Newgrounds.com — Everything, By Everyone.

why do we have to celebrate christmas? why cant you guys celebrate chanukkah.

At 12/10/06 12:22 PM, JeremysFilms wrote: why do we have to celebrate christmas? why cant you guys celebrate chanukkah.

Nobody has to celebrate anything.

You can choose what you want to celebrate.

Christians: Christmas

Jews: Passover, chanukkah

Muslims: Ramadan

Druids: Winter Solstice

and the list goes on and on and on and on...

vAt 12/10/06 12:20 PM, TheMason wrote:

At 12/10/06 11:55 AM, Dragon-Smaug wrote:

2) So you admit you're excluding how others may view themselves in what you consider to be Jewish...

Yeah. I mean, sorry, but there are some things I believe one has to believe in order to be Jewish. So yeah, some people who consider themselves Jewish I probably don’t consider Jewish. It doesn’t matter all that much because, as you said earlier, G-d will decide in the end.

3) Where do I argue that there are two messiahs?

Christians believe that since Christ was the messiah, according to them, but that the world is not like it’s supposed to be after the messiah comes, there will be a second messiah. I just thought that belief in Christ being the messiah implied believing a second messiah will come. I suppose it’s possible to believe that Christ was the messiah and no more will come, but that doesn’t fit any religion I know of.

4) Are you a Christian or a Jew? Because when you say: But when he died, and all that was supposed to happen due to the Messiah had not happened yet, they should have said, “Oh. I guess he wasn’t the messiah.” You provide an argument that Christianity is false. (I'm not arguing here, I'm just curious.)

Since you asked me directly, I am Jewish. I didn’t reveal that fact because I didn’t want people to think I was hating on Christianity because I’m Jewish or something. It’s fine if Christians want to believe Christ was the messiah, I suppose, but it is a deviation from Jewish teachings.

I disagree. I believe that there is no room in Jewish theology for more than one messiah. That is not to say that there have been people who had the potential to become messiahs, or that people were wrong to believe a specific person was the messiah, but that you can’t be a Jew and believe that Christ was a messiah.

Again, I am not arguing that there are two messiahs.

OK. Christians do.

What I am arguing is that it is possible that a person can be Jewish and believe Jesus was the Messiah; how? By believing that the prophesies regarding the Messiah have been missinterprited and that the Messiah was not what the church leaders preached He would be.

There are criteria set down as to who the messiah will be and what he (or she lol) will accomplish.

Oops, meant to put my above reply below this line!

Hmmm…I don’t have a source, but I think they’re pretty explicit. Maybe not though. Would be interesting to read what it actually written about the Messiah. (Any have a link?) It's pretty useless to discuss how to interpret something we're not looking at.

He rejected the Kosher laws. That is not humane (nor inhumane) or common sense. I call it assimilation. Jesus did not totally reject all the laws, just some of them.

He also healed the sick on the Sabbath...

Aight good for him, I don’t see how they are related.

During his life, it is possible that Jesus the Jew had the potential to be the Messiah (though I do not know for sure, I will say so for the purposes of this paragraph). Jews could have followed him. After his death, they had to make a choice whether to still consider him the messiah or not.

And so they became Jews who believed that the Messiah had come. Again does the coming of the Messiah mean the end of Judaism?

No, but it means the end of war, I believe. If you must be picky, then the Jews could have believed he was messiah until he died and then until a war started. You get the idea though.

Religions offer a structure of belief. Religion can be bent, but there are parts of each religion that define it in relation to itself and others. One can beleive what he wants, but cannot beleive certain things (as in some but not all things) and still belong to a religion that says otherwise. While it is true that making concrete theological statement is not always good, never making concrete statements is worse.

So then there is nothing known as Christianity, Judaism or Islam. None of these religions are anywhere near monolithic. There are vast differences of opinions in each of these religions that have caused great schisms. Yet while I believe that the teachings of Baptists are theologically 165 degrees apart from Christ's; I still consider Baptists to be Christians.

I say that parts of Religion can be left up to interpretation, but that some parts of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam cannot be changed and still be called such.

