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Chanukah: Its History, Observances, and Significance
Includes a compehensive history of the period; Chanah and her seven sons; the story of the Kohen Gadol's daughter; and the complete candle lighting service.
- GenresJudaism
159 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1981
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 28, 2025
A FINE EXPLANATION OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS FESTIVAL/HOLIDAY
Editors Rabbi Nosson Scherman and Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz wrote in the Preface to this 1981 book, “Mesorah Publications is proud to present … a book that will give its readers, scholar and layman alike, a heightened sensitivity and increased understanding of the festival, its historical background, its underlying significance, and its prayers and ritual. Alone among the festivals in the Jewish calendar, Chanukah has no scriptural basis. We lack the authoritative narrative of Scripture and there is very little Talmudic and Midrashic narrative and interpretation. It is not surprising, therefore, that when people ask ‘What is Chanukah?’ not many of us have more than a superficial answer…
“It was to provide the public with a well-rounded and solidly founded understanding of Chanukah that this book was written… Its several sections touch upon all aspects of the celebration: The OVERVIEW… presents a … philosophical perspective on the miracle in terms of the full scope of Jewish history. The HISTORY… present[s] a full view of the events, from background to climax… The INSIGHTS presents … rabbinic thought, homilies, and interpretation… DINIM/LAWS gives a concise review of the relevant laws and procedures. Finally, the RITUAL presents the Blessings, hymns, and prayers…” (Pg. vii)
They note, “the famous ‘miracle of the lights,’ when a one-day supply of pure olive oil burned for eight days, took place three years after the beginning of the Hasmonean revolt. This is the only miracle that the Talmud (Shabbos 21b) mentions in its brief description of the Chanukah events.” (Pg. 13)
They explain, “The greatest blossoming of the Oral Law began with the period of the Second Temple. Then the Mishnah was composed and the principles of Scriptural exegesis and Talmudic reasoning were utilized to articulate, derive, and develop the immense body of law and logic that became the Talmud and from which the infinite body of Rabbinic literature began to flow. Nor was it a coincidence that a new era of Torah knowledge began then. The Men of the Great Assembly, who were the leaders of Israel, knew that the Shekinah [the Divine Presence] would not rest upon the Second Temple as it had upon the First, and that after the death of the few living prophets the age of prophecy would be over and God would no longer speak directly to Israel through His emissaries. The people were deeply distressed … because they realized that the nation’s renewed vigor required some form of spiritual grandeur to compensate for the loss of the Shekinah and prophecy. So they prayed, insisting that they could not go ahead with the construction of the Temple unless the generation was granted an intensified degree of insight into the Torah.” (Pg. 17)
They note, “Let us not forget that the Hasmoneans had NOT won their independence when they proclaimed the festival of Chanukah… the ONLY victory won by Yehudah and his brothers was the right to resume the Temple service and to practice their religion. Not only was Antiochus still their ruler, his Syrian troops… still occupied Eretz Yisrael and even most of Jerusalem. Many bloody battles and more than a generation would pass before Shimon, the only Maccabee not killed in war, was proclaimed ruler... and more years went by before his son… declared himself free of any foreign domination.” (Pg 28-29)
They acknowledge, “For information, we are indebted primarily to the books of Maccabees I and II… the two books were largely unknown to Jewish chroniclers and commentators until fairly recent times. The first known Hebrew translation was not published until 5590 [1830 CE]… The reader should bear in mind that the period of Scripture was sealed prior to the events of Chanukah. No later book, even if historically accurate and true to the underlying spiritual theme of the events it chronicled, could have been canonized. Consequently, the status of Maccabees as an apocryphal work does not, in and of itself, prove that it is not reliable.” (Pg. 34)
They report, “Upon searching for oil, they found that all the oil in the Temple had been contaminated. They continued searching, however, and found a flask that had enough oil for one night’s lighting… With great rejoicing the Kohanim filled the lamps with this oil and lit the Menorah. Miraculously, the oil burned for the eight days that it took to prepare and bring fresh and uncontaminated oil that was fit for the Menorah---the miracle that would be eternally celebrated with the eight-day Chanukah festival.” (Pg. 54-55)
They state, “The Chanukah festival commemorates the rededication of the Temple in the days of the Hasmoneans. As such, it is perceived as relating in many ways to the original dedication of the tabernacle in the time of Moses… That is why the festival is called ‘Chanukah’ which means ‘dedication.’” (Pg. 98-99)
This book will be of great interest to those studying Chanukah.
