EveryyearbetweentheendofNovemberandtheendofDecember, JewishpeoplearoundtheworldcelebratetheholidayofChanukah,theFestivalofLights. Chanukahbeginsonthe25thdayoftheHebrewmonthofKislev,butthestartingdateonthewesterncalendarvariesfromyeartoyear.Theholidaycelebratestheeventswhichtook placeover2,300yearsagointhelandofJudea,whichisnowIsrael.JewscelebrateChanukahtomarkthevictoryovertheSyriansandtherededicationofthe JerusalemTemple.TheFestivaloftheLights,Chanukah,lastsforeightdaystocommemorate themiracleoftheoil.ThewordChanukahmeans"rededication".LongagointhelandofJudeatherewasaSyrianking,Antiochus.ThekingorderedtheJewish peopletorejecttheirGod,theirreligion,theircustomsandtheirbeliefsandtoworshipthe Greek Gods.Thereweresomewhodidastheyweretold,butmanyrefused.onewhorefusedwas JudahMaccabee.Judahandhisfourbrothersformedanarmyandchoseastheirnametheword"Maccabee", whichmeanshammer.Afterthreeyearsoffighting,theMaccabeeswerefinallysuccessfulin drivingtheSyriansoutofIsraelandreclai
Chanukah Candle Holder