Chanukah the True
Story
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With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
Introduction:
hebraicstudies.net
has over many years received emails from various parts of the Jewish community,
as well as certain highly respected rabbis from around the world, and all of
whom are confused about the facts related to the festival of Chanukah.
Many classic Hellenistic-era accounts of the Hasmonean revolt became known most notably from 1 and 2 Maccabees as well as Josephus, they both clearly describe the military struggle, the purification and rededication of the Temple, and thereafter they commenced an eight day festival. However they did not mention anything about a ‘flask of oil burning for eight days’. This oil miracle narrative only surfaces some 400 years later in rabbinic literature, where the emphasis suddenly shifts from the armed victory to divine intervention with oil, which never happened at all!
All we tend to hear is about a fake miracle regarding a single flask of oil burning in the הֵיכָל - Hekal - Temple for 8 days. This story was purely concocted by rabbis or (a rabbi) some 400 years after the actual event of that great victory! Thus, so much later, suddenly out of the blue this so called miracle occurred in the Temple in Jerusalem. Of course the story goes that the relatively small group of Maccabaeus won the war against a huge Greek army, but then, later the truth became something very different during that rabbinic era, the story instead if the victory, a single flask of kosher candelabrum-oil somehow supernaturally lasted for eight full days. Thus we ended up with an eight day traditional holiday that is commemorated by lighting the Chanukah candles. Of course it all sounds all so very nice, however, we do know now that there is a major problem with that story, for this so-called miracle is nowhere to be found in any of our official Jewish historical sources.
We do know the following that the plausible explanation is that
the eight day observance actually commemorated their missed Yom Tov, being the festival of “Sukkoth” which came about
during the Hasmonean revolt. Another possible fact
could be that certain, rabbis at a much later date later date made up this
ridiculous story to highlight providence, rather than that great warfare
victory. Whatever its origin, the oil miracle became the central memory that
shaped how generations observed Chanukah, showing how human beings (rabbis)
reframed the whole story to meet their spiritual need. Thus, this story, has diminished the actual fact of a miracle of a
great victory during the Hasmonean revolt instead!
Just for interest, how did it come about what we have been taught for ages regarding a miracle of the oil?
I would like to point out once agaain, regarding what I mentioned earlier, while the Maccabees were fighting to save their people and their faith, they sadly missed out celebrating Sukkoth, being of course an eight-day festival. Thus when the war ended and the Temple was restored, it was the perfect time to “catch up” on the feast they missed out on. Thus, they rededicated the Temple and they celebrated for eight days. Therefore, Chanukah is not a miracle of oil, it was just a late remembrance of Sukkoth!
I would say that one possible reason for the emergence of the replacement story is that the original account was not the simple truth; it’s provocative and inexplicable. Perhaps it is because in a time of darkness and destruction, the people needed to hold onto a miracle of some sort!
In conclusion:
Thus we should no know the truth, being that the miracle of an oil lamp was simply added during the rabbinic days, thus it is time we start to rethink why men can just add something and almost make it based on a law of some kind, but the truth is we should only be remembering the great victory of our people and being able to redeem the Temple! And even that, does not make up a miracle, Did we feast for every battle we faced during the 40 year journey in the ‘Sinai’ (wilderness), NO, we do not! Thus why then would we do this for another war with our people being victorious?
Always ask yourself, ‘Did יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ - the LORD our Elohim ordered this so-called yom tov, of course not! But we did have in the Mikdash the true seven branched Menorah!
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Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be
He, said the following via a number of our prophets...
“Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD
of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. MEC).
And Remember ...
Enjoy your
Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!
אֲנִי יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה
(the LORD your God); walk in My statutes,
and keep Mine ordinances, and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall
be a sign between Me and you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - YaHVaH
Elohim”. Yechezkel - Ezekiel
20:19-20. (JPS).
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שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom aleichem - Peace be
with you!
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
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