Editors Rabbi Nosson Scherman and Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz wrote in the Preface to this 1981 book, “Mesorah Publications is proud to present … a book that will give its readers, scholar and layman alike, a heightened sensitivity and increased understanding of the festival, its historical background, its underlying significance, and its prayers and ritual. Alone among the festivals in the Jewish calendar, Chanukah has no scriptural basis. We lack the authoritative narrative of Scripture and there is very little Talmudic and Midrashic narrative and interpretation. It is not surprising, therefore, that when people ask ‘What is Chanukah?’ not many of us have more than a superficial answer…
“It was to provide the public with a well-rounded and solidly founded understanding of Chanukah that this book was written… Its several sections touch upon all aspects of the celebration: The OVERVIEW… presents a … philosophical perspective on the miracle in terms of the full scope of Jewish history. The HISTORY… present[s] a full view of the events, from background to climax… The INSIGHTS presents … rabbinic thought, homilies, and interpretation… DINIM/LAWS gives a concise review of the relevant laws and procedures. Finally, the RITUAL presents the Blessings, hymns, and prayers…” (Pg. vii)
They note, “the famous ‘miracle of the lights,’ when a one-day supply of pure olive oil burned for eight days, took place three years after the beginning of the Hasmonean revolt. This is the only miracle that the Talmud (Shabbos 21b) mentions in its brief description of the Chanukah events.” (Pg. 13)
They explain, “The greatest blossoming of the Oral Law began with the period of the Second Temple. Then the Mishnah was composed and the principles of Scriptural exegesis and Talmudic reasoning were utilized to articulate, derive, and develop the immense body of law and logic that became the Talmud and from which the infinite body of Rabbinic literature began to flow. Nor was it a coincidence that a new era of Torah knowledge began then. The Men of the Great Assembly, who were the leaders of Israel, knew that the Shekinah [the Divine Presence] would not rest upon the Second Temple as it had upon the First, and that after the death of the few living prophets the age of prophecy would be over and God would no longer speak directly to Israel through His emissaries. The people were deeply distressed … because they realized that the nation’s renewed vigor required some form of spiritual grandeur to compensate for the loss of the Shekinah and prophecy. So they prayed, insisting that they could not go ahead with the construction of the Temple unless the generation was granted an intensified degree of insight into the Torah.” (Pg. 17)
They note, “Let us not forget that the Hasmoneans had NOT won their independence when they proclaimed the festival of Chanukah… the ONLY victory won by Yehudah and his brothers was the right to resume the Temple service and to practice their religion. Not only was Antiochus still their ruler, his Syrian troops… still occupied Eretz Yisrael and even most of Jerusalem. Many bloody battles and more than a generation would pass before Shimon, the only Maccabee not killed in war, was proclaimed ruler... and more years went by before his son… declared himself free of any foreign domination.” (Pg 28-29)
They acknowledge, “For information, we are indebted primarily to the books of Maccabees I and II… the two books were largely unknown to Jewish chroniclers and commentators until fairly recent times. The first known Hebrew translation was not published until 5590 [1830 CE]… The reader should bear in mind that the period of Scripture was sealed prior to the events of Chanukah. No later book, even if historically accurate and true to the underlying spiritual theme of the events it chronicled, could have been canonized. Consequently, the status of Maccabees as an apocryphal work does not, in and of itself, prove that it is not reliable.” (Pg. 34)
They report, “Upon searching for oil, they found that all the oil in the Temple had been contaminated. They continued searching, however, and found a flask that had enough oil for one night’s lighting… With great rejoicing the Kohanim filled the lamps with this oil and lit the Menorah. Miraculously, the oil burned for the eight days that it took to prepare and bring fresh and uncontaminated oil that was fit for the Menorah---the miracle that would be eternally celebrated with the eight-day Chanukah festival.” (Pg. 54-55)
They state, “The Chanukah festival commemorates the rededication of the Temple in the days of the Hasmoneans. As such, it is perceived as relating in many ways to the original dedication of the tabernacle in the time of Moses… That is why the festival is called ‘Chanukah’ which means ‘dedication.’” (Pg. 98-99)
This book will be of great interest to those studying Chanukah.
December 3, 2010
A very interesting overview of the history and mystical meanings behind the festival of Chanukkah. I would suggest it to anyone who is interested in the history of this beautiful Jewish holiday.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews