What is Chanukah?
During the Second Temple era (352 B.C.E until 70 C.E), the Greek empire passed decrees against the Jewish People, [attempted to] obliterate their religion, and prevented them from being involved with Torah learning and the performance of mitzvos ("commandments"). They also plundered their property and [abducted] their daughters. [The Greeks] entered the Temple, wrought havoc there, and defiled that which was pure.
The Jews were in great distress because of the [Greeks] and were subjected to great oppression, until the G-d of their fathers had mercy upon them, delivering them from their hands and saving them. The Hasmoneans, sons of the High priest, overcame [the Greeks], slew them, and delivered the Jews from their hands. They appointed a king from among the priests ("cohanim") and sovereignty (in the Land of Israel) returned to the Jewish nation for more than two hundred years, until the destruction of the Second [Temple].
The Jews were in great distress because of the [Greeks] and were subjected to great oppression, until the G-d of their fathers had mercy upon them, delivering them from their hands and saving them. The Hasmoneans, sons of the High priest, overcame [the Greeks], slew them, and delivered the Jews from their hands. They appointed a king from among the priests ("cohanim") and sovereignty (in the Land of Israel) returned to the Jewish nation for more than two hundred years, until the destruction of the Second [Temple].
Until they met the Greeks, the Jews had faced great pressure from
some of the most formidable empires and nations in the world; they
were continually enticed by the many cultures around them, Egypt,
Mesopotamia, the Canaanites, the Babylonians, the Persians and the
Medes who tempted them to abandon their uniqueness; but, the Jews
didn't succumb.
[The date] when the Jews overcame their enemies and destroyed them was the twenty-fifth of the month of Kislev (139 B.C.E). [On that day,] the [victorious Jews] entered the Sanctuary of the Temple, but could not find any pure olive oil except for one jar, sealed with the High Priest's seal, which contained enough oil to burn for only a single day. [Nevertheless, a miracle occurred] and they were able to kindle the lamps of the Menorah [with that one jar of oil] (1) for eight days, until they were able to crush olives and produce pure oil.
For these reasons, the Sages of that generation ordained that these eight days beginning on the twenty-fifth of Kislev should be celebrated as days of happiness and praise. Lights should be kindled each evening at the entrance to our homes on each of these eight nights to make known and publicize the miracle.
For these reasons, the Sages of that generation ordained that these eight days beginning on the twenty-fifth of Kislev should be celebrated as days of happiness and praise. Lights should be kindled each evening at the entrance to our homes on each of these eight nights to make known and publicize the miracle.
Kitzur Shulchan Aruch/The Code of Jewish Law Chapter 139:1(a)
Translated by Rabbi Ari Lobel & Project Genesis on Torah.org
Translated by Rabbi Ari Lobel & Project Genesis on Torah.org