True there are somethings that seperate Judaism, Christianity and Islam from each other. Many of these are traditional in nature and relate to how people worship. Furthermore, a person who does not believe in the divinity of the Messiah yet believes Jesus was the Christ may find Jewish worship more appealing and a more appropriate identity than Christian worship and identity...

Well, you can’t believe two conflicting beliefs, you have to choose sometime. I’m not sure what you mean by “Jesus was the Christ” so I’m not sure how to respond. George was the Bush! Harry was the Potter! Douglas was the Adams.

At 12/8/06 06:15 PM, TheMason wrote:

:: Christmas has been secularizied, but it is still a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

Yeah and Sant Claus is based of St. Nicholas a bishop who was extemely well known for his generosity and for attending the council of Nicaea.

At 12/10/06 12:22 PM, JeremysFilms wrote: why do we have to celebrate christmas? why cant you guys celebrate chanukkah.

no, offense but I have jewish relatives and I can honestly say that after celebrating it once.... It wasnt that great. Even the traditional food made me gag, it was almost as bad as passover.
That wine was awfull!! And all the food tasted like it had been doused in onion juice, covered in radish shavings, and baked in a bowl made of rock salt.
It was torture!!! Id rather sit down to a big bowl of Velveeta (which I hate)!!

hows bout: who gives a flying fuck about who celebrates Christmas and who doesn't, irrelevant of how it has now become "secular"?

At 12/9/06 12:12 AM, TheMason wrote: So if you are not Jewish your beliefs regarding his Messiahood and whether or not you celebrate Christmas is...well rather irrelevent.

Its his opinion, he has every right to give it. Your opinion on him giving his opinion is the only irrelevent thing here.

No need to resort to vulgar language.

You are so damn full of yourself. Its not even funny. Honestly, lay off the fucking ego.

At 12/8/06 11:18 PM, Imperator wrote:

See, I'm confused about that group too. Every time I hear it, I think, "wait, isn't the idea that you are a Jew who believes in Jesus....mean you're a Christian?"

I actually don't know anyone adhering to this faith, otherwise I'd ask em, cause it's puzzled the Hell outta me for a while......

Because the term Jewish refers not only to religion but to ethnicity and citizenship as well. Take Natalie Portman: she's actually Jewish, having been born in Israel; yet I don't know that she actually practices the religion that much.

Because the term Jewish refers not only to religion but to ethnicity and citizenship as well. Take Natalie Portman: she's actually Jewish, having been born in Israel; yet I don't know that she actually practices the religion that much.

That's a whole new bag of confusion. I'm still trying to get past the fact that "Jews for Jesus" somehow are "Jewish" (in terms of faith), and not Christian.....

??????????????????????????????????????????

At 12/10/06 01:37 PM, Dragon-Smaug wrote:

:: Christians believe that since Christ was the messiah, according to them, but that the world is not like it’s supposed to be after the messiah comes, there will be a second messiah. I just thought that belief in Christ being the messiah implied believing a second messiah will come. I suppose it’s possible to believe that Christ was the messiah and no more will come, but that doesn’t fit any religion I know of.

It fits in with Christianity. There will not be a second Messiah, but there will be a second coming. The doctrine holds that Jesus will return Himself, not some other guy...

Since you asked me directly, I am Jewish. I didn’t reveal that fact because I didn’t want people to think I was hating on Christianity because I’m Jewish or something. It’s fine if Christians want to believe Christ was the messiah, I suppose, but it is a deviation from Jewish teachings.

Please do not think I'm hating, I kindof got the idea that you might be Jewish. Have you ever heard about the Marcion heresy? It was a belief that the Jewsih part of Christ should be removed from Christianity. Furthermore, there were people who were motivated to change the NT in order to de-Jew Christ. Often times I feel that Jesus' teachings are not that far of a deviation from Judaism, but much of it has been lost to history. Please forgive me, but I'm deviating into personal theology...

OK. Christians do.

Again, Christians believe in a second coming but of the same Messiah...so Christians do not believe in two Messiahs...

What I am arguing is that it is possible that a person can be Jewish and believe Jesus was the Messiah; how? By believing that the prophesies regarding the Messiah have been missinterprited and that the Messiah was not what the church leaders preached He would be.

