. We never attended church, nor connected to the real meaning of the observance, and to me, so mething had always felt wrong, like it was a hollow, a bowing down to consumerism, a day of over-eating and drinking.

In 1994, when we started our family, my husband and I made a deliberate decision to strive for clarity in our religious identities, and raise our children Jewish. The one thing we struggled with was December. Why was giving up Christmas so hard?

blasberg_3So back to November of 2003. I was lamenting aloud the mess sappy pine needles were bound to make on our new living room carpet. That very same eldest son, who was three months from becoming a bar mitzvah, challenged me. “Mom,” he asked. “Why are you even getting a tree? We’re Jewish.”

Up to that point, the two-year conversion process had been easy, fairly academic, more like a work in progress, a pursuit to put me on equal footing with John and the kids. I set out wanting to be a good example for them, in the midst of shuttling them to religious school twice a week. But here was this son, posing a logical but difficult question, one I had to consider very seriously. It would mark a turning point, as I noticed our younger two searching my face for reaction. Any ambivalence or wavering would have been an absolute sinker.

“You’re right,” I said. “We are Jewish. Maybe this is the year we stop getting Christmas trees.

The rabbi I was studying with had forewarned me of the fragility of this moment. “Intellectually, you may be ready to do this,” he said. “But it is going to be hard for your younger children.” I tried to remember his sage advice as the fallout from my son’s challenge unfolded.

“What?” my youngest bellowed. “If we don’t get a tree then Santa wont come!” I’d opened a can of worms and things deteriorated quickly. “And if Santa doesn’t come, we wont get presents!” Her shrieks of horror echoed through the house. And from that moment on I was officially the Grinch who stole Christmas. My daughter’s tears of grief over missing out on presents brought rebukes from me that might mark my low point as a parent.

And it wasn’t just the 7 year old who got mad, it was the grandparents too. They were askance that I would make a decision that had ramifications for everyone. You see, I’d always hosted Christmas. Santa had come down our chimney. I decorated the house, the tree, cooked the festive meal, bought and wrapped gifts from Santa, gifts from us, as well as gifts from several of the grand parents and distant relatives who “weren’t sure what our kids were into. I’ll write you a check.” The management of who got what from whom, and keeping it equal, was a task that occupied a large percentage of my mental bandwidth.

I began to vehemently resent the materialism, but still, did that give me the right to cancel the holiday for all nine of us? I shuddered at such power, but proceeded into the unknown. With a determined façade that I hoped masked a guilt-ridden interior, I became resolute in creating a new solstice glow. Storing away a lifetime of nostalgic tree ornaments and collecting colorful menorah instead.

My rabbi helped me pick up the pieces. “Don’t think of it as losing Christmas, think of all the traditions you are gaining.” In the years that followed, we celebrated Shabbat, Hanukkah, Passover, Rosh Hashanah, Simchat Torah, and Sukkot with extra zeal. During Hanukkah we set aside each of the eight nights for a special, albeit often school-night, observance. There was a nightly candle lighting with the kids betting on which flame would last the longest, prayer, singing, latkes, acts of charity, exchanging small gifts, and for the special Shabbat dinner during Hanukkah we’d include friends and get up a lively game of Dreidel. Andy Goldfarb could get especially enthusiastic, teaching the kids the fine skill of spinning the dreidel on its handle.

So why wasn’t I prepared for our son’s recent proclamation that he’d be elsewhere for Christmas? I’ve obviously modeled the freedom to choose one’s own path and our December traditions leave blank spaces for our adult children to fill in as they wish. Indeed this is what I set in motion 13 years ago when I said, “There will be no more Christmas trees.”

This year as Hanukkah begins on Christmas Eve, the holidays really do collide, both on the calendar and possibly, as was in our case, at the heart of an inter-faith family.

As for my son, after a little meditation, I’m ok with it. I might flex and release my Jewish muscle every December, but I know the love we’ve created in our family transcends a date on the calendar. And that the loss I might feel is not for Christmas but for my young family. Kids grow up and leave and I will miss them no matter the date. Together or apart, I have taught them to delight in the miracle of the season: the miracle of the oil, of independent thinking, of generosity, and of keeping our internal flames shining in the world.

