What is the origin of the name Hanukkah?
The name Hanukkah derives from the Hebrew verb meaning to dedicate. This linguistic root anchors the holiday's identity in the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem during the 2nd century BCE.
Questions about Hanukkah
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When did Antiochus IV order an altar dedicated to Zeus erected inside the Second Temple?
In 167 BCE, Antiochus IV ordered an altar dedicated to Zeus erected inside the Second Temple. He banned circumcision and forced pigs to be sacrificed at the altar of God.
How many days does the Hanukkah holiday last and what determines this duration?
The eight-day duration corresponds to the number of letters in the Hebrew spelling of the holiday. The word itself appears in Psalm 30, which is traditionally recited on this day as the Song of Dedication.
Which rabbinical school decided the order of lighting flames for Hanukkah?
Jewish law ultimately adopted the position of Hillel. The House of Shammai argued for starting with eight lights and decreasing daily while the House of Hillel advocated for beginning with one light and increasing each night until all eight burned together.
What happened to the single cruse of pure oil after the Seleucids profaned the sanctuary?
This single container held enough fuel for just one day yet burned for eight days. The Talmud later described how only one cruse of pure oil remained after the Seleucids profaned the sanctuary.