Hmmm…I don’t have a source, but I think they’re pretty explicit. Maybe not though. Would be interesting to read what it actually written about the Messiah. (Any have a link?) It's pretty useless to discuss how to interpret something we're not looking at.

Again, somethings have been lost and I've recently read an article in Archeology about how there were two Bethlehem's, one of which was were the Messiah was suppossed to come from and another one elsewhere. Jesus was from the elsewhere Bethlehem...

He rejected the Kosher laws. That is not humane (nor inhumane) or common sense. I call it assimilation. Jesus did not totally reject all the laws, just some of them.

He also healed the sick on the Sabbath...

Aight good for him, I don’t see how they are related.

Again, much with early Christianity was changed to make it more respectable to the Romans. One way was changing dietary restrictions that would give converts pause. However, this was tricky in that there was a certain degree to which they had to tie themselves to an ancient source since the Romans were distrustful of new 'cults'.

No, but it means the end of war, I believe. If you must be picky, then the Jews could have believed he was messiah until he died and then until a war started. You get the idea though.

But with the doctrine of the second coming there will be a thousand years of peace. So, why then can't someone be Jewish and hold to the Jewish laws but believe that the Messiah has come and will come again to bring peace?

I say that parts of Religion can be left up to interpretation, but that some parts of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam cannot be changed and still be called such.

Personally, I think someone with enough historical and theological agility could reconcile the belief of Jesus as the Messiah with their own personal Jewish traditions...

Well, you can’t believe two conflicting beliefs, you have to choose sometime. I’m not sure what you mean by “Jesus was the Christ” so I’m not sure how to respond. George was the Bush! Harry was the Potter! Douglas was the Adams.

Christ was not a last or family name like Bush, Potter or Adams. It is the Greek translation of Mosaich (that is the proper Hebrew spelling right?); just like Messiah is the English translation...

At 12/10/06 08:32 PM, Demosthenez wrote:

At 12/9/06 12:12 AM, TheMason wrote: So if you are not Jewish your beliefs regarding his Messiahood and whether or not you celebrate Christmas is...well rather irrelevent.

Its his opinion, he has every right to give it. Your opinion on him giving his opinion is the only irrelevent thing here.

Demo,

Way to flame and selectively quote me here. What I was pointing out was that if he was not Jewish (say an atheist or Muslim), then whether or not he believed Jesus was the Messiah was not germaine to the discussion.

Again, good job of not adding anything to the discussion...

No need to resort to vulgar language.

You are so damn full of yourself. Its not even funny. Honestly, lay off the fucking ego.

Dude I think you have the self-righteous ego problem here... But thanks for being the self-proclaimed protector of NG humility...

At 12/11/06 12:08 AM, TheMason wrote:

As an Orthodox Christian, I believe that Jesus did as He said in Matthew 5:17 "to fulfill the Law of the Prophets." I also believe that He is God in Flesh as prophesied by Isaiah as "the Son of Man"...and that He is the Sacrifice of all sacrifices promised to Abraham on the mount called "The-Lord-Will-Provide" in Genesis.

Finally, as a Christian, I believe I have been made "Jewish" being that I am a Gentile who has been grafted onto the long awaited "Tree of Life" through my faith in Jesus Christ's Resurrection. I believe that Jesus was the One to unite everyone--Jews and Gentiles
--as God's Chosen People.

Before I realised this as a Christian, I must confess, I envied the Jewish people for being "God's Chosen", and have desired or wished that I had been born Jewish. But I am glad to know by my faith that the God of the Jews loves all humankind through the gifts of Life and Free Will that He has blessed us with...

I do not mean to offend anyone, if I did. I only wish to express how I identify myself as a Christain in relation to Jews and "Jewishness".

THe greatest thing met my eyes this morning as I turned on the news. The Seattle/Tacoma airport (beautiful series of buildings by the way) has taken down their 9 CHristmas trees. Why? Becuase a Rabbi found it offencive that there were no Manorahs around. So he threatened to take the airport(?) to court if they either didn't put up a few Manorahs or didn't take down the trees. I would have said appease the bastard and put up a few candle holders. Instead, the airport had the trees taken down. A poor move on their part, as taking the trees down is a lot more work than putting a Manorah here and there.