Jeannie Blasberg is a writer living in Boston. Her debut novel, Eden, will be released May 2017 by She Writes Press. Please visit her website or Facebook page to learn more.

Hanukkah in the Modern World

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For much of Jewish history, Hanukkah was considered a minor holiday. Today, the holiday has become a major celebration on the Jewish calendar for both secular and religious Jews.

Maccabees as Inspiration: One reason for the renewed interest in Hanukkah in the modern period is that the early Zionists, including many secular writers and activists, drew inspiration from the Maccabees, viewing them as models of heroic Jews, willing and able to fight for their freedom. The story of the victory of the few against the many, the bravery and skill of Judah and his small, smart army, gave Zionists great inspiration.

Hanukkah in the Holocaust: There are inspiring stories about how Jews in the Holocaust foraged for scraps of potato skins and bits of butter to create light for makeshift Menorahs. They did so not only to maintain the tradition, but also to assert their faith in miracles even in their darkest hour.

The Maccabiah: The Maccabees had come to be associated with physical prowess and the Maccabiah was chosen as the name for the Jewish Olympics. The Maccabiah has become a major contest for Jewish athletes from around the world, modeled on the Olympics – another Greek tradition.

Some thoughts about Hanukkah in America: Hanukkah has enjoyed a major resurgence in North America, due to its proximity to Christmas. Popular with both observant and secular Jews, many view Hanukkah as “the Jewish Christmas.” In the spirit of American pluralism, many public institutions mark Hanukkah with Menorahs alongside Christmas decorations.

Consumerism, of course, has played a significant role in the recasting of both of these ancient holidays with roots in religion, Hanukkah and Christmas, as major gift giving occasions. For contemporary Jews, Hanukkah invites us to think carefully about how to preserve and renew Judaism in a pluralistic society.

But Jewish questioning about how best to maintain and develop its culture in a multicultural world is not new. In the days of the Maccabees, many Jews were attracted to Greek culture, and adopted various Hellenistic ideals and practices into their lives. In fact, large numbers of Jews considered the Maccabees religious zealots, who refused to allow for Jewish cultural evolution. Tragically, in the time of Judah and his Maccabees, there was violent civil unrest between competing factions within the Jewish community.

Today, we continue to wrestle with complex questions of Jewish continuity and innovation, and our relationship to larger cultural influences. What must we preserve? How much change is necessary to keep Judaism vital and relevant? How can we remain one people with a variety of approaches to Jewish life?

The History & Meaning of the Menorah

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On each night of Hanukkah, we light a new candle on the Menorah. Where did the tradition of the Menorah begin?

After leaving slavery in Egypt for the Promised Land, as they trekked through the wilderness (Exodus: Chapter 25), God commanded the Israelites to make the original Menorah (seven-branched candelabrum). One interpretation of the meaning of the seven branches is that they represent the seven days of creation. After escaping from slavery in Egypt, the Israelites created a new community and a new way of life.

When the First Temple was built in Jerusalem, our ancestors erected a large Menorah. The priests lit the Menorah in the Temple every evening and cleaned it every morning, replacing the wicks and putting fresh olive oil into the cups. The light of the Menorah symbolizes an eternal flame. It has been said that the Menorah is a symbol of the nation of Israel and its mission to be “a light unto the nations” (Isaiah 42:6).

The Menorah is among the most widely produced articles of Jewish Ceremonial art. The seven-branched Menorah is a traditional symbol of Judaism, and is an emblem of the State of Israel.

judaicaOn a personal note, I am enormously proud and inspired by my mother, Myra Yellin Outwater, who wrote and compiled the photos in an incredible book called “Judaica.” I wanted to share her beautiful work with you. Here is a link to her Menorah Gallery.

The Hanukkah Menorah or Hanukkiah is a nine-branched candelabrum lit during the holiday. On each night of Hanukkah we light new candle or wick. The ninth one, called the Shamash (“helper” or “servant”), is used to light all the other candles or oil lamps. To be kosher, the Shamash must be placed on a different level than the eight other candles.

Since Hanukkah is a holiday celebrated in the home, lighting the Menorah gives each family the ability to bring the holiness of the holiday, and of the ancient Temple re-dedicated by the Maccabees, into their own home. We like to have each child participate in creating the miracle of Hanukkah by lighting his or her own Menorah, or by having the chance to light a candle. With each succeeding night, we magnify the blessings of the holiday. Lighting the Menorah is truly a re-dedication of one’s commitment to faith and family.

