HAPPY HANUKKAH!
One of the most important and sacred holidays for the Jewish people is Hanukkah. The Hebrew word Hanukkah
actually means ‘dedication’ and commemorates the Jewish people’s rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem to
the Lord.
In 168 BC the Greco-Assyrians invaded and captured Jerusalem. They attempted to destroy the culture and
religion of the Jewish people by desecrating the Temple.
During the occupation, a group of soldiers marched into a Jewish settlement and demanded Mattathias, a Priest
there, to sacrifice a pig to the pagan god, Zeus. He refused and a Jewish bystander, afraid of the soldier’s
anger, volunteered to do it. Mattathias drew his sword and killed that bystander in defiance of the soldiers.
History tells us that this solitary act of courage and faith inspired the rest of the Jewish people to join Mattathias
and form an Army. Judah the son of Mattathias, led the Army and successfully stopped the Greco-Assyrians in
their settlement and ultimately drove them out of Jerusalem and the Temple. The Temple was rededicated and
the inauguration of the Feast of Hanukah occurred in 164 BC.
According to tradition, during the ceremony as they prepared to light the Menorah (the lamp-stand inside the
Temple), they realized there was only enough Holy oil to light it for one day. Yet, the oil burned supernaturally
for eight days.
These eight days are represented on the Menorah with eight candles and show those eight wondrous days of
burning. The ninth candle is the ‘Servant’ candle and is used to light the others.
It is truly a sacred holiday celebrating faith and the courage of practicing that faith. Please have a wondrous and
joyous Hanukkah.
Dean Cheeseman
OUR VALLEY SANTA CLARITA
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