But that's beside the point. The point being that this 'tard almost took an airport (again, ?) to court because of Christmas trees. Seriously, how jacked in the head do you have to be to complain about such a stupid thing?

At 12/11/06 12:08 AM, TheMason wrote:

At 12/10/06 01:37 PM, Dragon-Smaug wrote:

Christians believe that since Christ was the messiah, according to them, but that the world is not like it’s supposed to be after the messiah comes, there will be a second messiah. I just thought that belief in Christ being the messiah implied believing a second messiah will come. I suppose it’s possible to believe that Christ was the messiah and no more will come, but that doesn’t fit any religion I know of.

It fits in with Christianity. There will not be a second Messiah, but there will be a second coming. The doctrine holds that Jesus will return Himself, not some other guy...

Ah, right. Well, I don’t think Judaism allows for two comings, I feel like it implied a single lifetime, but I won’t speculate on how to interpret text I don’t have.

At 12/11/06 09:04 AM, Dragon-Smaug wrote: Ah, right. Well, I don’t think Judaism allows for two comings, I feel like it implied a single lifetime, but I won’t speculate on how to interpret text I don’t have.

Very true, like I've said before somethings appear to have been changed in the Bible to make Jesus fit the Jewish theology/interpratation of the Messianic prophicies.

But also there have been movements that have caused the Jewish and Christian faiths to be different from what they were in 33 AD.

Thanks for the discussion DS!

At 12/8/06 07:57 PM, TheMason wrote:

At 12/8/06 07:16 PM, Techware wrote:

At 12/8/06 06:46 PM, the-salmon-of-doubt wrote:

or maybe, just maybe, it could be that we don't believe jesus was the messiah and therefore have absolutely no reason to celebrate the holiday. actually, most christians don't even celebrate it right

As a Christian as well, I think it is important to celebrate Christ's birth (I personally think it is more important than His death). However, I do not think that His birthday is December 25. But all the same, it is good to celebrate it anyway.

WHAT?? How if you are a christian can you say his birth is more important than his death? there are scriptures telling us to remember his death, nowhere in the bible does it tell us his birth day, yet his death was the reason for him to be here.

for that matter there are only a few mentions of birthdays in the bible, and bad things happen every time, like John the Baptist getting his head chopped off for KING Herod.

If we were meant to celebrate Jesus birthday it would be in the bible, as it is it was just a way for the early church to intertwine pagan holidays, into the new christian faith.
I do celebrate the holiday I have kids , and it is great for getting family together,. But in no way is it more significant than the death of Christ.

At 12/9/06 12:12 AM, TheMason wrote:

At 12/9/06 12:01 AM, Elfer wrote:

At 12/8/06 11:12 PM, TheMason wrote:

Guess what, I don't think Christ is the Messiah, and I on't worship nor celebrate him, but I still celebrate Christmas!

Fuck you!

Are you Jewish? Orthodox Jews believe that a mathematician named Xenu disguised himself as a Jesus to trick people into buying extraterrestrial snake oil to cure their shingles.

No, I'm an agnostic. I don't believe in shit.

I'm saying that I celebrate Christmas as a good-spirited holiday, not as a religiously significant date.

At 12/12/06 03:41 PM, troubles1 wrote:

:: WHAT?? How if you are a christian can you say his birth is more important than his death? there are scriptures telling us to remember his death, nowhere in the bible does it tell us his birth day, yet his death was the reason for him to be here.

If we were meant to celebrate Jesus birthday it would be in the bible, as it is it was just a way for the early church to intertwine pagan holidays, into the new christian faith.
I do celebrate the holiday I have kids , and it is great for getting family together,. But in no way is it more significant than the death of Christ.

Because an over-focusing on the Crucifixion leads us down a bad path theologically. This path is that the only thing that matters for our salvation is to have faith in Jesus; that works are not important since we are not perfect like Him it is useless to try to immulate Him. I have seen this time and time again in the so-called 'Christians' that I encounter on a daily basis. They do not follow Christ's teachings, but then justify their ticket to heaven because they believe He died for our sins.