Further Reading:

The light of the Menorah can be seen to represent any and all of the following:

  • Light represents goodness in the story of Genesis as God separated Light and Darkness on the first day of creation (Genesis: 1-1).
  • Beginning with the ancient Israelites, the light of Torah has guided us throughout our history, including many dark times.
  • As in the story of the underdog victory of the Maccabees, a small ray of light can overcome vast darkness.
  • The Shamash: The light of the Shamash can be interpreted as God’s helping hand in partnership with human action.
  • The Menorah light is supposed to be enjoyed and not used for study or work of any manner. Gazing at the Menorah reminds us of the miracles of daily life, including light itself.

How Do You Light the Menorah?

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How many Menorahs?

Every household needs at least one Menorah. However, the more candles we light, the better! In fact, the ancient rabbis teach us that we add to the mitzvah (commandment) by lighting multiple Menorahs. It is a wonderful tradition for each child to have his or her own Menorah, a family heirloom, a new purchase — or homemade.

Who lights the candles?

In some families, it is traditionally the father who lights the Menorah. In others, it is the mother or the children.

The Talmud actually teaches that the mitzvah (commandment) is enhanced when more members of a family participate in the mitzvah of lighting the Menorah (Shabbat 21:B). Hanukkah thus provides us with an opportunity for an inclusive celebration with the lighting of the Menorah.

How to light the Menorah?


The candles are placed in the menorah from right to left (as you face the menorah). When you light the candles, the Shamash is the first candle to be lit. It is used to light the other candles. The other candles should not be lit directly with the match. The other candles are then lit on each night, from left to right (as you face the Menorah).

On the first night, you place a candle on the far right of the menorah. You light the shamash and then use the shamash to light the remaining candle.

On the second night, you place a candle on the far right, and then you place a second candle to the left of the right-most candle. When you light the candles, you light the shamash and then use the shamash to light the left-most candle first and then the second one to the right.

On the third night, you place a candle on the far right, and then you place a second candle to the left of the right-most candle, you place a third candle to the left of the second candle.

When you light the candles, you light the shamash and then use the shamash to light the left-most candle first and then the second one to the right, and finally the third candle to the far right. And so on for each of the eight nights.

The last night is most magical because you enjoy the illumination of all of the candles.

The reason for this order is because the House of Hillel believed that the splendor of the holiday should expand each night by lighting more candles until you ultimately light all eight night candles on the final night.

On the Friday night of Hanukkah, it is customary to light the Hanukkah candles before the Shabbat candles. This is because lighting the Shabbat candles signifies the beginning of the “Day of Rest” on which one does not traditionally kindle a fire.

Where to place the Menorah?

It is customary to place the Menorah in the window to proudly and publicly celebrate the miracle of Hanukkah.

There is an interesting discussion in the Talmud about displaying the lit Menorah just as the people are finished shopping in the marketplace (Shabbat 21b) in order to publicize the celebration of Hanukkah as fully as possible.

There is also a beautiful contemporary book called The Christmas Menorah, which tells the true story of the entire Town of Billings, Montana displaying Menorahs in their own windows, Jews and non-Jews alike, in a show of solidarity for a Jewish family whose house was attacked in a hate crime. This book is a wonderful story of love and community for younger children.

How to Recite the Hanukkah Blessings?

First Blessing
Baruch ata Adonai,
Eloheinu melech ha-olam,
Asher kidshanu
B’mitzvotav
V’tzivanu,
L’hadlik ner shel Hanukkah
Blessed are You Adonai,
Our God, Ruler of the World,
Who made us holy
Through your commandments
And commanded us
To light the Hanukkah Light.

Second Blessing
Baruch ata Adonai
Eloheinu melech ha-olam,
Sheh-asah nissim
La’avoteinu
Bayamim ha-heim
Ba-z’man ha-zeh
Blessed are You Adonai,
Our God, Ruler of the World,
Who made miracles possible
for our ancestors
in those days
at this same season.

