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Virtual Israel Tours “A Bible in one hand and an iphone in the other” Rav Shaanan Scherer M.A, B.Ed. Licensed Israel Tour Guide. Exploring the Depths of Chanukah An explanation of the history and customs of Chanukah through the lens of archaeology, historiography and a touch of mysticism.
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Virtual Israel Tours “A Bible in one hand and an iphone in the other” Rav Shaanan Scherer M.A, B.Ed. Licensed Israel Tour Guide Exploring the Depths of ChanukahAn explanation of the history and customs of Chanukah through the lens of archaeology, historiography and a touch of mysticism
למה? תורה עם דרך ארץ ישראל!
“There’s plenty of room at the Hotel California .. You can check out any time of night, but you can never leave” (followed by great guitar solo)
“but you can never leave, eh?” HOTEL TORONTO
SHAANAN TOURS • GUIDING SINCE 2007 IN ISRAEL • VIRTUAL GUIDING SINCE 2010 IN USA AND CANADA • OVER TEN YEARS OF ISRAEL EXPERIENCE HIKING, BIKING AND HITCHHIKING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY • GUIDED TOURS WITH PASSION, SOUL AND A SENSE OF HUMOUR • “IF I CAN’T BE IN ISRAEL, THEN I’VE GOTTA TAKE IT WITH ME”
מאי חנוכה שבת כא:
Rambam, Mishneh Torah. Hilchot Chanukah. Chapter 3: • Halacha 1 • In [the era of] the Second Temple, the Greek kingdom issued decrees against the Jewish people, [attempting to] nullify their faith and refusing to allow them to observe the Torah and its commandments. They extended their hands against their property and their daughters; they entered the Sanctuary, wrought havoc within, and made the sacraments impure. • The Jews suffered great difficulties from them, for they oppressed them greatly until the God of our ancestors had mercy upon them, delivered them from their hand, and saved them. The sons of the Hasmoneans, the High Priests, overcame [them], slew them, and saved the Jews from their hand. • They appointed a king from the priests, and sovereignty returned to Israel for more than 200 years, until the destruction of the Second Temple.
Halacha 2 • When the Jews overcame their enemies and destroyed them, they entered the Sanctuary; this was on the twenty-fifth of Kislev. They could not find any pure oil in the Sanctuary, with the exception of a single cruse. It contained enough oil to burn for merely one day. They lit the arrangement of candles from it for eight days until they could crush olives and produce pure oil. • Halacha 3 • Accordingly, the Sages of that generation ordained that these eight days, which begin from the twenty-fifth of Kislev, should be commemorated to be days of happiness and praise [of God]. Candles should be lit in the evening at the entrance to the houses on each and every one of these eight nights to publicize and reveal the miracle. • These days are called Chanukah. It is forbidden to eulogize and fast on them, as on the days of Purim. Lighting the candles on these days is a Rabbinic mitzvah, like the reading of the Megillah.
Why do we celebrate Chanukah? • Two reasons: • Supernatural miracle of the pure oil that lasted 8 days 2) Military victory of Hasmonean army over Greek Empire and return of Jewish sovereignty to Judea for next 200 years
What is wrong with these reasons? 1) Supernatural miracle of the pure oil that lasted 8 days 2) Military victory of Hasmonean army over Greek Empire and return of Jewish sovereignty of Priests to Judea for next 200 years
Rambam. Mishne Torah • They appointed a king from the priests, and sovereignty returned to Israel for more than 200 years, until the destruction of the Second Temple.
“There is a custom to eat cheese on Chanukah to commemorate the miracle that was done with dairy food when Yehudit fed the enemy” • Rabbi Moshe Isserles. Commentary on Shulchan Aruch 670. Laws of Chanukah.
How can a Torah law (Bikkurim) be based on a Rabbinic Holiday?? “From Atzeret to Chag, One should bring (the bikkurim) and recite. From Chag to Chanukah – one should bring, but not recite.” - Mishna. Bikkurim 1:6 What fruit in ancient Israel was harvested Chanukah time?
December 26th, 2011 Israeli archaeologists uncover first artifact confirming written record of Temple worship Button-sized seal believed to designate ceremonially pure provisions for Temple worship, such as that described in the Hanukkah story.
“PURE FOR GOD” “DAKA L’YA”
Shabbat 21b • What is [the reason of] Hanukkah? For our Rabbis taught: On the twenty-fifth of Kislev [commence] the days of Hanukkah, which are eight on which a lamentation for the dead and fasting are forbidden. For when the Greeks entered the Temple, they defiled all the oils therein, and when the Hasmonean dynasty prevailed against and defeated them, they made search and found only one cruse of oil which lay with the seal of the High Priest, but which contained sufficient for one day's lighting only; yet a miracle was wrought therein and they lit [the lamp] therewith for eight days. The following year these [days] were appointed a Festival with [the recital of] Hallel and thanksgiving.
According to the story in Maccabees, Heliodorus, as the representative of King Seleucus IV, tried to steal the wealth from the Temple in Jerusalem but instead was severely beaten as a result of divine intervention. Three years later Seleucus IV was assassinated and was succeeded by his brother Antiochus IV, who was the ruler who according to II Maccabees eventually issued an edict of persecution against the Jewish people and desecrated the Temple in Jerusalem leading to the Maccabean Revolt.
HASMONEAN FORTRESSES • ALEXANDRION • DOK • JERICHO • CYPRUS • HYRCANIA • MACHAREUS • MASADA
MODI’IN • Established in 1993 • Current population 80 000 • Estimated population by 2030 120 000
Jason the High Priest 175 BCE JASON’S TOMB
Coin of Matityahu Antigonusthe last survivor of the Hasmonean family Competed against Herod the Great to become next ruler of Judea and lost
