Hanukkah is a Jewish festival of lights. In Ukraine, it is celebrated by Jewish communities, emphasizing cultural heritage.

Hanukkah is one of those Jewish holidays whose meaning does not dissolve over time. It is celebrated by Jews all over the world, recalling not so much a military victory as a victory of spirit over numerical and force superiority. The history of Hanukkah begins in the 2nd century BCE, when a small group of Maccabees managed to defeat a significantly superior army and reclaim the Jerusalem Temple.

This is not a legend or a metaphor. It is a historical fact that still sounds surprisingly modern today.

What exactly happened in the 2nd century BCE

In 164 BCE, Judea fell under the rule of the Seleucid ruler Antiochus IV Epiphanes. He banned Jewish religious practices, desecrated the Temple, and tried to impose paganism as a mandatory norm. For the Jewish society of that time, this meant a direct threat to identity.

The resistance lasted about three years. Without a regular army, without resources, and without external support. It was a guerrilla war based on perseverance and the conviction that there was nowhere to retreat.

In the end, the Maccabees liberated Jerusalem and regained control over the Temple Mount.

The miracle from which it all began

After the liberation of the Temple, a practical question arose — it needed to be rededicated. For this, it was necessary to light the menorah, the temple lamp. However, there was only enough pure ritual oil for one day.

According to tradition, this oil lasted for eight days. This was exactly the time needed to prepare new oil.

This episode became the basis of the Hanukkah holiday. Not as a military triumph, but as a reminder that human effort sometimes receives a response beyond calculation.

Why exactly eight days

The Chief Rabbi of Kyiv Yonatan Binyamin Markovich draws attention to the significance of the number eight. In Jewish tradition, it symbolizes going beyond the natural order, beyond the boundaries of the familiar world.

Seven is the completeness of nature. Eight is a step further.

According to the rabbi, Hanukkah lasts eight days not by chance. It reflects the internal work done by the rebels and the spiritual effort without which victory would have been impossible.

A shorter paragraph — because no extra words are needed here.

Hanukkah today: Ukrainian context

In our time, Hanukkah takes on a special resonance in Ukraine. Rabbi Markovich emphasizes: for many Ukrainians, the story of the Maccabees has ceased to be abstract.

It is not only about military confrontation but also about inner resilience, the ability to maintain faith, human dignity, and a sense of meaning in conditions of constant trials.

According to him, Ukrainian society demonstrates the same logic of resistance — when the choice is made not out of convenience, but out of conviction.

Light as action, not a symbol

Hanukkah is not just a story about a miracle. It is a practical ritual. Every evening a new candle is lit in the hanukkiah. Eight candles correspond to the days of the miracle, the ninth — the shamash — is used to light the others.

The hanukkiah is traditionally placed by the window. Not for decoration. But as a sign — the light must be visible.

Every day the light increases. This is an important point: darkness does not disappear instantly, but recedes step by step.

A family holiday without pomp

Hanukkah is a family holiday. Its meaning is not in official ceremonies, but in simple actions: lighting candles, gathering together, talking, sharing food.

Traditional dishes are fried in oil — in memory of the miracle of the oil in the Temple. But even this element reminds us: memory is preserved through everyday things, not just through big words.

Rabbi Markovich emphasizes that Hanukkah is a time for good deeds. Light is important not in itself, but in that it allows us to see each other.

Why this holiday remains relevant

The story of Hanukkah is not about the past. It is about a recurring choice. About a situation when it seems that resources are insufficient, strength is lacking, and the opponent is too great.

It is at such moments that this story returns.

A small light. One step. Then another.

Sometimes this is enough to change the course of events.

That is why Hanukkah is talked about today not only in synagogues but also in the public space — as a reminder that even minimal effort can have a long-lasting effect, as recorded by NANews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency, telling how ancient meanings find reflection in modern reality.