Third Blessing – for the First Night Only
Baruch ata Adonai,
Eloheinu melech ha-olam,
She-heh-chi-yanu,
V’ki-y’manu,
V’higiyanu,
La-z’man ha-zeh

Blessed are You Adonai,
Our God, Ruler of the World,
Who has kept us alive
And enabled us
To reach
This season of life

Further reading:

“The Hanukkah Menorah or Hanukkiah is a nine-branched candelabrum lit during the holiday. On each night of Hanukkah we light new candle or wick. The ninth one, called the Shamash (“helper” or “servant”), is used to light all the other candles or oil lamps. To be kosher, the Shamash must be placed on a different level than the eight other candles.

Since Hanukkah is a holiday celebrated in the home, lighting the Menorah gives each family the ability to bring the holiness of the holiday, and of the ancient Temple re-dedicated by the Maccabees, into their own home. We like to have each child participate in creating the miracle of Hanukkah by lighting his or her own Menorah in the house (technically a Hanukkiah), or by having the chance to light a candle. With each succeeding night, we magnify the blessings of the holiday. Lighting the Menorah is truly a re-dedication of one’s commitment to faith and family.

Who Was Judah the Maccabee?

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Judah the Maccabee is the central figure of the Hanukkah story. A rebel fighter who turned out to be a military genius, Judah took over leadership of the rebellion upon his father’s death, overthrowing the Syrian Greek army and restoring the Temple in Jerusalem.

Judah’s father, Mattathias, referred to in Hebrew as Mattityahu, was the high priest of the Hasmonean Family. He had five sons: Yohanan, Simon, Judah, Eliezer, and Jonathan.

The Syrian Greek regime was harsh, and tried to destroy the culture and tradition of the Jews who lived in their sphere of power. The Greeks forbade Jews to freely practice their religion, and as a final humiliation, their soldiers desecrated the Temple by slaughtering pigs, animals forbidden to Jews, on the Temple altar.

Mattathias moved his family out of Jerusalem and hid in the hills near the town of Modin. In 167 BCE, Greek soldiers came to the town and forced a Jew to slaughter a pig on an altar. This infuriated Mattathias. He killed both the Jew who slaughtered the animal and the Greek soldiers. According to the Book of Maccabee, this event sparked the Maccabean Revolt.

The Book of Maccabee tells us that many of the Jewish fighters were afraid as they faced the mighty Greek army.
– 1 Maccabees 16-23

“How can we, few as we are, fight against so great and so strong a multitude?”

In response, Judah is quoted as saying:
“It is not the size of the army that victory in battle depends, but strength comes from Heaven. They come against us in great insolence and lawlessness to destroy us… Do not be afraid of them.”

The odds were not in Judah’s favor. The Greek army, dressed in full battle gear, with superior weaponry and warrior elephants was a powerful foe for the small band of guerrilla fighters such as the Maccabees. But Judah the Maccabee (“The Hammer”) and his small army prevailed. Judah turned out to be a gifted military strategist and urged his fighters to fight for Jewish political independence even after the Greeks had conceded religious supporting the fighters.

It is important to note that it was not only the fighters who supported the Revolt. The entire Hasmonean family, all ages and all genders, engaged in the struggle for independence. Men, women and children each had a role to play.

Judah and his fellow Maccabean fighters returned to Jerusalem in victory, ready to re-dedicate the Temple in Jerusalem. They crafted a new Menorah out of iron covered in wood, because they did not have enough gold to recreate it as in earlier times. And according to the Talmud, the Maccabees only found enough oil to light the Menorah for one day, but it miraculously lasted for eight days.

In recognition of the bravery and skill of Judah and the Maccabees, the Maccabiah Games were created in 1932 as the Jewish Olympics. Five hundred Jewish athletes from twenty-three countries came to Israel to compete in the first Maccabiah Games. Held every four years in Israel, The Maccabiah has become the third largest international sporting event in the world. In the 2015 contest, over 9,000 athletes competed from 78 countries.

How to Make Your Own Menorah

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Menorahs are meaningful to each and every Jewish family. Whether they have been passed down through generations or new to the family, they are treasured. Creating a one of a kind Menorah for your family is a wonderful gift that your family can cherish for years to come. And if you want to make the candles for your Menorah, it’s surprisingly very easy. To learn how, watch our Homemade Beeswax Candles video (scroll to bottom of that page).

