Story hanukkah book maccabees

The book of 1 maccabees in the apocrypha describes vividly some of the atrocities committed to the jewish people under the regime of antiochus iv. Unlike menorahs of today, this one had seven rather than nine branches. The astonishing real story of hanukkah jewish world. Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the second temple of jerusalem during the second century b. The jewish people prayed and thanked god for these miracles. The syrian king was set on hellenizing all of his conquered territories and the people therein. The rabbis who included judith in their hanukkah narrative could not have imagined a time when the story of judiths bravery in the face of enormous danger would cease to be part of the. The story of hanukkah is recorded in the first book of maccabees, which is part of the apocrypha. Hanukkah story 2019 hanukkah story story of chanukah. Old testament sodom and gomorra hd the entire movie for children in english toons for kids en duration. The maccabees uncovering the deuterocanonical books. The name maccabee, probably meaning hammer, is actually applied in the books of maccabees to only one man, judas, third son of the priest mattathias and first leader of the revolt against the seleucid kings who persecuted the jews 1 mc 2. Hanukkah or chanukah is an annual jewish celebration in the late fallearly winter that dates back to circa 164 bc or the intertestamental period between the old and new testaments and was also referred to as festival of lights or feast of the dedication or feast of the maccabees. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required.

This festival also celebrates a miraculous event that happened during the rededication of the temple when a small. It covers the entire history of the hanukkah period from antiochus iv epiphaness suppression of jewish observance through the successful conclusion of the rebellion, until the reign of simons son john hyrcanus. Falls in the hebrew month of kislev, which usually corresponds with december. Hanukkah in the book of maccabees galilee of the nations. While researching jewish childrens books with an element of poetry and rhyme, i stumbled across this book called, maccabee.

It describes the refusal of mattathias to perform pagan religious rites, the ensuing jewish revolt. Also, people have come up with other rationales for the creation of another hanukkah story and why the maccabees arent in the tanakh, but i chose to write only about what i was taught. This video marks the first in a series meant to explain the deuterocanonical texts of the old testament. The main reason is that modern day judaism comes from the phariseee sect which believes in rabbinic interpretation and the oral tradition, whereas the hasmonean dynasty and the maccabees represented the sadducee sect, a break away sect that sought. The maccabees were a band of jewish freedom fighters who freed judea from the syriangreek occupiers during the second temple period. Maccabee the story of hanukkah by tilda balsley goodreads. Where in the bible did the story of hanukkah answers. What you need to know about the hanukkah story my jewish. The eightday jewish celebration known as hanukkah or chanukah. Tilda balsley has written many books for karben, bringing her stories to life with rhyme, rhythm, and humor. Send me email alerts for new articles by elon gilad. Hanukkah is celebrated as the feast of dedication to remember the rededication of the temple after god faithfully delivered israel from her oppressors.

Watch a clip of a webbased video on the origins of hanukkah, read the text from one of the suggestions provide ilumina or glo bible, etc. There is some justification for the title since illustrations are largely drawn from 2 maccabees 6 and 7. Maccabee the story of hanukkah jewish book council. But all the books i found were about the traditions like bubbes latkes or lighting the menorah and not the story behind it.

Children celebrating the story of the jewish holiday of hanukkah or chanukkah. The word maccabee is an acronym for the hebrew words that mean who is like you among all powers, g. The story of how hanukkah came to be is contained in the books of 1 and 2 maccabees. When the author of the fist book of maccabees speaks openly about jewish infighting, corruption. Imagine if antiochus had written the story of hanukkah.

The story of hanukkah is preserved in the books of the first and second maccabees, which describe in detail the rededication of the temple in jerusalem and the lighting of the menorah. The faith of the martyred mother and her seven sons. The ancient israelites, led by judas maccabeus, did vanquish the oppressor antiochus but greek rule would only be shaken off 20 years later under judas younger brother. The sources that are closest to the times are the books of maccabees. Beyond that, i maccabees is believed to be a historicallyaccurate contemporary account of the story of hanukkah. Traditionally the name has come to be extended to the brothers of judas, his supporters. The story of hanukkah is notable for being one of only about two traditional holidays one other being purim where god is not directly involved. Rhyming text recounts the maccabees stand for religious freedom. There are not a lot of jewish childrens books that present the history of hanukkah in such an eloquent, powerful way.

The seleucid empire the story of hanukkah is set in the seleucid empire, an area that included babylonia as well as much of anatolia, persia, the levant, mesopotamia, and the areas now known as kuwait. The story of hanukkah doesnt even appear in the torahthe books of 1 and 2 maccabees are in the catholic bible, not the hebrew one. Jews have been fighting for thousands of years for their right to exist as theyve been forced into diaspora and concentration camps. One of the first ancient texts that relates the story of chanukah is known as 2 maccabees. These books are not part of the canonized tanakh hebrew bible used by modern jews, though the catholic and orthodox churches consider them part of the old. The true story behind hanukkah the ancient israelites, led by judas maccabeus, did vanquish the oppressor antiochus but greek rule would only be shaken off 20 years later under judas younger brother. He had waged war with king ptolemy of egypt over the. The book is held as canonical scripture by the catholic, orthodox, and oriental orthodox. The book of 2 maccabees gives a third, and rather bizarre reason, for the festival of hanukkah. Judah and the little army of maccabees fight to free jerusalem from the cruel king antiochus in this vibrant and actionfilled rhyming version of. Find more activities, book lists, interviews, and recipes. The maccabean story is preserved in the books of the first and second maccabees, which describe in detail the rededication of the temple in jerusalem and the lighting of the menorah.

