Which Story of Chanukah Should We Tell?

The Gemara asks: What is Hanukkah, and why are lights kindled on Hanukkah? The Gemara answers: The Sages taught in Megillat Ta’anit: On the twenty-fifth of Kislev, the days of Hanukkah are eight. One may not eulogize on them and one may not fast on them. What is the reason? When the Greeks entered the Sanctuary they defiled all the oils that were in the Sanctuary by touching them. And when the Hasmonean monarchy overcame them and emerged victorious over them, they searched and found only one cruse of oil that was placed with the seal of the High Priest, undisturbed by the Greeks. And there was sufficient oil there to light the candelabrum for only one day. A miracle occurred and they lit the candelabrum from it eight days. The next year the Sages instituted those days and made them holidays with recitation of hallel and special thanksgiving in prayer and blessings.

(19) Then Mattathias answered and spake with a loud voice,

(20) Though all the nations that are under the king’s dominion obey him, and fall away every one from the religion of their fathers, and give consent to his commandments:

(21) Yet will I and my sons and my brethren walk in the covenant of our fathers.

(22) God forbid that we should forsake the law and the ordinances.

(23) We will not hearken to the king’s words, to go from our religion, either on the right hand, or the left.

(35) Then said Judas and his brethren,

(36) Behold, our enemies are discomfited: let us go up to cleanse and dedicate the sanctuary.

(37) Upon this all the host assembled themselves together, and went up into mount Sion.

(38) And when they saw the sanctuary desolate, and the altar profaned, and the gates burned up, and shrubs growing in the courts as in a forest, or in one of the mountains, yea, and the priests’ chambers pulled down;

(39) They rent their clothes, and made great lamentation, and cast ashes upon their heads,

(40) And fell down flat to the ground upon their faces, and blew an alarm with the trumpets, and cried toward heaven.

(41) Then Judas appointed certain men to fight against those that were in the fortress, until he had cleansed the sanctuary.

(42) So he chose priests of blameless conversation, such as had pleasure in the law: Who cleansed the sanctuary, and bare out the defiled stones into an unclean place.

(43) And when as they consulted what to do with the altar of burnt offerings, which was profaned;

(44) They thought it best to pull it down, lest it should be a reproach to them, because the heathen had defiled it: wherefore they pulled it down,

(45) And laid up the stones in the mountain of the temple in a convenient place, until there should come a prophet to shew what should be done with them.

(46) Then they took whole stones according to the law, and built a new altar according to the former;

(47) And made up the sanctuary, and the things that were within the temple, and hallowed the courts.

(48) They made also new holy vessels, and into the temple they brought the candlestick, and the altar of burnt offerings, and of incense, and the table.

(49) And upon the altar they burned incense, and the lamps that were upon the candlestick they lighted, that they might give light in the temple.

(50) Furthermore they set the loaves upon the table, and spread out the veils, and finished all the works which they had begun to make.

(51) Now on the five and twentieth day of the ninth month, which is called the month Casleu, in the hundred forty and eighth year, they rose up betimes in the morning, And offered sacrifice according to the law upon the new altar of burnt offerings, which they had made.

(52) Look, at what time and what day the heathen had profaned it, even in that was it dedicated with songs, and citherns, and harps, and cymbals.

(53) Then all the people fell upon their faces, worshipping and praising the God of heaven, who had given them good success.

(54) And so they kept the dedication of the altar eight days and offered burnt offerings with gladness, and sacrificed the sacrifice of deliverance and praise.

(55) They decked also the forefront of the temple with crowns of gold, and with shields; and the gates and the chambers they renewed, and hanged doors upon them.

(56) Thus was there very great gladness among the people, for that the reproach of the heathen was put away.

(57) Moreover Judas and his brethren with the whole congregation of Israel ordained, that the days of the dedication of the altar should be kept in their season from year to year by the space of eight days, from the five and twentieth day of the month Casleu, with mirth and gladness.

(58) At that time also they builded up the mount Sion with high walls and strong towers round about, lest the Gentiles should come and tread it down as they had done before.

(5) And at the end of all these, they fell on their faces and they pleaded to the Lord God, saying:

(6) Please, God, protect us forever from this trouble that's come to us.

(7) And if we have sinned against you, punish us with kindness, and do not give us any longer into the hands of strangers who are cursing the name of your holiness.

(8) And from the Lord it was this, to purge the House on the same day that the nations defiled it, and it was the twenty-fifth day of the month of Kislev.

(9) And they celebrated the Festival to the Lord for eight days, like the festival of Sukkot, and they remembered the previous days when they celebrated of the festival of Sukkot in the mountains and in the caves, and they went out in the desolation/wildnerness, like wild beasts.

(10) And they took the willows of the brook and the branches of palm trees, they and sang a song of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, who gave them courage and salvation to purify the temple of his holiness.

(11) And they sent a voice in all the cities of Judah to celebrate this festival every year.

(7) On Chanukah: In the days of Matisyahu, son of Yochanan the High Priest, the Hasmonean and his sons, when the evil Greek kingdom rose up against Your people Israel to make them forget Your Torah and to turn them away from the statutes of Your will— You, in Your abundant mercy, stood by them in their time of distress, You defended their cause, You judged their grievances, You avenged them. You delivered the mighty into the hands of the weak, many into the hands of the few, defiled people into the hands of the undefiled, the wicked into the hands of the righteous, and insolent [sinners] into the hands of diligent students of Your Torah. And You made Yourself a great and sanctified name in Your world. And for Your people, Israel, You performed a great deliverance and redemption unto this very day. Afterwards, Your sons entered the Holy of Holies of Your Abode, cleaned Your Temple, purified Your Sanctuary, and kindled lights in the Courtyards of Your Sanctuary, and designated these eight days of Chanukah to thank and praise Your great Name.