It’s fun and easy to make your own Menorah. Menorahs can be made with items you may already have around the house. Watch the video and follow the steps below to learn how.

Here’s what you’ll need:

Materials:

  • one 12” 2 x 4 or scrap wood
  • nuts (hardware) for making candle holders
  • sandpaper
  • clear glue or glue gun
  • Sharpie pen
  • paint (acrylic) or spray paint
  • glass mosaic pieces or other creative décor pieces for your Menorah

How-to:

Step 1:
Sand and paint a 2×4 and use a ruler to make 9 equally spaced marks across wood to indicate where you will be gluing the nuts.

Menorah_1

Step 2:
Glue nuts to Menorah with clear glue or glue gun so you won’t see the glue. The middle candle holder (Shamash) should be raised, so stack two nuts on top of one another and glue together for this middle candle.

Menorah_2

Step 3:
Glue mosaic tiles (or your décor of choice) on top and sides of Menorah, fitting different sizes and shapes into place until the Menorah is completed covered.

Menorah_3

Step 4:
Light Menorah for 8 nights to celebrate Hanukkah!

Menorah_4

A Hanukkah Heroine: The Story of Judith

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Judith was one of the great Jewish heroines. Judith single-handedly conceived of a daring and ingenious plan to save the Jews during an earlier time of Syrian Greek oppression.

The book of Judith (Yehudit in Hebrew), records that Holofernes, a Greek general, had surrounded the village of Bethulia as part of his campaign to conquer Judea.

The fighting was intense. The Greeks had cut off the Jews’ water supply. The situation became desperate and the Jews were ready to capitulate. But Judith, a pious widow, told the leaders that she had a plan to save the city.

Judith went to the Greek camp pretending to surrender. She met the general, Holofernes, who was taken by her beauty. Judith agreed to go to his tent with him, where she plied him with cheese and copious cups of wine.

When Holofernes fell into a drunken sleep, Judith beheaded him. She escaped from the camp, secretly taking the general’s severed head with her. When Holofernes’ soldiers found his beheaded corpse, they were overcome with fear. The Jews, on the other hand, were emboldened, and launched a surprise and successful counterattack. The Syrian Greeks were defeated and the town was saved.

When Judith returned to the town of Bethulia, with Holofernes’ head wrapped in her belongings, Uzziah, the leader in Judaea said to her

“O daughter, you are blessed by the God most high above all other women on earth… Your praise will never depart from the hearts of those who remember the power of God.  May God grant this to be a perpetual honor to you, and may he reward you with blessings, because you risked your own life when our nation was brought low, and you averted our ruin, walking in the straight path before our God.”  And all of the people said, “Amen, Amen!”
– The Book of Judith 13: 15-20 

The Book of Judith is one of the most energetic stories in Judaism, and yet it is not in the Tanakh, the Hebrew bible. But it is one of the Apocryphal texts and is included in the New Testament. As a result, today the story of Judith is better known to many Christians than to most Jews. We find it wonderful that the story of Judith became an inspiration for some of the greatest of classical painters, like Caravaggio and Michelangelo, and is featured on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. And yet the story is a surprise to many modern Jews. In celebration of Judith’s heroics (her own Maccabean-like victory), we eat cheese dishes during Hanukkah!

See depictions of Judith’s beheading of Holofernes by the great classical artists Michelangelo and Caravaggio in this blog.

Judith beheading Holofernes. Artist: Carvaggio, c. 1598-1599

Judith beheading Holofernes. Artist: Carvaggio, c. 1598-1599

For those of you who would like to read the detailed text references, following are the key highlights from the Story of Judith.