I'm here to tell you brother, the good news is not that Jesus suffered and died for our sins. It is that He lived and taught us a better way to live with one another! You can have death without suffering, but you cannot live without birth...

Following Christ's life is so much harder than martyrdom. On a daily basis one has to forgive even those who has committed the most egregious acts against them. My ex-wife for example suffers from bipolar disorder and as a result during our marriage made my life a living hell. Our divorce has been little better. She has estranged me from my daughter, damaged my career, destroyed my reputation, devestated me financially and has even sworn out false arrest warrants. It has been a very nasty time. Yet, Jesus teaches that I must forgive her. Not only forgive, but feel sorrow for her because she is sick. She is not doing this to me; her disease is and it is not entirely her fault. (She was raised by a very abusive & neglectful mother and an unstable & largely absent father.) Being reduced down to zero is a tough path to journey down, but even harder is feeling compassion for the person trying to keep you from getting back up.

But through these troubles I have found that following Christ's LIFE provides more inner peace and comfort than worshiping His death. For placing so much importance on His death is selfish. Think about it: He suffered and died for our salvation. In modern times this means, as I've seen demonstrated by many 'Christians' around me, that we have to do nothing but believe.

I cannot buy it. I feel that when the Man comes around there will be more agnostics and atheists who've lived a Christ-like life through their works than 'Christians' who have merely relied upon their faith and not their works to get through St. Peter's gate...

And you are right, this belief and identification of what should be important to a Christian flies in the face of both the Bible and mainstream Christianity. This has lead me to pursue a more keen awareness of the Bible and its history. What I have come up with is that the Bible is divinely inspired, but it remains a very human book full of very human errors. In fact the majority of scholars argue that there are between 250,000-400,000 errors in our Biblical translations (the King James is the worst). And by errors I mean inconsistencies between the original NT manuscripts that were written in Greek and then Latin (texts that quoted a man who spoke Aramaic). These errors are in the forms of additions, subtractions or corrections made due to human error (the first copies of the Bible were made by amatuer scribes who were very poorly trained, but did it out a sense of volunteerism), or other additions, subtractions or corrections were made by scribes so that the text would fit a particular interpretation or worldview.

Therefore I study the Bible, but choose to live my life according to my moral compass (which I believe is the divine spark in all of us) and personal relationship with God. If it agrees with the Bible that is great, if it does not then that is just as good. I know that even after witnessing to you, that you may still choose to say that I am not a Christian. That is fine as well, my beliefs do not fit in with most and definitely lay outside of the mainstream. But in the end how we are all judged is not dependant upon how others view us, but how we live our lives. And if how we lived our lives is good or bad is ultimately the court presided over by God and God alone.

At 12/12/06 05:11 PM, Elfer wrote:

At 12/9/06 12:12 AM, TheMason wrote:

At 12/9/06 12:01 AM, Elfer wrote:

At 12/8/06 11:12 PM, TheMason wrote:

Guess what, I don't think Christ is the Messiah, and I on't worship nor celebrate him, but I still celebrate Christmas!

Fuck you!

Are you Jewish? Orthodox Jews believe that a mathematician named Xenu disguised himself as a Jesus to trick people into buying extraterrestrial snake oil to cure their shingles.

Who the hell wrote that? Not me...

No, I'm an agnostic. I don't believe in shit.

I'm saying that I celebrate Christmas as a good-spirited holiday, not as a religiously significant date.

But the topic is about Jews and Christmas. Therefore it really matters little whether you or I are an agnostic or atheist or Christian. However, I think the Jewish perspective is definately relevant. But oh bother, topics generally get off track and even the great ones such as I (are you reading this Demo?) are guiltiy of this, just see my last post!

Jews have a holiday already. Athiests don't. Simple as that.

At 12/12/06 05:19 PM, TheMason wrote:

Therefore I study the Bible, but choose to live my life according to my moral compass (which I believe is the divine spark in all of us) and personal relationship with God. If it agrees with the Bible that is great, if it does not then that is just as good. I know that even after witnessing to you, that you may still choose to say that I am not a Christian. That is fine as well, my beliefs do not fit in with most and definitely lay outside of the mainstream. But in the end how we are all judged is not dependant upon how others view us, but how we live our lives. And if how we lived our lives is good or bad is ultimately the court presided over by God and God alone.