Judah and the little army of maccabees fight to free jerusalem from the c. About 250 years after these events, the firstcentury jewish historian flavius. Sure, he was there in the miracle of the oil, and you could say while the maccabees were fighting. Rabbi zamir cohen describes the maccabees as spiritual and not physically strong. Its name in the septuagint and in the writings of the church fathers eusebius and clement is. See the feast of dedication hanukkah from a christian. More than 2000 years ago there was a time when the land of israel was part of the syriangreek empire, dominated by syrian rulers of the dynasty of the seleucids in order to relate the story that led up to chanukah, we shall start with antiochus iii, the king of syria, who reigned from 3538 to 3574 222186 b. Hanukkah in the book of maccabees welcome to part 2 of our series the miracles, mysteries and histories of hanukkah. Find hanukkah activities, recipes, story ideas, and more on the pj library hanukkah hub.

Sunday evening marks the beginning of the jewish festival of hanukkah. This is the person wrote the introductory letter and who inserted the story of chanukah, i. The maccabees successfully took back the temple from king antiochus, but they. These books are not part of the tanakh hebrew bible which came from the jewish canon. This book does not discuss hanukkah traditions, so if you want a discussion of menorahs, dreidels, and latkes, go to another book. That is, simply, the length of sukkot, which is a harvest festival, and possibly hanukkah began as one as well. With faith and relentless determination as their guides, the maccabees won a stunning victory over the kings army. While not historically connected to the story of the maccabees, the book of judith shares the theme of jewish faith and courage overcoming a larger force. The temple contained many beautiful objects, including a tall, golden menorah. Hanukkah story the eightday jewish festival of lights, hanukkah or chanukkah is celebrated to embrace the victory of the maccabees over a larger greek army and the rededication during the second century b. Every year during hanukkah, jews light menorahs for eight days to remember the miracles that happened long ago.

Some rabbis and scholars believe the hanukkah story isnt what i wrote. The maccabees were led at first by a man named mattathias, and then, later, by his son judah. The events behind the festival of hanukkah are found in the apocryphal book of 1 maccabees. I finally found the book i have been searching for. A long, long time ago in the land of israel, the most special place for the jewish people was the temple synagogue in jerusalem. At first, judahs followers, called the maccabees, were afraid. I maccabees presents a historical account of political, military, and diplomatic events from the time of judaeas relationship with antiochus iv epiphanes of syria reigned 175164163 bc to the death 54 bc of simon maccabeus, high priest in jerusalem. Opinion the hypocrisy of hanukkah the new york times. Therein the story is told of how judah maccabee and his heroic band of freedom fighters overthrew the tyrannical seleucid forces that had subdued judea and defiled the jerusalem temple. The family of mattathias became known as the maccabees, from the hebrew word for hammer, because they were said to strike hammer blows against their enemies. This does, however, tell the story of the maccabees and the miracle of the oil in a fun and inspiring way. Interestingly, most people may not know where to find the account of the magnificent hanukkah story. Led by judah the maccabee and his four brothers, they trounced the greek interlopers and restored the holy temple in jerusalem to the service of g.

Would definitely recommend this book to anyone wanting to teach their young children about the maccabees. Jews refer to the maccabees, but the family is more commonly known as the hasmoneans. The books of the maccabees biblical literature britannica. Antiochus apparently died during the time of the struggle with the jews but not in battle, as. Jews celebrate their victory over a tyrant king and the rededication of the temple in. This book is an excerpt from the apocrypha and it this story to you so you may have it in either e book, printed book, audio book or all of the above. Maccabee tells the hanukkah story, focusing on the actions of the famed heroic family that led the fight in jerusalem against the idolloving greeks and their. Why isnt the book of maccabees in the jewish bible, the.

What is particularly unusual is that the second book of the maccabees, also written by jewish scholars and around the same time, tells a slightly different story of hanukkah. For me, hanukkah is about the story of the maccabees, a group of people who stood up and fought for their rights. The story of hanukkah kehilat sar shalom hanukkah means dedication. Khahnuhkah, also hanewkah, an eightday festival commemorating the maccabees victory over the greeks and subsequent rededication of the temple. When the war between the jews and the syriangreeks occurred in 165 bce, the hebrew bible was already written. Tilda lives with her husband and their rescue shih tzu.

And after that antiochus had smitten egypt, he returned again in the hundred forty and third year, and went up against israel and jerusalem with a great multitude, and entered proudly into the sanctuary, and took away the golden altar, and the menorah of light, and all the. The story of hanukkah discover first fruits of zion. Compared with the kings army, they were small in number, but they were mighty in spirit. The original hebrew is lost and the most important surviving version is the greek translation contained in the septuagint. The later book of maccabees ii written in alexandria, in greek, in 124 bce tells us the holiday was celebrated as a second sukkot.

Maccabee the story of hanukkah kindle edition by tilda balsley. The miracle of hanukkah was the victory of the spiritual over the physical. These books are not part of the canonized tanakh hebrew bible used by modern jews, though the catholic and orthodox churches consider them part of the old testament. Apparently this festival existed in some form or another going back to the time of nehemiah when it was known as the feast of fire. Books of maccabees encyclopedia of the bible bible gateway. The first book of maccabees i maccabees is historical work extant in greek, covering the period of 40 years from the accession of antiochus epiphanes 175 b. In the first part of this series we did not elaborate on the horrors committed by antiochus iv, nor did we discuss at length the mighty triumphs of the maccabees. The first book of the maccabees tells another version of the story. Like other rulers before him, antiochus underestimated the will and strength of his jewish. I simply wrote about a widelyacceptedastruth hanukkah story.