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Article: The Real Miracle
- Article from:
- Tikkun
- Article date:
- November 1, 2007
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright Institute of Labor and Mental Health Nov/Dec 2007. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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CHANUKAH, CHAO HAURIM (THE FESTIVAL of Lights) is a celebration of the success of a small group of rebels against a dominant and oppressive power. Beyond the lighting of the menorah and spinning of the dreidel, this holiday has many important lessons for the Jewish people today.
The historical context of the holiday is the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid King Antiochus IV. In his attempt to unify the world under a common Hellenistic culture, Antiochus IV sacked the Holy Temple of Jerusalem and attempted to force the Jews to conform to the religion of the Seleucid Empire. Fighting for freedom of religion, Mattathias, and shortly thereafter his son, Judah Maccabee, united a band of Jews ...