Nice, That really does make a lot of sense, altho I will still stay with my belief that it is his death , was the most important reason for his being here, I can appreciate, you ideas on his birth and the way he lived his life, as being very important , so we may try to imitate him..

On another note I work with a woman who is bipolar, and when she is manic, she is a complete Slut, and when she is not she cries over nothing. I can honestly say there is no way I could ever live with her, I can't stand working with her.
;
I truly hope your ex, gets the medication she needs, as a father , and husband ,I feel for any man who has problems getting to be the father he wants to because of someone else's doing..

What's important is they have the Christmas "spirit". If they don't feel like committing a "merry christmas" that's just them. It's their culture and religion. They no F with us, we no F with them. How hard is that to understand?

Does having Jewish (jewish race not religion) great grandparents and grandparents make me jewish?

Ah the Stienbachs (my great grandparents) Geman-Jews that immigrated in the late 1800's.

another attempt by the fascist Christian media to attack the Jews for not believing in their "messiah". i'm on to you Christ boys.

Here's why we don't celebrate Christmas:

Many of the 'non-Christians' that celebrate Christmas are actually born christians, but don't really believe in God, but still call themselves Christians because they don't know what else to call themselves, because these people don't think of themselves as atheists, but rather a step below, with a speck of faith remaining.

Most Jews, however, have a tendency to be more religious, due to our distinct minority situation.
I, though being a secular Jew, do not even get into the holiday spirit. It depresses me because of its mass comericalization and strong little kid overtones.

I thinks its okay for a mixed family other religion and Christian to have Christmas. But say if the family is all Atheist, all Jewish, Muslim or something then they should just not celebrate it. The kids are just greedy for presents. Jews should stick to Hannukah. Muslims should stick to Ramadan. Atheists should go back to the laboratory and keep making theories on if God exists.

The reason Jews don't celebrate Christmas is because they aren't Christian. We cellebrate Hanakah, which also relies on gift-giving. Why should we conform just because you're the majority? I don't know anyone of a different religion besides Christian who celebrates Christmas. My Muslim friend doesn't celebrate Christmas. Wonder why? Maybe because he's not Christian.

i'm jewish, and i celebrate christmas. for those who don't maybe it's a case of: your religion raped, tortured, plundered, etc. our people, land, and religion, and so now we don't like you.
but i think the actual spirit of christmas (buried deep beneath all the advertising and consumerism) is quite admirable. peace on earth, and goodwill towards men. n'stuff.

What are you talking about?
Regardless of the sales and propoganda month Christmas has become, it's still a religous holiday about the birth of Jesus.
Ever forget the famous Manger scene? The little Drummer Boy? Silent Night? It's still a religious holiday no matter what.
Jews usually don't celebrate the holiday because it's not from their religion. Your question is like asking "why don't Christians celebrate Hannukah?"
Even so, Hannukah is not a very important holiday in the Jewish religion. It's actually the most known Jewish holiday, simply because it is so close to Christmas.
Some Jews have family members who are Christian, and give gifts for that. They're not praising Mary and Joseph for giving birth to Jesus.
It's not like Jews are envious of Christmas. Just less crap and sales they have to worry about.
Plus, Christmas is giving gifts, but on Hannukah it's 8 nights, you get to burn candles (for you inner pyro), you can gamble (kinda, with gelt, chocolate coins) with a dreidel, and latkes for all! Plus there is a story behind Hannukah.
So why are you calling other Jews weird because they don't celebrate a Christian holiday? Do you expect Hindus or Buddhists to celebrate Easter? No.
It's people's choice, and despite what Christmas has become, it's still a Christian holiday.

Chaunuka has the same morels to the jewish community as the 'non-christian' christmas celebraters do for themselves.