The Jews were afraid of King Holofernes

“When the Israelites living in Judea heard of everything that Holofernes, the general of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of the Assyrians, had done to the nations, and how he had plundered and destroyed all their temples, they were therefore greatly terrified at his approach; they were alarmed both for Jerusalem and for the temple of the Lord their God.”
– Judith. Chapter 4 verses 1-2

Holofernes came to conquer the Israelites

“The next day, Holofernes ordered his whole army, and all of the allies who had joined him, to break camp and move against Bethulia, and to seize the passes up into the hill country and make war on the Israelites.”
– Judith Chapter 7 verse 1

Judith made her plan to save the Israelites

“Listen to me. I am about to do something that will go down through all generations of our descendants. Stand at the town gate tonight so that I may go out with my maid: and within the days after which you have promised to surrender the town to our enemies, the Lord will deliver Israel by my hand. Only do not try to find out what I am doing: for I will not tell you until I have finished what I am about to do” Uzziah and the rulers said to her, “Go in peace, and may the Lord God go before you, to take vengeance on our enemies”
– Book of Judith Verse 32-36

Judith prepared to visit Holofernes

“She made herself very beautiful, to entice the eyes of all the men who might see her. She gave her maid a skin of wine and a flask of oil, and filled a bag with roasted grain, dried fig cakes, and fine bread, (and cheese).”
– Judith Chapter 10 verse 4-5

Judith entered the Army camp of Holofernes and convinced his troops to bring her to the General so she can “betray” the Israelites

“I am on my way to see Holofernes the commander of your army, to give him a true report; I will show him a way by which he can go and capture all the hill country without losing one of his men, captured or slain… they marveled at her beauty…and led her into (Holofernes) tent.”
– Judith Chapter 10 verses 13-20

After convincing Holofernes of her plan and going back and forth between the Israelite town of Bethulia and the Camp of Holofernes, Judith finally returned to execute her plan.

Judith returned to Holofernes’ tent and “then Judith came in and lay down. Holofernes’ heart was ravished with her and his passion was aroused, for he had been waiting for an opportunity to seduce her from the day he first saw her. So Holofernes said to her “Have a drink and be merry with us!” Judith said “I will gladly drink, my lord, because today is the greatest day in my whole life.” Then she took what her maid had prepared and ate and drank before him. Holofernes was greatly pleased with her, and drank a great quantity of wine, much more than he had ever drunk in any one day since he was born….”

“…Judith was left alone in the tent, with Holofernes stretched out on his bed, for he was dead drunk…(Judith) went up to the bedpost near Holofernes’ head, and took down his sword that hung there. She came close to his bed, took hold of the hair of his head, and said “Give me strength today, O Lord God of Israel!” Then she struck his neck with all of her might, and cut off his head…(Judith) gave Holofernes’ head to her maid, who placed it in her food bag.”
Judith Chapter 12 Verse 16-20 and Chapter 13 Verse 2-10

Judith returned to the Town of Bethulia with Holofernes’ Head

“(Judith) pulled the head out of the bag and showed it to them and said “See here, the head of Holofernes, the commander of the Assyrian army…The Lord has struck him down by the hand of a woman.” “All the people were greatly astonished. They bowed down and worshiped God, and said with one accord, “Blessed are you our God, who have this day humiliated the enemies of your people.” Then Uzziah said to Judith “O Daughter, you are blessed by the Most High God above all other women on earth, and blessed be the Lord God…who guided you to cut off the head of the leader of our enemies. Your praise will never depart from the hearts of those who remember the power of God. May God grant this to be a perpetual honor to you, and may he reward you with blessings, because you risked your own life when our nation was brought low, and you averted our ruin, walking in the straight path before our God” “And all of the people said “Amen, Amen.”
– Judith Chapter 13 – Verses 15-20

Finally, when the Army of Holofernes found his decapitated body, they panicked and fled Israel

“So Bogaos went in and knocked at the entry of the tent, for he supposed that (Holofernes) was sleeping with Judith. But when no one answered, he opened it and went into the bedchamber and found him sprawled on the floor dead, with his head missing. He cried out with a loud voice and wept and groaned and shouted and tore his clothes. Then he went to the tent where Judith had stayed and when he did not find her, he rushed out to the people and shouted, “The slaves have tricked us! One Hebrew woman has brought disgrace on the house of King Nebuchadnezzar. Look, Holofernes is lying on the ground, and his head is missing!”

“When the leader of the Assyrian army heard this, they tore their tunics and were greatly dismayed.

When the men in the tents heard it, they were amazed at what had happened. Overcome with fear and trembling, they did not wait for one another, but with one impulse all rushed out and fled by every path across the plain and through the hill country.”
– Judith Chapter 14 verse 14-19 and Chapter 15 Verse 1-2