For eight days you praise God and open one present for each night. Infact I concedered celebrating chanuka with my family even though none of us are Jewish ( take that back my dad is ,because his mother was, but intresting enough they always celebrated christmas)
And it seems as if you are almost ... well insulted by the fact that Jews don't celebrate christmas. Let's put it this way christians celebrate christmas and praise Jesus's birth while jews celebrate chanuka becouse ... ,Are you ready for this?, Around 200 BC Jews lived as an autonomous people in the land of Israel, also referred to as Judea, which at that time was controlled by the Seleucid king of Syria. The Jewish people paid taxes to Syria and accepted its legal authority, and by and large were free to follow their own faith, maintain their own jobs, and engage in trade.

By 175 BCE Antiochus IV Epiphanes ascended to the Seleucid throne. At first little changed, but under his reign Jews were gradually forced to violate the precepts of their faith. Jews rebelled at having to do this. Under the reign of Antiochus IV, the Temple in Jerusalem was looted, Jews were massacred, and Judaism was effectively outlawed.

In 167 BCE Antiochus ordered an altar to Zeus erected in the Temple. Mattathias, a Jewish priest, and his five sons John, Simon, Eleazar, Jonathan, and Judah led a rebellion against Antiochus. Judah became known as Judah Maccabee ("Judah the Hammer"). By 166 BCE Mattathias had died, and Judah took his place as leader. By 165 BCE the Jewish revolt against the Seleucid monarchy was successful. The Temple was liberated and rededicated. The festival of Hanukkah was instituted by Judah Maccabee and his brothers to celebrate this event.[2] After recovering Jerusalem and the Temple, Judah ordered the Temple to be cleansed, a new altar to be built in place of the polluted one and new holy vessels to be made. According to the Talmud, oil was needed for the menorah in the Temple, which was supposed to burn throughout the night every night. But there was only enough oil to burn for one day, yet miraculously, it burned for eight days, the time needed to prepare a fresh supply of oil for the menorah. An eight-day festival was declared to commemorate this miracle.

Hanukkah lamp unearthed near Jerusalem, c. 1900.The version of the story in 1 Maccabees, on the other hand, states that an eight day celebration of songs and sacrifices was proclaimed upon rededication of the altar, and makes no mention of the miracle of the oil.[3] A number of historians believe that the reason for the eight-day celebration was that the first Hanukkah was in effect a belated celebration of the festival of Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles.[4] During the war the Jews were not able to celebrate Sukkot properly. The theory is based on the belief that Sukkot also lasts for eight days, and was a holiday in which the lighting of lamps played a prominent part during the Second Temple period (Suk.v. 2-4). However, Sukkot is in fact a seven-day holiday, the eighth day being a separate festival known as Shemini Atzeret ("the Eighth Day of the Assembly"; see Lev. 23:33-36, Num. 29:12; Deut. 16:13-15). The historian Josephus[5] mentions the eight-day festival and its customs, but does not tell us the origin of the eight day lighting custom. Given that his audience was Hellenized Romans, perhaps his silence on the origin of the eight-day custom is due to its miraculous nature. In any event, he does report that lights were kindled in the household and the popular name of the festival was, therefore the "Festival of Lights" ("And from that time to this we celebrate this festival, and call it Lights").

It has been noted that Jewish festivals are connected to the harvesting of the Biblical seven fruits which Israel was famed for. Pesach is a celebration of the barley harvest, Shavuot of the wheat, Sukkot of the figs, dates, pomegranates and grapes, and Hanukkah of the olives. The olive harvest is in November and olive oil would be ready in time for Hanukkah in December.

It has also been noted that the number eight has special significance in Jewish theology, as representing transcendence and the Jewish People's special role in human history. Seven is the number of days of creation, that is, of completion of the material cosmos. Eight, being one step beyond seven, represents the Infinite (as an eight turned on its side). Hence, the Eighth Day of the Assembly festival, mentioned above, is according to Jewish Law a festival for Jews only (unlike Sukkoth, when all peoples were welcome in Jerusalem). Similarly, the rite of circumcision, which brings a Jewish male into God's Covenant, is performed on the eighth day. Hence, Hanukkah's eight days (in celebration of monotheistic morality's victory over Hellenistic humanism) have great symbolic importance for practicing Jews.

(Thanks Wikipedia)